Correction: Apartment Complex Proposed For Former Church Property On Old Olive

Editor's Note: This story has been corrected to note that the property involved in the proposed project is NOT the Hamilton Christian Church. There is another church property also on Old Olive up for sale. Patch regrets any confusion.

A Chicago based developer has submitted plans to the City of Creve Coeur for a 174-unit apartment complex called The Vanguard at Creve Coeur, to be developed at 10360 Old Olive Street.

The property is the former home of Immanuel Baptist Church, and not the current home of Hamilton Christian Church, on Old Olive Street Road on the east side of the city, as Patch first reported.

Hamilton Christian Church, which was founded in 1895 when it was located in the city of St. Louis before moving to Creve Coeur in the 1960s, has decided to disband instead of seeking a new location. That property is also up for sale.

According to City Planner Whitney Kelly, the sale of the 5.26 acre Immanuel property is contingent on city approval of the project. A March 18 public hearing is scheduled for the Creve Coeur Planning and Zoning Commission. The prospective owner, Covington Realty Partners, needs to have the property rezoned from General Commercial to Core Business. A Conditional Use Permit would also be required. 

The city's Board of Adjustment will hear Covington's request for a variance to allow for a parking structure and increased building setback of 200 feet. A representative in the developer's St. Louis office couldn't be reached for comment late Friday afternoon.

John Boley, Chairman of Hamilton Christian Church's Board of Elders told Patch that there has been lots of sadness with the decision to disband, but lots of "good news" as well. Proceeds from any sale of the property will be distributed to non-profit organizations in the community, he said, and other parts of the church will live on. Hamilton's preschool is being taken in by the St. Monica Parish school. The church organ, which has been with the congregation since 1911, has moved to Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves.

Boley said the final service at Hamilton would be held Easter Sunday March 31, with a March 24 celebration planned for Palm Sunday to recognize church staff.