Atlanta church votes to make way for Falcons stadium

ATLANTA (AP) An Atlanta church congregation has voted to accept the city's $14.5 million offer to relocate so the Atlanta Falcons can build a new stadium.

Members of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church voted overwhelmingly Thursday in favor of accepting the offer for their land south of the Georgia Dome.

The church is one of two that needs to be relocated if the franchise is to build its $1 billion, retractable roof stadium at its preferred site.

Mayor Kasim Reed publicly announced the preliminary agreement last week. The plan calls for the Georgia World Congress Center Authority to pay $6.2 million, and the Falcons to pay $8.3 million.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports a second church in the proposed path, Friendship Baptist, plans to vote on whether to sell their property on Sunday.