A historic building that had just one purpose as a sanctuary for prayer and fellowship will soon have three uses: apartments, a dining hall and a venue for special events.
Following a complete renovation of the interior of Trinity United Methodist Church, a new concept called “Northwest Square” at 306 W. Wisconsin Ave. in DeLand will open its doors this summer.
The husband and wife team behind the project hope to continue the revitalization the downtown area has seen over the past decade with new residential unit options and entertainment options. According to the developer, monthly rents will start at $1,250 (including utilities, Wi-Fi, security deposit, parking, etc.) for a 255-square-foot studio. Prices for each of the 15 apartments vary by size and range from studios to three-bedroom units.
The former church built in 1926 is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A process lasting more than three years
Plans for the three-story structure date back several years. When the property came up for sale in 2021, Chris and Jessica Levings began considering it for an adaptive reuse project. He is a residential real estate investor who also feels a sense of kinship with the building, having grown up attending Sunday services there with his family. She is a real estate agent with years of experience in the field, including mixed-use projects.
The Levings purchased the building in August 2022 for $950,000, according to property records, and last year began extensive renovations to the 26,672-square-foot former church. Although the concrete and masonry facade remained largely intact, the interior had to be reconfigured to accommodate a food/beverage hall and wedding and event space, as well as changes to bring the building up to code.
In a phone interview with The News-Journal Tuesday, Jessica Levings said they had good luck designing the layout of the residential units, since the second and third floors of the building were already divided into classrooms used by the Methodist congregation ( a single unit on the first floor is designated as an ADA-equipped apartment). The original exposed brick was retained throughout much of the interior, which has an industrial feel, according to Levings.
“We try to use as many existing resources as possible,” Levings added. “It’s been important throughout this process to preserve as much as we can.”
Food Hall, event space open to the public
Retailers will have the convenience of a cafeteria on the first floor, also open to the public. So far, several vendors have signed on to rent space, including Chapel Tap, which sells craft beers from across the state; Tropi Shack, with a selection of Cuban sandwiches, ice cream and sorbets; Wander Bar Cocktail Lounge, with local craft cocktails; a wine, juice and locally roasted coffee bar; a flower shop and other retail; an arts store; and more. Live entertainment will be offered regularly.
The event venue will have four spaces, including indoor and outdoor options, with capacity to receive from 20 to 250 guests. The Levings recently hired an event planner.
Georgia Turner, executive director of Visit West Volusia, said that while the region has been fortunate to have many good places to eat and drink, “this is something very different for downtown – there’s nothing like it around here.”
The event location also excited Turner, who said it was just another way to bring more visitors to the DeLand region and introduce them to all the area has to offer.
Levings said the community, especially the neighborhood, has been very supportive of the project after the developers reached out to them for feedback on the application process.
This article originally appeared in The Daytona Beach News-Journal: DeLand Church Converted into Apartments, Dining Hall and Event Venue
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