First of two churches demolished for new Falcons stadium

As of Thursday evening, demolition crews had nearly cleared the site formerly known as Mount Vernon Baptist Church.

The church, which was torn down to make way for the new Atlanta Falcons stadium, had been a fixture at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. and Northside drives for 53 years.

Demolition began earlier this week, according to Channel 2 Action News.

In September, Mount Vernon's congregation voted to approve a $14.5 million agreement to vacate the building, clearing the way for the Falcons to build on the land, which is located just south of the team's current home, the Georgia Dome.

A second church, Friendship Baptist, which sits just across the street from the Mount Vernon site, sold for $19.5 million and also will move to accommodate the new stadium.

Mount Vernon's final service was held March 9, and the congregation relocated the following Sunday to its temporary home at Carver College on Cascade Road in Atlanta.

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Michelle E Shaw

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