A landmark church complex in Lansford being transformed into an events center and short-term rental is up for sale.

The former St. Michael the Archangel Church, rectory and school on East Abbott Street is listed for $1.2 million, as the owners seek an investor or operator to take the property over and continue their vision.

George Haleem and Michael Klaips, partners in Mauch Chunk Holding LLC, purchased the church complex and parking lots two years ago for $137,500 and began renovation and restoration of the historic property.

“We’re incredibly proud of what has already been accomplished at the property and still strongly believe in the long-term vision for the project,” Haleem said Thursday, days after the property went on the market.

“Since acquiring it, we’ve invested heavily in stabilizing and improving the buildings, securing approvals, restoring key historical elements, and bringing the rectory back to life as a successful hospitality property,” he said.

The partners planned to invest $700,000 into the property, including replacing the roof and gutters on the massive Gothic stone church, which has dominated the borough’s skyline for more than a century.

In September 2024, they opened The Sanctuary, a short-term rental unit for large groups or families in the former rectory that has a game room, hot tub and patio area for guests.

The nine-bedroom, upscale rental generates $80,000 a year in income, according to the property listing.

“At this point, we felt it made sense to bring the opportunity to market and see if there may be an investor or operator looking to take the project to the next level,” Haleem said.

“Properties of this scale and uniqueness tend to attract interest from a wide range of buyers, especially given the growth happening throughout Carbon County and nearby Jim Thorpe,” he said.

After opening The Sanctuary, the partners planned to move onto the next phase of the project, which was the conversion of the former school into 14 hotel-style apartments for short- and long-term rentals.

The final phase of their plan is the conversion of the church into an events center, which could be used for weddings, retreats, performances and community gatherings with the on-site overnight accommodations.

“The property is significantly further along today than when we originally acquired it, with major infrastructure work, approvals, and restoration already completed,” Haleem said. “We see tremendous future potential in the site, particularly with the event venue and loft conversion components, and we’re excited to see what the next chapter could look like.

“If the right buyer doesn’t come along, we’re still excited about the future potential ourselves,” he said.