Greensburg, IN — Greensburg City Council on Tuesday night approved a five-year tax abatement for Heritage Hill Events, LLC.
Evan Manship and his wife, the former Emily Oesterling, plan to redevelop the old St. Mary’s Catholic Church (pictured) on East Street into an event center.
“Obviously, weddings will be a large part of that, corporate gatherings, concerts, that type of thing,” Manship said. ” But, with it being a super ancient property that’s been neglected for quite some time, it was necessary to pursue some other incentives. We’re thrilled with the council’s decision, and we’re looking forward to starting work here in the next couple of months.”
The chapel was built in 1884 and has been vacant since St. Mary’s moved to its current location off U.S. 421 in 2016.
Emily Manship has a special attachment to the site.
“My family has attended church there since my great grandfather’s time, and I attended school there and Mass there as a child as well all the way from preschool up to 6th grade at the time, so it’s a really, really special project for me, and special for my family,” Emily Manship said.
The restoration will take place in three phases. The final cost has yet to be determined.
The couple hopes to begin operating the venue in July 2023.
