On Thursday, the Urban County Council gave final approval to an agreement with Main Street Baptist Church relating to parking at the church.
Church leaders have said the upcoming construction of Town Branch Park, and the ongoing expansion of Central Bank Center, left the church, located at 582 West Main St., with inadequate parking.
Under the agreement, which has been hammered out over four years of negotiations between the City and church leaders, the City will construct approximately 85 parking spaces on both the church property and what remains of the Jefferson Street Viaduct, which was largely demolished to make way for Town Branch Park. Through 2034, the public will be able to use the parking spaces Monday through Friday when church is not in session.
Cost of the construction is limited to $1.5 million.
“We’ve worked hard to come up with a plan that is fair to the church and the City,” Mayor Linda Gorton. “This agreement is not perfect, but it is a solid step in the right direction.”
Under the agreement, after completion of the construction, the viaduct will be permanently closed as a street and the property transferred to the church. The church cannot sell the property until 2034 without the permission of the City because of the investment of public funds in the parking lot construction.
The church continues to negotiate with Central Bank Center for overflow parking in public garages. The City has committed to work with the Central Bank Center Board and the church to forge an agreement.
Main Street Baptist is a historic African American church with roots that stretch back to 1854.
