Local

Stadium Church Postpones Vote to Finalize Buyout Deal

August 18th, 2013

Atlanta’s Friendship Baptist Church has postponed a vote to finalize the sale of its property. The Atlanta Falcons want the land for a new stadium.

The congregation had been scheduled to vote Sunday on a $19.5 million buyout deal struck between Friendship’s board and the city of Atlanta.

After Sunday’s service, board chair Lloyd Hawk said the delay was a matter of “dotting i’s and crossing t’s.”

“There’s no major details that have changed at all. It’s really just the lawyers making sure everyone’s on the same page and needing more time,” said Hawk, adding he now anticipates a final vote in early September.

Mayor Kasim Reed attended service and shook hands after. Some in the community accuse Reed and Friendship of attempting a land grab on nearby Morris Brown College, currently in bankruptcy court.

Hawk reiterated points he’s made previously: Friendship is considering a part of Morris Brown’s campus as a relocation site, but no backroom deal with the city is in the works.

“The city’s involvement in trying to help Morris Brown has long preceded any discussion of a stadium issue and so have members of our church who have actively tried to help Morris Brown,” said Hawk.

Meanwhile, the other church sitting atop the possible stadium site – Mt. Vernon Baptist – has lowered its asking price from $20.4 million to $15.5 million. Negotiations with the city remain ongoing.