Offices Eyed for Vacant St. Gregory Church in Birdtown

A couple of proposals for repurposing the former St. Gregory Church in Birdtown are gaining some traction.

But those plans may have to wait.

City council is considering a change to the Lakewood Zoning Code that would allow a “mixed use overlay” on properties in the neighborhood.

That means that commercial properties could operate in the residential neighborhood — not unlike 100 years ago, when the neighborhood was built.

St. Gregory Church space has been vacant for about a year.

In addition to the 12,000-square-foot brick structure — with its recognizable gold onion dome — the property also includes a two-family home and a parking lot big enough to hold 50 vehicles.

“We’ve had a couple of folks interested — one retail and another interested in office space,” said Dru Siley, the city’s director of planning and development. “The building is in remarkable shape.” 

The property is on the market for $168,000.

“We’ve heard some creative ideas about how to repurpose that church building,” said Siley. “If you create a means to be flexible with land use, and be respectful of the adjacent neighborhood, good things can happen. Historically, Birdtown was full of commercial development.”

Built in the 1925, the church at Thrush and Quail streets hosted its final mass in 2012.