Atlanta, church offer to buy Morris Brown land

The City of Atlanta has made an offer to buy the Morris Brown campus, Invest Atlanta officials confirmed Thursday.

The $12.6 million offer, made in conjunction with Friendship Baptist Church, reportedly proposes giving part of the 37-acre property to the church and allows financially strapped Morris Brown to retain its historic buildings. The college has filed for bankruptcy.

If the offer is accepted, Atlanta would take control of such amenities as the colleges stadium, officials said.

Invest Atlanta Managing Director Eloisa Klementich said under the proposal, Atlanta will spend $9 million. Friendship Baptist, one of two churches that sold its property to make way for the new Atlanta Falcons stadium, will contribute $3.6 million. Invest Atlanta is the citys economic development agency.

Klementich said the city has many reasons for pursuing the property, including helping to redevelop the nearby communities and the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive corridor. The deal would also allow Morris Brown to continue offering educational programs.

Its an opportunity to make sure theres a comprehensive and cohesive strategy around whats happening in this very important part of town, making sure were supporting jobs and economic development as much as we can, she said. Thats the vision for us at this point.

Mayor Kasim Reed said in a statement Thursday that partnering with Friendship allows both parties a critical stake in the revitalization of the area.

If we succeed in this bid, it will bring much-needed stability and cohesiveness to these communities as we embark on a determined effort to spur job creation, civic engagement and business investment to the historic neighborhoods of Vine City and English Avenue, Reeds statement read.

Morris Brown president Stanley Pritchett could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Atlanta officials are playing a role in the $1.3 billion Atlanta Falcons stadium, including issuing $200 million in bonds backed by hotel-motel taxes for its construction. The stadium is within walking distance of the Morris Brown campus.

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Atlanta, church offer to buy Morris Brown land