I would've linked directly to the CL story, but those guys have a habit of changing the URLs at which their stories are archived, resulting in broken links.

The church, occupying a prominent corner at the highest point of the former Stewart Avenue, is in the midst of being purchased by a development team that says it plans to preserve the 1927 sanctuary and develop the rest of the three-acre site with a mix of townhouses, offices, restaurants and retail space.

Joe Laster, a development partner with Linda Rothermel, says it's too early to say what kind of adaptive reuse awaits the old church, but possibilities include a performing arts center, a community meeting hall and loft space.

"The roof has 100 leaks and the place has been looted repeatedly," says Laster, who estimates that fixing up the dilapidated sanctuary will cost more than $2 million. "We'll be lucky to break even on the renovation of the church."

Ryan Gravel, founder of Friends of the Beltline and a resident of nearby Capitol View Manor, is excited about the preservation of a neighborhood landmark, as well as by the prospect of new retail development in an emerging area that has long been ignored by investors.

"I don't think we could've hoped for a better developer for this project," he says.

The church became the latest historic south side building threatened with demolition last year when its owner, the Achor Center, a social-service organization, announced that it could no longer afford upkeep and would replace the church with low-income housing.

Although Laster and Rothermel are a few weeks from completing the purchase and still must have the property rezoned for retail use, Gravel believes the tentative plans mark the start of an overdue community upswing.

"This street has changed a lot over the last few years," he says. "It has a good elementary school, it's right on the Beltline and it's seeing more interest from developers."