The State College Borough's Design Review Board heard preliminary proposals Tuesday for a new church building that has some residents up in arms.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 842 Whitehall Rd., wants to build a multi-use church building on the 500 block of E. Beaver Ave. The proposed building would take the place of four historic houses on the block.

Some members of the board expressed concern over the project.

"If the project did go through and the buildings were demolished we would desire a site specific building rather than a generic one," said Richard Porter, design review board chairman.

Residents of the neighborhood are concerned with the prospect of the loss of the historic buildings, but church leaders said the houses are not worth restoring.

Historic Resources Commission chair Jackie Melander thinks their claim is an illegitimate reason for the demolition.

"All buildings are restorable," Melander said.

The commission would like to see the buildings preserved and used as they are for the church's activities, she said.

The commission is also concerned about the effect of the demolition and new construction in the neighborhood.

"Any time historic buildings are knocked down there is an impact," Melander said. The Design Review Board will make comments and suggestions about incorporating and maintaining characteristics of the neighborhood in the new building to the parties involved in construction of the building.

However, the board can only recommend an approval or rejection of the plan to the State College Planning Commission, which makes the ultimate decision.

"We have no authority to deny, only to advise," Porter said.

The proposed building is designed to serve church purposes such as meetings, dinners and student activities. Penn State University has over 60 students who participate in Latter-Day Saints' activities. They presently meet in Eisenhower Chapel. With construction of the new facility, students will have more space and flexibility with their meetings, said Jerry Hanscom, student branch president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The Planning Commission will make the final decision on the plans after they have been revised.