MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – The Vermont Supreme Court says demolition of a Burlington church can move forward, denying an appeal from a historic preservation group.
Burlington’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was built in the late 1970s and was shuttered in 2018. Since then, historic preservation groups have battled with the Catholic Diocese over plans to demolish the structure.
The church has argued the structure must be torn down as part of the deconsecration process. An Environmental Court judge in February agreed. But ten citizens appealed to the Vermont Supreme Court, arguing that the church was more motivated by a real estate deal than deconsecration of the building.
In a ruling Friday, the high court sided with the church.
Demolition could happen later this winter.