Pittsburgh City Council tentatively approved historic designation of a former men's social club on the North Side yesterday, over the objections of its owner, the Salvation Army, which planned to demolish it.

The approval also was issued over strenuous complaints from Councilman Ricky Burgess, a Baptist minister, who argued the designation violated the agency's religious rights. Under a 2003 city ordinance, churches are exempt from historic designations.

Council voted 8-1 in favor of protecting the Malta Temple building, largely to support efforts by North Side community groups to rehabilitate the neighborhood and save its old structures. The city Law Department also issued an opinion saying the facility, which houses a medical clinic, chapel and homeless drop-in center, does not count as a church.

Mr. Burgess questioned that, saying its work among the poor is part of its religious mission, work that he said well-heeled residents of the Mexican War Streets oppose. Historic designation "has far less to do with historic preservation than a preoccupation with removing the Salvation Army from the community," he said in a lengthy opening statement about the vote.

Tensions between social service agencies and North Side community groups are nothing new. And neither is the community's dedication to historic preservation, especially after so many old structures were destroyed during wayward urban renewal efforts, countered Councilwoman Tonya Payne, who represents the area.

"Just like the Salvation Army wants their work and their mission to be respected, so does the community," she said.

The other North Side councilwoman, Darlene Harris, noted the agency does not join in many community revitalization efforts and questioned why it -- and its lawyers -- were fighting to raze the 1927 building. When she drops money in red Salvation Army kettles, Ms. Harris said, is it "paying for attorneys or paying for goodwill? It kind of puts a doubt in my mind."

After the vote, Salvation Army Maj. James LaBossiere said he was disappointed in council's move, but would try to seek out a compromise before final action on Tuesday. The agency is considering legal action to deny the designation, he said.

In other action, council also preliminarily approved:

• Refinancing $77 million in bonds from 1998, triggering an estimated $3 million in savings.

• Selling the Municipal Courts Building on First Avenue to the state for $9 million. The state took over the former Pittsburgh Magistrates Court in 2005, so the sale finally moves the building off the city's books.

Allegheny County, which owns the adjacent county jail, will take over maintenance with $1 million of the city's sale proceeds. The administration of former Mayor Sophie Masloff paid $15.1 million, or three times the original estimate, to construct the building, which opened in 1994.

• A ban on placing handbills on vehicle windshields in public rights of way, just as they are banned on public utility poles. Councilman Bruce Kraus pushed the ban, which would include fines of $25 to $300, to cut down on litter in his South Side district. The legislation includes an exemption for parking tickets.