A once-thriving church complex that served generations of West Allis residents will soon be torn down to make way for new housing.

St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 1405 S. 92nd St., and its adjoining buildings — including a school, rectory, convent and gymnasium — are slated for demolition beginning in July as part of a redevelopment project led by Milwaukee-based F Street Group.

The multi-building property was constructed between 1926 and 1964, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society. The school was built in 1926 with additions and a gymnasium added in 1938 and 1947. The rectory dates back to 1949. The church, a mid-century modern structure designed by Brust & Brust — now Zimmerman Architectural Studios — was completed in 1957 and is considered the most architecturally significant of the buildings.

A broken piano is seen in the interior of the former St. Aloysius Church during abatement work on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in West Allis.

The church’s exterior is built with a mix of Lannon stone and Indiana limestone, softened by large sections of clear and stained glass.

According to F Street’s project manager E.J. Herr, the site has been vacant for nearly four years since the parish consolidated. It has since been the site of break-ins and has become a public safety concern.

“It really had kind of become a nuisance property,” Herr said. “I think the neighbors were quite excited when they heard that someone was going to be taking it over and actually moving forward.”

Demolition will begin at the southern end of the property, starting with the gymnasium and school, then moving north to the rectory and finally the church, according to Herr. The process is expected to wrap up by Sept. 30. Abatement crews have already started removing hazardous materials like asbestos and lead paint to ensure the site is safe before any structures come down.

F Street’s redevelopment plan includes building up to 150 residential units, made up of townhomes, garden-style walk-up apartments, and a four-story mid-rise apartment building. Plans are still awaiting final approval from the West Allis Plan Commission.

Artifacts from the church, including time capsules and stained glass windows, have been offered to the West Allis Historical Society. Most other religious artifacts were removed years ago by parish members or transferred to other churches.

Though the church’s physical presence is coming to an end, its history won’t be forgotten. “We were glad to preserve what we could," Herr said.

Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at [email protected]. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: After nearly a century, the St. Aloysius Church complex will be torn down for new housing