Community backlash as plans to tear down Champaign church unveiled

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Parts of a nearly 100-year-old church in Champaign have been approved to be demolished.

The University Place Christian Church in Champaign has been around since 1936 but might not be for much longer, and the decision has been met with some push back.

The City of Champaign said that the demolition permits to tear down the chapel and attached apartment building to the church have been paid for and approved.

Eric Freyfogle, Chair of the Trustees for the University Place Christian Church, said that the decision to initially sell the building was a difficult one. He shared that over a span of 20 years, it would take up to $10 million to complete all of the necessary renovations.

Freyfogle said that the stained glass windows are overdue to be taken out and refurbished, and it would be a price a tag alone of more than $1 million. Additionally, there’s water seepage, the roof needs to be repaired, and the electricity is out of compliance. He also added that the location is not ideal for a church because there’s limited parking, and it’s away from neighborhoods.

“Our sense is the property’s really only serious use is for residences, for apartments,” Freyfogle said.

However, Leslie Colbert-Baker disagreed. She filed an application to make the church a historical landmark so it isn’t demolished, but the city has already moved forward.

“The city’s legal advice is that our purchaser already has the right to demolish the building, and they intend to go ahead and do so,” Freyfogle said.

Baker knows her efforts might come up short since two demolition permits have already been approved, but she felt the church was too important to let it go without being challenged.

Freyfogle believes her efforts are not going to waste.

“I think the process is still a useful one,” he said.

He believes good can come from what she is trying to do.

“I’m hoping that this whole city process will get the city thinking about ways to preserve old buildings like this,” Freyfogle said.

Both him and Colbert-Baker have years worth of ties to the church and hate to see it go.

“There are no people who are sadder than those of us who have been here for decades about the demolition of the building,” Freyfogle said.

Baker said that since she started the landmark application, she intends to see it through.

So, she’s still planning to go to the planning commission meeting on Wednesday.

The city also said that since two demolition permits have been approved, demolition crews could begin tearing down parts of the church as soon as they want.