When Mandeville-based Church of the King embarked on ambitious plans in 2018 to renovate the Jerusalem Temple on St. Charles Avenue and convert the historic building into a worship center, church leaders had hoped to be finished by Christmas, 2019.

A 90-year-old, city-owned landmark that, for years, was a haven for graffiti artists, urban explorers and the homeless, is on its way to returning to its intended, and only legally permitted, use — a home for those in need.