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Heritage Center didn’t garner enough community support
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
Bob Barko Jr. cited a lack of financial support from Valley corporations and foundations and a part-time fundraising effort as detriments that contributed to the 545 Management Group Inc.’s inability to make the Youngstown Heritage Center a reality at the former Our Lady of Hungary Church property, 545 N. Belle Vista Ave.
Barko is president of 545 Management Group Inc./Youngstown Heritage Center. Dennis McBride and George Kalosky, former church members, also were involved.
545 Management recently sold the property for $23,000 to Fostering Dreams, a nonprofit organization that works with foster children. 545 Management and Fostering Dreams closed on the West Side property June 3.
The church, which closed in 2012, was bought by 545 Management in January 2014. The nonprofit organization, which had 501(c)(3) status, bought the former church, rectory and pavilion with green space for $1 and other considerations from the Diocese of Youngstown. A requirement of that sale was that 545 Management have the finances to pay the bills for a year.
545 Management launched a $400,000 capital campaign to amass funds to improve the property to meet the new purpose.
Barko said a Night at the Races fundraiser, a community open house and sending out hundreds of donation request packages to local corporations, community groups, foundations and former church members were among those efforts.
545 Management raised about $25,000. That included funds from an anonymous donor who gave $14,000 and $1,000 from Denise DeBartolo York from the DeBartolo Corp. Those were the largest contributions. “Most were $50 and $100 from former church members and community residents,” Barko said.
545 Management was unable to set aside any money but had to use the funds to pay the utilities, security system and taxes. “The harsh winters we’ve had in the last two years cost about $1,000 in heating bills for months,” he said. “We were just able to keep things afloat.”
545 Management began to sink when it faced a $300,000 property assessment and real-estate tax bill of more than $8,000. “While we may have been able to continue to limp along and try to raise the funds needed to pay the bills, we realized we could not raise the capital needed to adapt the property to our vision,” Barko said.
545 Management put the property in the hands of Paul Basinger, owner of Basinger Auction Services and American Real Estate Specialists. The buyer had to use the property according to deed restrictions as set by the diocese.
The Rev. Nicholas Shori, director of Office of Evangelization and former director of the diocese Parish Implementation Plan, said the diocese has a provision in place that goes with the sale of the building. “The use must be morally acceptable. It can’t be used for an activity contrary to its original purpose,” Father Shori said. “That provision must be honored.”
The sale price of $23,000 was set to cover anticipated bills. Fostering Dreams met the requirements and paid that amount.
Barko said of the sale proceeds, nearly $12,000 went to cover 2014 and half of 2015 real-estate taxes. Operating expenses and closing costs took care of the remaining amount except for $3,000. About $2,000 will pay for the dissolution of 545 Management and lawyers’ fees. About $1,000 will be donated to a charity.
The Rev. Joseph Rudjak, pastor of Holy Apostles Parish that includes Sts. Peter and Paul, St. Stephen of Hungary and Our Lady of Hungary, said that once 545 Management acquired the church, the parish no longer had legal ties to it. He said religious articles such as statuary, the altar and pulpit were removed.
The priest said he was “happy they [545 Management] had a chance and tried but it didn’t work out.”