Church wants $24.5 million from Atlanta Falcons for new stadium site

SB Nation ^ | Jun 21 2013, 11:04a | Jason Kirk

[BenLurkin]

If they go by way of eminent domain, it would be purchased for fair market value.

That is not the it’s value to the church nor its value to the city, but what a willing buyer and willing seller would pay for the property in an arm’s length transaction.

[BenLurkin]

Church properties can be acquired by way of eminent domain.

[OrangeHoof]

I’m a big NFL fan but, surprisingly, I’m with the churches on this one. Unless the church’s facilities aren’t nearly as old as the age of their congregation, how brazen is it to ask a church to abandon the land that has carried so much history?

The Georgia Dome is hardly old. They should have paid to build a better stadium.

Houston is trying to decide what to do with the Astrodome that has gone largely unused since 2000. Maybe Atlantans could pay to blow up the Georgia Dome and then transport the Astrodome to the same site. It withstood Hurricanes Alicia (1983) and Ike (2008) with hardly a scratch. It could use a good paint job, though.

[RedMonqey]

Church properties can be acquired by way of eminent domain

True but these are black churches in Atlanta.

Can you imagine the blowback from "community organizers" protesting destruction of histortical black churches for "white rich, team owners"?

[PAR35]

The property’s worth a little over $2 million. The church wants ten times what the property would be worth for any other purpose. And the corrupt third world politicians want to get the money to them.

[ArrogantBustard]

[GreenHornet]

There has never been a publicly funded pro sporting arena that has ever been a benefit for taxpayers - they are black holes of funds, provide exceptional profit for team owners with minimal return to taxpayers. The formulas utilized to determine the economic impact of a stadium / sports team on a municipality are flawed on a level that is staggering. Look at the outstanding debt on all pro stadiums and tell me they benefit taxpayers.

If building and operating a stadium or arena were profitable, the teams would insist on building their own facilities, rather than stick the taxpayer with the tab.

[Secret Agent Man]

keep it secured for any kind of emergency headquarters etc. you can land helicopters inside if necessary.

[RobertClark]

If building and operating a stadium or arena were profitable, the teams would insist on building their own facilities, rather than stick the taxpayer with the tab.

Ding, ding, ding. Winner!!!

[RedMonqey]

If they go by way of eminent domain, it would be purchased for fair market value.

Hah!!!

Guess you never had land taken by the state by eminent domain for fair market valve

My family has several times and we never got anywhere close to what we were offered by private buyers.

[Pan_Yan]

Church properties can be acquired by way of eminent domain.

I heard the mayor giving an interview on a sports show and eminent domain is absolutely not an option. What he didn't say is it would be political suicide.

[RedMonqey]

If building and operating a stadium or arena were profitable, the teams would insist on building their own facilities, rather than stick the taxpayer with the tab.

Damned straight!!!

[KC Burke]

I don’t think you could buy a similar property in the area, build two new churches of like size and caliber and get it all done for 30 million. Churches aren’t cheap to build and the land and design work is going to eat up about 7.5 of the 30. That leaves about a little over 11 per building — nope, not a good deal.

[Pan_Yan]

The property’s worth a little over $2 million.

Buying the dirt would cost $2 million. Buying another lot and building a very large replacement facility could easily cost $20 million.

[Pan_Yan]

I drive right through that intersection on my way to work.

Now I know who's responsible for me getting stuck at the light at Northside and MLK all the time.

[RedMonqey]

The property’s worth a little over $2 million. The church wants ten times what the property would be worth for any other purpose.

It's worth what the owners(or for any other landowner's property) say it's worth.

If Alanta Falcons don't agree, let them buy land elsewhere.

[Pan_Yan]

If Alanta Falcons don't agree, let them buy land elsewhere.

Here's the sticky part. From what I understand the City has agreed to buy and prep the land as their part of the deal.

[gatorhead]

Looks like an angry, open sore.

[RedMonqey]

From what I understand the City has agreed to buy and prep the land as their part of the deal.

There's a sucker born every minute. Nashville got stuck with a bad deal(IMHO) with the Tennesse Titans.

At least Nashvillians got to actually vote on it(suckers)

[teacherwoes]

I hate to see historic buildings destroyed for the sake of money. However, if the churches think money is more important than I say soak the Falcons and let the rich pay their fair share. I’d also hold out for season tickets, in perpetuity, for members of each church and their immediate families.