A group of concerned citizens is asking a public charter school to reconsider plans to demolish the former St. Andrew church building in St. Paul’s Como Park neighborhood.

Twin Cities German Immersion School, which purchased the former church building and school campus after the parish merged with nearby Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the church building closed in 2011, plans to replace the building with new construction that its leaders say better meets the growing school’s needs.

Currently, the former church is used as TCGIS’ gym and auditorium, with a lunchroom in the basement. Save Historic St. Andrew’s formed to encourage the school to spend more time exploring alternatives to tearing down the building.

Its leaders say that the building is a community landmark, and destroying it will make an impact that will outlast the tenure of the school at that site.

“The building is important to our neighborhood; it’s important to our sense of place,” said Teri Alberico, who lives next to the school and former church and is leading the Save Historic St. Andrew’s effort.

Also involved with the preservation-minded group is Father John Forliti, who grew up in St. Andrew parish and lives across the street from the church.

The group expected its petition voicing its opposition to demolishing the building and requesting further study of the plan to be considered by the TCGIS school board May 23.