Print Issue: October 24, 2002

Construction Promised On Our Lady Of Americas Building Destroyed By Fire

By Gretchen Keiser, Staff Writer

DORAVILLE - Our Lady of the Americas Mission members hope to see construction start soon to replace a building, destroyed in a fire 17 months ago, where classes and medical and social services were once offered for immigrant families.

Currently a vacant lot is all that remains on the site that once held two buildings used for classrooms, offices, counseling areas and a shower ministry for day laborers. An arson fire destroyed the structure on May 15, 2001. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

Frustration over the time it has taken to get the building project going - and the struggle the mission has had meanwhile carrying out its ministries - were aired in a meeting with Catholic Construction Services project manager Dennis Kelly. One additional problem, he said, was a lack of ongoing communication. Kelly will now meet at the mission every two weeks to give a progress report.

"It ended up very well. They were gracious," said Kelly of the mission representatives he met with.

"We had a piece of land we wanted to build a building on. That takes time. You have to program the building, design the building, make sure it is within budget," Kelly said.

"The good news is we are close (to starting construction). The other good news is that they are getting more than they had . . . We are more than doubling the square footage they have. We are in budget and we are producing drawings that will go to the county. Within the next 60 days we will start construction."

The Spanish-speaking mission, located next to the Doraville MARTA station, is a hub of activity from morning until night.

In May 2001 an arson fire broke out in the middle of the night that destroyed an old house adjacent to the main church building. The wooden house had been renovated and added onto, becoming an outreach center where mission volunteers, Catholic Social Services and Mercy Care Services offered counseling, medical care, job services, English and vocational courses, a clothes closet, food pantry and shower ministry.

After fire gutted the building and it had to be demolished, Catholic Social Services and Mercy Care Services had to move to other locations. The pastor, Father Richard Young, and mission staff and volunteers cobbled together a schedule that utilized the church building for English, computer and vocational classes between religious services, moved donated clothes from room to room, and coped as best they could with the dire shortage of space.

"It is very difficult for us to understand," Father Young said this fall. "We have the money for (the building). We've had delay after delay."

Drainage problems and parking issues came up, he said, and, although there is insurance, the mission had to raise one-third of the cost of the new building and will have to furnish it when it's done.

However, he said philosophically, once it is built "it will be better than it was before."

Although cramped, the ministries at the mission have never stopped and they can't, the pastor said, because they serve a steady influx of new immigrants with a Catholic presence of sacraments, compassion and practical help.

"The Catholic Church has always done this - we were the church of the poor and the immigrants - and we have to do it again," he said. "We are doing it, but maybe not fast enough."

Kelly agreed that the mission is always actively doing the work of Christ.

"Anytime I've ever been there, that church is what a church should be," Kelly said. "At 7 p.m. or 7 a.m., they are praying, there are classes going on, food and clothes are being handed out."

The new pre-engineered building is going to be over 6,500 square feet, providing eight classrooms and offices for Catholic Social Services and Mercy Care Services. No zoning changes were required, but they did have to incorporate code changes that didn't apply to the old building.

A contractor has been selected from three who submitted bids, Kelly said. He estimates the half-million-dollar project will take six months to complete once underway.

"The time of the year won't hold anything up. As soon as we get a permit, we'll start. If we get a permit in November, we'll start in November."