Aug. 22, 2020 1:00p
(WGTD)---A downtown Kenosha church that's within the Library Park Historic District is in danger of meeting the wrecking ball.
The 117-year-old First Baptist Church has fallen into disrepair under its new owners--Apostolic Missionary Church--and could be leveled to make way for a parking lot.
The city's Historic Preservation Commission will take up the matter at a virtual meeting Thursday evening at 5.
City staff is recommending that the demolition plan be put on hold for six months to see if there aren't any options other than demolition.
The parking lot proposal comes from the new owners of the building that once housed the Kenosha News. The property is under renovation for use by Herzing University. Herzing could use additional parking in the area, and the church property--on the same block as the old Kenosha News building-- is a prime candidate.
The church has agreed to sell the building to the developer after having no success for over a year in trying to find a new user. The primary obstacle apparently is the estimated $2 million cost of trying to fix up the building.
According to support materials provided to the Commission, the church is described as a good example of the Gothic Revival style of architecture as seen in religious buildings.
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