New twist for historic Cumberland church: a plan to build senior housing, retail

In a last-ditch effort to keep a century-old church in Cumberland from being demolished for a gas station, town leaders say they are talking with a developer to convert the building into a senior housing center with first-floor retail.

Cumberland Town Manager Andrew Klinger confirmed Thursday that he has been talking with TWG Development in Indianapolis about a mixed-use development for the site.

Under the plan, the St. John's United Church of Christ building at the corner of Washington Street and German Church Road would be preserved and converted into about 60 senior housing units, Klinger said.

The development could include an addition or another building to reflect the historic character of the building, he added.

"We're still working out the details," Klinger said. "There's a lot of work to be done. We just don't think a gas station is appropriate for that site."

Officials at TWG Development could not be reached for immediate comment or to confirm the plans. The development company has preserved and redeveloped several high-profile buildings in the region, including the Penn Street Towers, 33 Penn Apartments and Lawrence Senior Apartments.

Klinger said town leaders put out a request for information several months ago, after the church announced plans to sell the building to Pittsburgh-based grocer Giant Eagle for $1.5 million to $2 million, raze the church and build a GetGo convenience store.

Klinger said TWG was one of two developers that responded to the invitation. He presented an 11-page PowerPoint to a group of about 100 people Wednesday evening at the church, outlining the TWG plan, but the developer did not attend the meeting.

Church leaders said they were surprised by the latest twist to save the building.

"This seems very vague," Pastor Jimmy Watson said. "There's no final plan. There's no money on the table."

Watson said the church plans to honor its deal with Giant Eagle, but that the town and the developer are free to talk to the supermarket chain afterward to work out another deal to save the building.

The Metropolitan Development Commission approved rezoning the property to a C-3 classification, which allows for commercial development, including gas stations. The City-County Council will vote June 8 on the zoning.

Cumberland, on the Far Eastside, straddles Marion and Hancock counties.

Church officials said their decision to sell the aging, crumbling building is being done out of necessity. The building would cost about $750,000 to renovate. The congregation averages about 50 to 60 attendees on Sunday morning, and church officials plan to build a new, smaller church on property the congregation owns about a mile southeast of the current church.

The church building was completed in 1914. Two previous church buildings stood at the same site, the first built in 1855.

Founded by German settlers, the church inspired the naming of German Church Road and has long served as a gateway to Cumberland.

Call Star reporter John Russell at (317) 444-6283 and follow him on Twitter @johnrussell99.