Cumberland Seeks Ideas For German Church

The Town of Cumberland is reaching out to public and private groups to determine interest in repurposing a historic church that’s in danger of being torn down.

Last week the town issued a “Request for Information” to more than 50 developers and organizations to solicit ideas on what type of adaptive reuse plans might work for the building and identify groups that may be interested in partnering to save the structure.

Town Manager Andrew Klinger says they’d like to keep the church intact.  

"There's some advantages to repainting the structure as it is and just repurposing it," Klinger said. "It’s an intersection that generates about 30,000 vehicles a day so it’s got a high profile."

Which is why Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle wants to raze the building and turn the site into a gas station/convenience store.  The Town would much rather see a village-like center on East Washington Street, where nearly $20 million has already been invested in infrastructure improvements like streetscapes and a trail.

The town hopes to be able and make a counter offer to St. John United Church of Christ to buy the building.  A decision is based partly on a rezoning proposal that being considered by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission.  

Ideas are being accepted through April 10, five days before a public hearing on the issue.

The photo in this story is provided by Historic Indianapolis.