FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2024
School Sisters of Notre Dame Announces Progress on Sale of IND Property
The Institute of Notre Dame, fondly known as “IND” was founded in 1847 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, an international congregation. The oldest all-girls Catholic high school, located in the heart of Baltimore City, closed its doors after 173 years on June 30, 2020, due to COVID-19, declining enrollment, the economy and an aging school building in need of much renovation and repair.
As a culturally diverse community, IND’s mission was to educate students to become women of discernment, active leaders, lifelong learners, and responsible citizens of the world. Alumna Barbara Mikulski, a member of the class of 1954, proudly stated that “attending the Institute of Notre Dame taught me that I could do anything I dreamed of doing. The sisters taught me more than geography or mathematics, they taught me to help those in need of help. They inspired my passion for service.” The IND Alumnae Association, now housed at Notre Dame of Maryland University, has continued service in the local East Baltimore community and provided scholarships to IND students who sought to attend other Catholic high schools in the greater Baltimore area. They now support students in girls’ Catholic high schools with annual grants.
Caroline Center, another of the SSND sponsored ministries, will continue to operate out of IND’s convent building and serve as a training place for women who would most benefit from the program and would not otherwise have the opportunity.
“IND was a school which not only inspired students to pursue academic excellence and spiritual growth, but also the practice of justice, “said Sister Charmaine Krohe, provincial leader for the School Sisters of Notre Dame. “While other schools moved out of the city, IND’s choice was to remain a beacon of hope in the city.”
Since its closing, the IND Board of Trustees and the School Sisters of Notre Dame with the professional assistance of Cushman and Wakefield have been searching for the right buyers who would preserve and respect the history of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, allow the Caroline Center to remain and to restore IND to a structure that would be beneficial to the surrounding community.
“We believe we have identified such buyers,” says Sister Charmaine. “The School Sisters of Notre Dame are currently working with a development team comprised of Severn Development Company and CAM Management which has been developing plans to convert the existing IND building into 126 affordable housing units for seniors (age 62+).” The team is progressing through its due diligence and securing necessary approvals and financing. These plans have undergone several reviews by the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) and the National Parks Service, for compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for historic rehabilitations.
“Severn Development and CAM Management collectively specialize in both affordable housing construction and historic tax credits,” says Grant Searfoss and Angelo Munafo, “and this project would blend both government programs to facilitate an economically viable project, ensuring the IND building will stand strong and well-taken-care-of for decades to come.” This substantial $35million+ investment will preserve IND’s stature as an anchor of the East Baltimore community, restore its original tin ceilings, wood floors and decorative trim, and bring the facility up to meet 21st century building codes, and with all new mechanical and sprinkler systems, while staying committed to the school’s legacy of serving those in need.
With the School Sisters of Notre Dame and the selected development team working together, the mission and vision established 173 years ago on Asquith Street by their foundress, Mother Theresa Gerhardinger, will continue to flourish. Between the residential population that will lease there, and the Caroline Center which will remain, this property will help change lives and remain a sanctuary for those who call it home.
About the Atlantic-Midwest Province
The congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame is an international community of women religious. The sisters educate with a world vision, believing that the world can be changed through the transformation of persons. The Sisters and their colleagues seek to empower women, youth and persons who are poor or marginalized and strive to change systems of poverty and injustice. More than 1700 SSNDs currently minister in 27 countries.
Further inquiries regarding the School Sisters of Notre Dame Atlantic-Midwest Province should be directed to Lauren Ciotti at LCiotti@Amssnd.org
