A neighborhood group is trying to prevent the Salvation Army from demolishing a 1927 building it owns in the Mexican War Streets.

The former Malta Temple on West North Avenue on the North Side was once the home of the Ancient and Illustrious Order of the Knights of Malta, a men's social club. It is now owned by the Salvation Army, which owns two adjoining properties as well. It plans to demolish the temple and build a new facility on the site.

The Mexican War Streets Society is seeking to have the Tudor revivalist building designated as a city historical structure, which would prevent its demolition. .....

The building, purchased by the Salvation Army in the 1970s, has a facade of red brick and limestone, with glazed terra cotta trim, and "it fits with the rhythm and scale of the block of buildings," said David McMunn, president of the Mexican War Streets Society.

The building houses a medical clinic, chapel and homeless drop-in center. Major James LaBossiere, divisional general secretary and Allegheny County coordinator for the Salvation Army, said "the building is inadequate" for the needs of the community and a new facility is needed.

But Mr. McMunn, who has spearheaded the effort at historic designation, insisted that "this building needs to be saved."

When City Council took up the Malta Temple Tuesday, controversy arose over whether the Salvation Army can claim church status, which would mean its building could not be nominated for historic status by another group. Council President Doug Shields explained that the city code requires a religious building to be nominated as a historical structure "only by the owners of record of the religious structure." The Salvation Army opposes any such nomination of the Malta Temple, as it would restrict its ability to develop the property.

Council Member Ricky Burgess said that the Salvation Army building meets the Internal Revenue Service's criteria for churches to receive federal tax exemption and urged council members "not to get into a discussion about what a church is."

Mr. McMunn argued that the building is not a church and "was always zoned as a commercial property." He urged that at least the building's facade should be preserved.

Major LaBossiere said that keeping the facade would not be economically feasible, given the Salvation Army's budget and preliminary designs.

The proposed nomination will be reviewed at the end of the month. In the meantime Councilwoman Tonya Payne, in whose district the disputed site is located, said she is encouraging a compromise.

If council doesn't act by July 30, the proposed nomination would die.

Mr. McMunn said he hoped the Salvation Army would think of the neighborhood's character as well as its own needs.

"Demolition does not equal progress," he said.