Marian Center in St. Francis to close

The Marian Center for Nonprofits, a two-building campus of rental space for social justice organizations, artists and community groups in St. Francis, will close on July 1.

The buildings were part of St. Mary’s Academy from 1904 to 1991 and have housed dozens of nonprofits for the past 25 years. The center is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi.

Marian Center executive director Charlane O’Rourke-Hertig declined to comment on why the center will close its doors. However, financial information filed with the federal government in 2013 and 2015 indicates the center has struggled to keep pace with its operational expenses in recent years.

In 2015, the Marian Center pulled in $359,642 in revenue. The vast majority of that money, $344,460, was made from rent charged to its many nonprofit tenants. That year, operational expenses totaled $384,182. In 2013, the center made $376,752 but operational expenses were $395,126.

Plans for the future of the center’s two century-old buildings have not been released.

Tenants at the Marian Center include 28 education and social justice organizations, 18 artists and 15 community groups, according to papers filed with the federal government. Organizations were notified the center would be closing in late December.