Interested in buying church property?

Batavia is trying to find a new owner for the First Baptist Church building downtown.

The city, which owns the building, will have an open house for interested buyers from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the church, 15 N. Washington St.

The open house is primarily for nonprofit groups that want to find out more about the property, but anyone can come, said Assistant City Administrator Randy Recklaus.

There will be a short presentation on the property at 6:30 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session.

The city is asking that any interested nonprofit groups submit proposals within 30 days of the meeting if they are interested. Then city officials will decide if they want to work with one of those groups or solicit proposals from private developers, Recklaus said.

The city bought the church for $715,000 in 2005, when officials planned to eliminate the Route 25 jog at Wilson Street.

But in 2006 consultants told city officials that the project, at a cost of $10 million to $20 million, wouldn't improve traffic congestion that much and would create additional difficulties for pedestrians and businesses.

The city may just sell the church and keep its parking lot for downtown parking.

The church's congregation is now leasing the property from the city until it moves to a new site in Mill Creek this year.