A historic church in downtown St. Petersburg is at risk of demolition after a local couple’s efforts to repurpose it were thwarted by the city’s Community Planning and Preservation Commission.
Irene and Noam Krasniansky, having invested their life savings, purchased the Euclid Church on 10th Avenue North with the aim of transforming it into a vibrant event space and bed and breakfast. The building, recognized for its historical significance since 2004, has remained vacant since 2005. “For me, it’s important. I would like to save this building at all costs,” Irene expressed.
The Krasnianskys, who relocated from California after selling their home, envisioned a place they would call “The Treehouse.” They started refurbishing the outside of the church, investing $300,000 into exterior renovations before the building sustained damage from Hurricane Milton. Noam described the initial restoration efforts, saying, “We started working on the outside, because in historical preservation you can do the outside, changing the windows, fixing things.”
The couple faced a significant hurdle when attempting to gain the city’s approval to move forward with their plans. After a seven to eight-month wait for a hearing, the Community Planning and Preservation Commission delivered a tied vote of 3-3, effectively halting the project. Concerns raised included potential noise and traffic issues, although Noam assured that solutions were in place to address these matters.
Support for the Krasnianskys’ endeavor extended beyond the immediate community, with advocacy from groups like Preserve The ‘Burg. Prior to the hearing, they submitted a letter recommending the approval of the project, highlighting the potential benefits of preserving the historic structure. Nevertheless, the couple left the meeting feeling deflated. “I feel like the wind got knocked out of me. I feel like we’ve gotten so much support, especially on social media and the neighbors,” Irene shared.
Noam expressed the pressing concern of the church’s future, fearing that its continued deterioration could lead to it becoming beyond repair. “This building is unsellable. Nobody is going to buy it because there’s nothing you can do with it,” he noted. The couple’s financial commitment and emotional investment underscore the complexity of preserving historic architecture in modern urban settings. Despite reaching out to the city for further dialogue, they have yet to receive a response.
As the historic church in St. Petersburg hangs in the balance, the situation underscores the challenges faced in preserving architectural heritage while addressing modern urban concerns. The Krasnianskys’ story emphasizes the need for cooperative solutions that allow for both preservation and development.
Source: Fox13news
