Local preservationists, Indiana Landmarks hope to save Crown Point church building
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The oldest church in Crown Point is up for sale at a remarkably small asking price of $7,500.
But The 1886 Church Foundation and Indiana Landmarks are hoping to find a specific type of buyer for the history Trinity Lutheran Church and school buildings. They want the property to be preserved.
The former church is located on East North Street close to Crown Point’s downtown courthouse square and was built in 1886. Since then the building has fallen on rough times, as Indiana Landmarks says both buildings at the property need complete interior rehabilitation and extensive exterior repairs, including a new roof.
The 1886 Church Foundation owns the building but is partnering with Indiana Landmarks to help market the property. Indiana Landmarks says clay-fired brick and native stone were used to build the church in 1886. The adjacent school building was started in 1938. Trinity Lutheran relocated into a different building in 1958.
“These buildings represent a great opportunity for someone to revitalize an important landmark property into a unique asset for the community,” said Blake Swihart, director of Indiana Landmarks’ Northwest Field Office in a press release. “We’d hate to see such a significant historic structure demolished for some sort of generic redevelopment, especially so close to Crown Point’s locally designated Eastside Historic District and its National Register-listed Courthouse Square Historic District.”
The release lists the two-story church building at 2,480 square feet while the school building is listed at 4,1000 square-feet.
Interested buyers should contact Indiana Landmarks’ Northwest Field Office at 219-947-2657. The preservation organization says there will be protective covenants in place along with a sale to ensure the building is preserved.