Crown Point City Council on Monday advanced a rezone request for 400 East North Street and voted to approve a separate resolution granting a special-use permit that would allow up to six residential units alongside office space in the same structure.

The approvals are intended to clear zoning hurdles so Dynasty Real Estate and Creekside Outdoor Living can pursue what petitioners describe as a full rehabilitation of the former Trinity Lutheran Church and school. Jake Rhodes, of Dynasty Real Estate, said the project will begin with due diligence to determine whether the existing structure can be preserved.

“There is a lot of asbestos in the building, there's a lot of lead paint in the building, there is, steel structures that we need to make sure are safe for the community,” Rhodes said, describing environmental and structural concerns that will be addressed during engineering and environmental studies. Rhodes added the redevelopment team aims to preserve the building “to the best of our ability” but said demolition is a possible outcome if the studies show preservation is not feasible.

The developers estimate the rehabilitation could cost between $1.5 million and $2 million. “It's gonna be between 1.5 and $2,000,000,” Rhodes said when asked about expected costs. He told councilmembers the project team expects to know whether preservation is feasible within roughly 45 days of starting due diligence.

Josh, a planning-department staff member, told the council the Board of Zoning Appeals recommended the special-use variance 5–0 and the plan commission recommended the rezone 7–0. The council’s approved resolution includes a restriction that residential units within the structure not exceed six units.

Council discussion focused on preserving the historic fabric, the pending demolition order and timing. Councilmember Clemons, whose district includes the property, said longtime neighbors value the site and urged the developers to keep the city informed. Rhodes said the team intends to provide updates to the city throughout the process.

The body took the zoning action as a first reading of the ordinance and approved the special-use resolution on the same agenda. City staff and council members noted a separate Board of Works action will be necessary to lift any outstanding demolition order if the developers seek to proceed with structural work or removal.

What happens next: the developers will conduct structural and environmental studies during the due-diligence period; the council indicated it would welcome an engineering report before final adoption of the rezone. Site-plan details, unit counts beyond the six-unit cap, and final tenant arrangements will be determined in subsequent permit and plan-commission proceedings.