The church was hand-built in 1926 by Italian masons using
locally hewn stone.
But it's been closed since 2010.
The roof is
leaking. The stained-glass windows have been removed and replaced with
plywood.
The radiators have been sold for salvage, and with no heat it's
unclear if the building will make it through the winter.
Preservationists want the church designated as a landmark
in hopes of saving it from destruction.
But they ran into a roadblock
Tuesday when the city's Heritage Preservation Commission declined their
request by tabling the motion.
That's because city regulations adopted
in 2010 say only landowners can begin the application process for
landmark status, the Duluth News Tribune reported.
The Duluth Catholic Diocese, which owns St. Peter's, opposed the landmark request.
Commission chairman David Woodward said he wants the
commission's authority to nominate local landmarks to be restored.
But
it's unclear whether the City Council would approve that.
Councilor Jim
Stauber said he's reluctant to erode property rights.
Jim Fisketti said his father helped build the church at a
time when Italians were unwelcome at other local churches.
He said it
played a central role in holding the community together.
"This is really the immigrant experience that's on the line here," he said.