SCHERERVILLE | A vote by Schererville planners will help turn a longtime vacant building into office space.

The Plan Commission on Monday gave primary approval of a one-lot commercial subdivision for the former Scherwood Music Store, 21 E. U.S. 30, which has been empty for 25 years.

George Grkinich, the new owner of the building, wants to convert it into office space.

The project has been working its way through the town's approval process since January. Site work already is under way.

The project has received approval from the Indiana Department of Transportation to create an access to the building off U.S. 30. Improvements will be made to U.S. 30, including the creation of deceleration lanes for westbound and eastbound traffic, said Doug Rettig, of Land Technologies.

Access to the building had been limited to Lincoln Drive, the street to the south. But that access will be removed, a condition insisted upon by nearby residents after they agreed to have a deed restriction on the land removed.

The deed restriction was the source of the building's 1983 closure.

A 1953 restriction allowed only residential development on the land, but the owner rezoned it and built the music store. When residents of neighboring Lincoln Knolls Estates challenged the commercial development, a court found in their favor. Only recently did neighbors agree to have the deed restriction lifted.

In other business, the Plan Commission during its study session discussed a proposed assisted living center that would open near the southeast corner of Austin Avenue and U.S. 30. The center would take up a portion of an 11.6-acre parcel of land, and the remainder would be developed commercially.

Frank Jachim, with Deer Trail Plaza LLC, told the Plan Commission he wants to proceed with the primary plat process. But the last time he went before the commission, it directed him to provide the type of commercial tenants he expects to open on site.

Jachim said Monday it's still too difficult to specify tenants with any certainty.

He proposed that the commission allow him to move forward with the assisted living center portion of the plan and then subdivide the remainder of the land as tenants are secured.