Dale Heights Presbyterian Church is proposing to replace its west-side sanctuary with about 110 rent-restricted apartments, new worship space and areas for community use. The redevelopment would cover the church’s property near University Avenue and Norman Way and would be built in two phases. Madison-based Threshold Sacred Development would first construct a four-story, mixed-use building at the intersection, with about 45 apartments above ground-floor community space and residential amenities. The new building would include separate gathering areas for Dale Heights and Madison Sah Lang Church, which currently shares the existing facility. The spaces would use an open layout and movable chairs so they could also host community groups and other activities. After that building is completed, the existing church would be demolished. Two additional residential buildings, each with roughly 30 to 40 apartments, would be built on the property. One would sit along University Avenue, northwest of the first building, with a plaza and pedestrian access between them. The second would be located nearer the center of the site. The apartments would range from studios to two-bedroom units and would be reserved for households earning about 70% of the area median income. That threshold is currently about $64,000 annually, according to the project description. Gerry Klump, a member of the church’s governing board, said the apartments could serve workers such as teachers, nurses and store managers who are struggling to find housing in Madison. The project’s parking would be accessed from Norman Way and include both surface and underground spaces. The plans preserve two existing memorial gardens on the property. Jake DeHaven, Threshold’s design lead, said the gardens would retain mature trees and provide established green space within the development. The proposal reflects financial and demographic pressures facing the congregation, which was founded in the 1950s. Attendance has declined since the COVID-19 pandemic as members have aged or moved away, while maintenance needs have grown. Church financial projections in 2023 indicated that Dale Heights might be able to continue in its current form for only another six or seven years. Needed roof and chimney work would have cost six figures and added pressure to the church’s budget deficit. Rather than sell the property outright, church members began considering how it could support both the congregation and the broader community. Klump said the process led members to view housing as a way to put the underused property to work while maintaining the church’s identity and community connections. The proposal drew concerns at a recent public meeting, particularly about traffic and the possibility of additional vehicles attempting to turn left onto University Avenue. City planner Chris Wells said he would seek more information from the city’s Traffic Engineering division. The two proposed entrances from Norman Way were recommended by that department, he said. Ald. John Guequierre, who represents the area, said rebuilding nearby sections of Norman Way is included in the city’s long-term transportation plan and that he hopes the work near the proposed development could be incorporated into that effort. Michael Carlson, Threshold’s development manager, said the project team studied about a dozen ways to handle parking and traffic. He said car dependence creates significant costs and space demands that limit how development sites can otherwise be designed. The proposal still must go through the city approval process, which has not begun. Church leaders hope construction on the first building could start during the first half of next year, with residents moving in by mid-2028.