West Allis planning panel approves demolition of Saint Aloysius campus, demolition to include asbestos abatement

West Allis Plan Commission approved demolition permits for the former Saint Aloysius campus and endorsed the developer’s proposed scope of work, city planning staff said.

City planning staff told the commission that developer F Street, working with the Community Development Authority (CDA) and City of West Allis, will demolish the church, rectory, gymnasium and school buildings and remove foundations and slabs. "The cost of demolition is about, you know, a million dollars," the staff member said, noting that the work will include asbestos and lead abatement and rodent control measures.

The approval covers demolition only; staff said F Street expects to return to the plan commission next month with site, landscape and architectural plans for the first phase of redevelopment. Staff described a future development concept that could reach up to about 160 housing units, with denser apartments along Greenfield Avenue and garden-style apartments farther south, but emphasized that the current vote was limited to demolition permits and erosion control.

Staff noted environmental safeguards already under way, including asbestos abatement, lead abatement and baiting for rodents. The presenter also said chimneys were left in place through late winter and early spring to avoid disrupting migrating chimney swifts.

Commission discussion was procedural; a motion and second were made and the commission voted to approve the demolition scope as recommended by staff. No member requested changes to the demolition conditions during the hearing.

Next steps: the developer will obtain the demolition permits identified by staff (one permit for the rectory and church, a second for the gymnasium and school, and a soil erosion permit for the campus) and return with the site and architectural plan for formal review. Staff said Gonzaga Village senior apartments, a separate lot, will not be demolished and will remain in place as the new development is planned around it.

Why it matters: the action clears the physical site for redevelopment and begins formal environmental remediation steps; the commission’s vote did not approve any housing plan or entitlements beyond demolition.