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Batavia aldermen are OK with demolishing former church

Batavia aldermen are checking a few things off their list of things to do to enable redevelopment at Washington Avenue and Wilson Street.

That includes recommending granting themselves permission to raze the First Baptist Church and a few other buildings the city owns to make room for a proposed complex of apartments, stores and parking garage.

The committee of the whole voted 12-1 Tuesday in favor of a "certificate of appropriateness," a document necessary because the church is considered a significant building in the historic district.

The council will take a binding vote, possibly at its next meeting.

Alderman Kevin Botterman voted "no," and Alderman Kyle Hohmann was absent.

Alderman Susan Stark stressed that just because aldermen say it is OK to knock down the church buildings doesn't mean they will immediately be razed.

The council has not hired a demolition company.

The committee also recommended setting dates for public hearings related to creating a new tax increment financing district for the area.

The public hearing before the joint review board is tentatively set for 10:30 a.m. Sept. 27. There, representatives of various taxing bodies affected by the proposed district will review it and vote whether to recommend it.

It also recommended holding a public hearing before the city council at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7.

As required by law, the city will establish an interested parties registry. People who sign up for it will be notified of events and changes to the TIF and proposed redevelopment plans.

The city has created a page on its website devoted to the proposal for One North Washington Place and the creation of the TIF district.

It has also posted a schedule of actions for creating the TIF and building One North Washington Place.

Shodeen Inc. proposes to build 186 apartments and a 359-space garage. The garage would be used by the tenants and the public, replacing the current parking deck at River and State streets.

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