News

Diocese to vacate Chancery within two years

By Renae Bauer
Communications Department

The Green Bay Diocese plans to vacate the Chancery at 1910 S. Webster Ave., Allouez, within the next 18-24 months. The decision to vacate the office building centers on concerns for safety, accessibility and security.

"An architectural design company reviewed the building and indicated that there would be a cost of $1.7-2 million to renovate the Chancery, bringing it up to code. The renovation would also decrease the amount of usable office space," said Dcn. Tim Reilly, diocesan director of Administration.

"The Board of Directors of St. Joseph Real Estate Services Corporation affirmed that it would be an imprudent use of diocesan resources to invest this amount of money into the Chancery building," Dcn. Reilly said.

Preliminary plan calls for vacating the Chancery and relocating approximately 29 employees to buildings on the west side of the diocesan campus, approximately two-tenths mile away. These buildings are Bona Hall, where approximately 85 diocesan employees work; and Bosco Hall and Melania Hall, which offer leased conference rooms and office space.

An office design consulting firm will recommend a plan to the diocese before the final decision is made.

"Our over-arching goals will be to create a work environment that achieves the ministry and service goals of each department; that promotes communication, interaction and collaboration; and that embraces the stewardship responsibilities that are entrusted to us by the local church of the Diocese of Green Bay," said Dcn. Reilly.

The Chancery was built in 1911 as the home of Bp. Joseph Fox, the diocese's fifth bishop. The bishop's living quarters were moved to another building on the grounds in the late 1970s as the diocese expanded its ministerial offerings to serve a growing Catholic population.