Marietta officials want to expand Roswell Street, but in order to do that, they would need to take about 80 parking spots owned by a 70-year-old church. About 200 members of the Roswell Street Baptist Church showed up to protest the move.
Church leaders say what the city wants to pay for the space is unfair.
"Now they want to just do a cash settlement for $365,000 and I've got an appraisal for $1.6 million," said Dr. Ernest Easley of the church.
A motion was on Wednesday's City Council meeting agenda that would have condemned the church so that Marietta could take it by eminent domain.
"I mean let's face it, that's a nasty word, especially when you talk about a city government and a church," said Easley.
After they saw the hundreds of church members in attendance, the council took the eminent domain decision off the table for now, and instead voted to go into mediation with the church.
"My desire is to try to hammer this out, work with the church and let the church work with the city also and to try and find some common ground," said Marietta City Councilmember Anthony Coleman.
The two sides have been arguing over the issue for nearly a decade.
"All we're asking is from the city, to be fair, you know, to give us a fair amount of money for the land that they're taking from us," said Easley.
A professional mediator will be brought in to try to help reach a decision.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 7:11 PM EDT2013-06-18 23:11:21 GMT
Atlanta police have arrested two brothers for running what they say was a major fraud ring that caused small businesses across the country to lose more than $300,000.
Atlanta police have arrested two brothers for running what they say was a major fraud ring that caused small businesses across the country to lose more than $300,000.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:22 PM EDT2013-06-18 22:22:48 GMT
Defense attorneys want the governor's report on Atlanta Public Schools cheating thrown out. They say educators were threatened to cooperate with investigators or lose their jobs.
Defense attorneys want the governor's report on Atlanta Public Schools cheating thrown out. They say educators were threatened to cooperate with investigators or lose their jobs.
