A Tarpon Springs landmark is being transformed into something new thanks to the family who has owned it for nearly four decades.

Richard Boeckl bought the old Baptist Church on Read Street in Tarpon Springs in 1973. When he bought it, he had some ideas of what to do with it, but life got in the way.

“The church was like a white elephant that’s just getting bigger all the time,” said Boeckl.

Now, the city used code violations to force his hand. So rather than tear it down, Boeckl and his son Andreas are transforming the historic building into a single-family home they will eventually live in.

“It’s been in the family for a while, so it’s kind of like a family member,” said Andreas Boeckl, Richard’s son.

When it’s all said and done, the Tarpon Springs landmark will retain its façade and historic bell tower.

Beyond that, it’ll basically be a brand new 7,500 square foot, five bedroom, five bathroom home.

“It’ll be a place people can enjoy and point to and think wow what a magnificent building,” said Andreas Boeckl.

Boeckl’s said it’s a place they’ll be happy to live for the rest of their lives.

The Boeckl’s expect the rebuild to take about a year and cost anywhere from $600,000 to $750,000.

After that they said they will start working on the interior of the home to make it livable.