The Future of the Historic St. Hubert Church
Preserving a Piece of Chanhassen's History
The historic St. Hubert Church, located on the north side of Highway 5, was built in 1887 and served as the third church building of the parish. It remains a powerful symbol of the deep Catholic roots of Chanhassen and is the last original building of historic Chanhassen still in its original location.
Though the parish moved from this building in 1976 (first to what is now Chapel Hill Academy, and then in 1997 to the current church and school campus), the historic church has remained under the care of the parish. While Mass is no longer regularly celebrated there, the building continues to represent a vital part of the community's spiritual and cultural heritage.
Deterioration and the Need for a Decision
In recent years, the condition of the historic church has significantly deteriorated. The parish now faces a critical decision:
Should the historic church be restored, or should it be respectfully decommissioned and torn down?
To help guide this decision, the parish reconvened the Historic Church Committee—a group of parishioners with backgrounds in construction, historic preservation, parish ministry, and finance. Their role was to assess the building’s condition, explore options for its future, and provide updated cost estimates and feasibility studies.
Committee Findings
The committee gathered a range of data, including:
Restoration cost estimates from contractors and preservation specialists
Ongoing costs for insurance, maintenance, and utilities
Parking considerations and space usage options
Exploration of grants, public funding, and community partnerships
They also evaluated potential future uses for the building and the corresponding level of renovation required for each use.
Cost Comparison
The cost to restore and preserve the Historic Church ranges from $2.5 million to $3.9 million. The smaller number includes only the repairs and restoration needed to ensure the structural and aesthetic integrity of the original building. The larger number includes repairs, restoration, and a modest addition with bathrooms and a small gathering space to offer greater options for uses.
The committee was also asked to research the cost of razing the church building. The projected cost of demolition would be approximately $144,000. The parish would incur additional costs for repairing and restoring items in the church considered to be of sacred and historical value. We would remove those items from the church prior to demolition and thoughtfully repurpose them in ways that serve the broader St. Hubert community.
Preservation Outreach
The committee reached out to various stakeholders to gauge interest in preservation:
Carver County and the City of Chanhassen expressed support for preservation but are unable to provide financial assistance.
Historical societies were invited to purchase the building, but none had the resources to fund restoration or long-term maintenance.
Federal and state preservation grants were explored, but the building’s non-primary worship status made it ineligible for most funding.
Attempts to sell or transfer the church to a third party also failed, due to lack of interest and legal complications related to its proximity to the parish cemetery.
Discernment Process
This question—what to do with the historic church—has been present in the parish for decades. It has come up for every pastor since 1976, and remains a meaningful conversation today.
The final decision will be made by parish leadership, but that decision must reflect:
The will of the community
Wise financial stewardship
A reverence for the parish’s history and heritage
Community Input Needed
Parishioners have been part of the discernment process through:
The January 2024 parish-wide survey
Town hall meetings during summer 2024
Multiple open houses at the historic church
Now, as the process nears its final stages, all parish families are invited to share their thoughts one more time.
Final Survey
All parish households are encouraged to complete a short, prayerful survey.
Return by Mail or In-Person:
Surveys can be dropped off or mailed to the parish office.
Seeking God’s Will Together
As the parish prepares to make a final decision, the goal remains clear:
To make a choice that best serves the mission of St. Hubert—to Know, Love, and Imitate Jesus Christ—while honoring the past and planning faithfully for the future.
The parish asks for continued prayers and unity as this important chapter unfolds.