URBANA – City officials say they are moving toward a resolution regarding the notable Halberstadt House, a recurring Urbana City Council topic since last year, when historic preservation advocates began calling for its protection.

Canaan Baptist Church, the owner of the property, had been planning for years to tear down the house and replace it with a parking lot – parking has long been a problem near the church, officials say, especially on Sunday mornings.

Director of community development Libby Tyler said there is "nothing confirmed, but progress has been made" toward the potential sale of the property to a buyer who would be in favor of landmark protection for the 135-year-old home.

Elawrence Davis Jr., a member of the church's board of deacons, asked the city council for "a bit more time to move forward and come to a win-win situation with everyone."

An unofficial deadline of January, the time until which the church initially said it would be willing to discuss the issue, has passed.

But Davis said on Monday that the church is willing to continue working with city officials and the surrounding neighborhood, and Tyler said city officials may bring a final report to the city council in March.

"We will continue to be at the table enthusiastically," Davis said.

The discussion has evolved to take a different tone in the months since its onset, when church officials and historic preservationists seemed unlikely to come to an agreement.

"I would just say that I'm really kind of proud of my neighborhood and city staff and admiring of the church because there are very, very different perspectives on this that are coming together," said Alderman Eric Jakobsson, D-2, who represents the district where the property is located.

"I don't want to say that we had a bonfire at the site of the old Armory and we sang 'Kumbaya,'" he later added.

Alderman Brandon Bowersox, D-4, said he glad to see the issue moving forward, but is still looking for a timely resolution.

"I wouldn't want six months or something to go by without coming to an agreement on price," Bowersox said.