The Columbia City Council sought to quash rumors while allowing a Main Street developer to share his ideas for transforming the decommissioned Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, rectory and convent into a commercial venture Monday night.

Columbia resident and realtor Gregg Crawford, who has extensive experience with renovations on Columbia’s Main Street, addressed the city council and a full house of spectators on his plans for the former Immaculate Conception Church, rectory, convent and eventually school — Main Street Abbey.

“I met with committee groups for the church and we went over this (plan) and they met with the Bishop and they were all very comfortable with what I’m proposing to do with the property,” Crawford said.

The entire project is estimated to take three to five years to complete, and will be done in phases, Crawford said, with the final phase being the school, which currently is still in use.
The project includes the church, which would become an event space that could be used for live theater and as a wedding and reception venue…>>>

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