The Springside Inn has expansion plans for a church near the Fleming restaurant.

The former Mennonite institution between Sand Beach and West Lake roads could be transformed into a wedding chapel and meeting space by year's end, according to Springside owner Sean Lattimore, who closed on the 150-year-old-plus property Wednesday. He declined to name the purchase price.

"The thing that first caught our interest was the pastor of that church built the Springside School for Boys, so there's a historical connection," Lattimore said.

A walking path still connects the two properties. With some minor refurbishing inside, the church would provide additional space for weddings, receptions and meetings.

"Our intention is to preserve the integrity of the church," Lattimore said. "I'm going to operate it as a facility similar to Springside.

"We saw a need here," he said.

The Springside Inn usually hosts about 25 wedding ceremonies each season. Some couples are turned away when the front lawn of the inn is booked.

Lattimore hopes to change that by December, the earliest the space will be ready. Eventually, the church may add spa and lodging services.

Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Citizen.