Fond du Lac city officials want to tear down the historic Holy Nativity convent building. The building on East Division Street was heavily damaged by an arson fire in June of 2015 and the city issued a Raze or Repair or Order three months later. But Community Development director Dyann Benson says the owner has not complied with the order. “The property owner unfortunately, despite our efforts to communicate with him, has not taken those necessary steps to do that work,” Benson told WFDL news. “So now we need to take the next steps and do what we need to do for the community and for that neighborhood and move forward with the Raze or Repair order.” Benson says the property continues to deteriorate and is a blight on the surrounding neighborhood and safety is also a concern. Benson says the city is asking the Historic Preservation Commission for permission to move forward with building demolition. Benson says the city is in the process of getting bids for the demolition work that could begin as early as June. She says the cost could be in the six figure range.
