CUMBERLAND — The Town of Cumberland has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to more than 50 private developers and organizations to determine interest in an adaptive reuse for the 100-year-old church on German Church Road and East Washington Street.
Town Manager Andrew J. Klinger said, “We’re looking for a partner with innovative ideas for an adaptive reuse strategy for this project. Identifying a team would help us determine which type of financing path to pursue. We’d like to be in a position to make an attractive offer to the current owners in order to save the building and put it on the tax rolls.”
The current owner, St. John United Church of Christ, is entertaining an offer from Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle that is contingent on rezoning to allow a gas station. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission is scheduled to consider the request at its April 15 meeting. If approved, the church would be razed for a 24-hour GetGo gas station and convenience store.
In the past several weeks, town officials have met with Indianapolis City-County Councilor Ben Hunter, Giant Eagle and St. John officials. Subsequently, town officials have toured the structure with an architect.
The RFI explains that the town’s economic development strategy seeks to create a unique village commercial center on East Washington Street, and that the town and state have invested nearly $20 million in infrastructure improvements along the corridor including a streetscape and the 3-mile Pennsy Trail, which is accessible to the site.Responses to the RFI are due by 5 p.m. April 10, which is five days before the public hearing.