For more than three decades, First Baptist Church in Downtown Austin has wanted to build a new three-story ministry center.
But the city requires the church have adequate parking first. Now that the church has raised enough money to build a four-story garage across the street on Ninth and Trinity, the city said they don't need another parking lot.
Pastor Roger Paynter said the parking garage would be open 24-hours to church and downtown visitors, and would charge for parking like any other lot.
The problem is that there are already three parking garages in the immediate area.
"We really are trying to encourage that quadrant [of downtown] to become more enlivened," Eleanor McKinney, chair of the city's Design Commission, said.
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Put up a parking lot
The city says the last thing Downtown Austin needs is a four-story parking garage.
 
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The city now requires the first floor of any new parking garage in the area include pedestrian-friendly features, such as a convenience store, art gallery or restaurant, says Dave Sullivan of the Planning Commission.
"Part of the problem is there really aren't any pedestrians out here where we think a restaurant or coffee shop would be able to come in and turn a profit," Paynter said.
The church was hoping for a waiver, but the city isn't satisfied with their original plan. The church modified their design to create space for a nonprofit on the first floor and now plan to include benches and artwork on the walls.
Church leaders hope it's enough to satisfy the city. They're presenting the new design Tuesday at 6 p.m. during the planning commission's meeting. Commissioners are expected to vote on the issue.
"Unlike most of the building going on downtown we are not developers. So every time we have to make changes it's pretty expensive," Paynter said.
