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Fredericton Non-Profit Housing Corp. will ask the city's planning advisory committee on July 16 to rezone Turner House at 230 York St. to permit four units of seniors housing.

Eldon Toner said the process is a bit like putting the cart before the horse because St. Paul's United Church, which owns the property, hasn't yet made a decision on its future.

The 140-year-old house was acquired in 1976 when local physician Dr. Cecil Turner decided to sell the property to St. Paul's United Church, where he was a member.

Turner reserved the right to continue to lease the house and after his death. His widow Dolly Turner continued to live there under the lease deal with St. Paul's.

The property has been vacant since her death in 2005.

Earlier this spring, the church applied for a demolition permit for the house, intending to turn the site into a grassed area. The church isn't permitted, under city regulations, to remove the house to create additional parking.

Toner said he hasn't yet made a formal proposal to St. Paul's United Church because he's under a funding time constraint and needs to get the project started in order to meet funding deadlines.

If St. Paul's United declines the non-profit housing proposal, Toner said he'll simply withdraw the application at a later date.

"The church hasn't made any decision on letting us do it," he said.

At least one source within the church said it won't sell the property, but would look at a long-term lease arrangement.

While the housing corporation is proceeding with the application, the church is being kept informed of its efforts, said church spokeswoman Edith Rankin.

Once the process goes to the planning advisory committee, Rankin expects to see the formal proposal from the non-profit housing group come forward to the church for consideration.

"We're still awaiting the (formal) proposal from the non-profit housing," Edith Rankin said.

If all sides agree to the concept plan, renovation work could start as early as September.