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WE AND THE CLAIM STEMS FROM THIS 2006 REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM AND TRINITY CME CHURCH. IT SAYS FOR NOT FINISHING THE WORSHIP CENTER AS PROMISED AND DIVIDING THE LAND INTO TWO PARCELS, THE IS TAKING THE CHURCH TO COURT. THIS MASSIVE SHOW, A WORSHIP CENTER, IS NOW THE FOCUS OF CITY LAWSUIT. IT LOOKS PRETTY MUCH LIKE THE CITY IS EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO REACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SINCE SOME OF THE SOME OF THE THE TERMS OF REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN BREACHED IN 2014, THE CITY BIRMINGHAM GAVE TRINITY KIM CHURCH $500,000 FOR THE PROJECT, PLUS SOLD THEM THE LAND BLOCK FROM THE BGC FOR A DOLLAR. CONSTRUCTION HALTED AT LEAST FIVE YEARS AGO AND THE CHURCH SUBDIVIDED THE TWO ACRE PLOT IN THE PROCESS. THAT ATTORNEY, DREW ELLIS, TELLS US, WAS A KEY TO FILING THE LAWSUIT BEFORE. THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS EXPIRED THIS MONTH. THAT’S IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THOSE FUNDS WERE OBTAINED. AND SO THEY THEY WERE ABLE TO SORT OF AT THE 11TH HOUR, PRESERVE A CLAIM AND FILED IT PRETTY QUICKLY. NOW THE CITY IS SEEKING A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR REFUND AND THE LAND. THE CHURCH HAS NOT FILED ITS OFFICIAL RESPONSE. BUT NEWLY APPOINTED FIFTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT BISHOP, CLARENCE HEATH TOLD US TODAY, JUST LEARNING ABOUT THIS SUIT ITSELF AND HOPE THAT BETWEEN BOTH PARTIES, WE WERE ABLE TO RESOLVE A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO BOTH PARTIES. ELLIS SAYS THE TAXPAYERS WERE CURIOUS EXACTLY WHERE THEIR HALF A MILLION DOLLARS WENT. THEY MAY NEVER KNOW. SO BASED ON THE WAY THE LAWSUIT WAS WRITTEN, THEY’RE NOT ASKING FOR AN ACCOUNTING OF HOW THE MONEY WAS SPENT. NO, NO. THEY’RE JUST THEY’RE JUST SAYING WE’VE WE’RE ENTITLED TO RECOVER $500,000 BECAUSE YOU BREACHED THE AGREEMENT, AN AGREEMENT AT THE HEART OF A LEGAL BATTLE BETWEEN CITY AND CHURCH. AND JOHN, ANY IDEA WHAT THE CITY WOULD DO WITH THE LAND IF IT WINS WITH THE LAWSUIT? YEAH. BRITTNEY, THE MAYOR’S OFFICE SAID THEY DIDN’T WANT COMMENT ON WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE MADE HAPPEN TO THIS LAND. IF THEY DO WIN THE LAWSUIT. BUT SINCE THE PROPERTIES TAX VALUE HAS SHOT UP 54% SINCE 2014, REDEVELOPING PROPERTY INTO COMPLEMENTING THE NEARBY ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT COULD BE A STRONG POSSIBILITY. LIVE I