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For more than a century, the silver steeples of the Saint-François-Xavier Church have stood over Chaleur Bay in northern New Brunswick, but the landmark building has been closed for a year, bricks are degrading from the salty wind off the ocean, and the roof is leaking. Now, Ronald Poirier hopes a transformation of the Charlo church into much-needed housing will help avert a possible demolition. The church was built in 1918, to replace a previous wooden structure that burned.

"Local people built it," he said. "Local people maintained it. It would be a shame to see this beautiful structure get demolished or used for a purpose that doesn't continue with the local heritage.



" WATCH | 'It would be a shame to see this beautiful structure get demolished' Shuttered, historic church could be turned into oceanfront apartments 1 hour ago Duration 3:06 An architect has drafted plans that would see a century-old church in the northern New Brunswick community of Charlo turned into three floors of apartments. The semi-retired architect drafted plans to convert the church into three floors of apartments, for a total of 18 units, with a glass-walled restaurant overlooking the bay. The top floor would have space for a community hall and a chapel, and plans show the basement as a fitness centre.

Fewer parishioners, higher heating costs When the Saint-François-Xavier Church held its last Catholic mass in December 2022, the number of parishioners had dwindled to a few dozen, and heating costs.

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