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More than four years after a fire destroyed a historic Baptist church in Northeast Portland, a new townhome community is rising on the site.

The first phase of construction began last month, and four of the 18 townhomes will be finished by March 2012, according to Andre Koshuba, a Lake Oswego designer and builder who purchased the property last year. Koshuba’s 鈥淢orning Star Village鈥� takes its name from the historically African-American congregation that was displaced by the fire 鈥� Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church.

The 40,000-square foot subdivision is along Northeast Rodney Avenue, between Ivy and Cook streets. Koshuba, owner of Exceptional Homes by Andre Inc., said he purchased the property for $570,000. Starting prices for the three-story, luxury homes in Morning Star Village will be in the $330,000 range.

鈥淚 figured out that buyers want to live close-in, but don’t have many choices 鈥� if you want all of the character of an old house, it usually needs a lot of fixes,鈥� Koshuba said. 鈥淭he whole idea for this block is really vintage style with modern amenities.鈥�

Each Morning Star Village home will have one of five different floor plans, ranging in size from 1,637 square feet to 2,087 square feet. Four of the models are completely designed; each has three bedrooms, a covered porch and a ground-floor garage. The fifth design is being finalized.

鈥淲e are pretty much in sync with what they’re proposing to develop,鈥� said Mike Warwick, land-use chairman of the Eliot Neighborhood Association.

Alan Sanchez, one of the association’s board directors, also supports the development plans.

鈥淭he proposed site聽appears to聽be good聽infill for the聽Eliot neighborhood,鈥� he said via email.

Much of the surrounding residential development was built between 1880 and 1910 and is within the Eliot Conservation District, which means that all new development must meet community design standards, according to the Bureau of Environmental Services.

An 87-year-old church, occupied by Morning Star Baptist since 1959, and an adjacent classroom building were lost to the February 2007 fire; however, residents are hoping the townhomes will provide a good compromise for neighborhood needs.

鈥淲e hated to see the church go, especially in the way that it did,鈥� Warwick said. 鈥淏ut it was underutilizing the site and their number of parishioners was in decline, as are the numbers of many churches in the neighborhood. We want to see more homeownership in the neighborhood, so this is all good stuff.鈥�

The Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church has since moved its congregation to the former Word of Life Community Church facility on Northeast 55th Avenue.

鈥淥ur hearts have gone through a lot of difficulty, as is to be expected when a church burns down,鈥� said the Rev. Wayne Johnson. 鈥淎t this present time we’re trying to heal.鈥�

In honor of the church’s history, a dedication ceremony is planned for when the first homes are completed, according to Juliann Evans, principal broker for the properties. Johnson said he was not aware of any plans, but he wishes the community well.

鈥淲e’ve had a lot of interest,鈥� Evans said. 鈥淎 lot of people are downsizing 鈥� looking for smaller homes that are energy-efficient, close-in, and have no wasted space.鈥�