Pittsburgh City Council designated the former Malta Temple building in the Central North Side a historic structure.

The preliminary vote last week provoked bitter debate and opposition from the Rev. Ricky Burgess, the councilman from Homewood, as well as the building's owners, the Salvation Army. But the final vote breezed through yesterday with an 8-1 vote and only Rev. Burgess voting against.

The Salvation Army, which wants to demolish the building, is considering legal action, an official said last week.

Council also approved the sale of the Municipal Courts Building to the state and a ban on placing fliers on publicly parked vehicles. It held off on a planned debt refinancing until next week.