Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Southaven moves to condemn long-blighted Highway Baptist Church, tables Checkers property to January 6
Summary
After years of enforcement and a 2023 unsafe-building finding, the board voted to proceed with condemnation of 7515 Highway 51 (Highway Baptist Church) under Mississippi Code 21-19-11 and tabled 938 Main Street (former Checkers) to Jan. 6 for interior inspection and a remediation plan.
The mayor and Board of Aldermen of Southaven voted to proceed with condemnation for 7515 Highway 51 — the Highway Baptist Church site — under Mississippi Code 21-19-11, and to table consideration of 938 Main Street (the former Checkers property) until a January 6 meeting to allow interior inspection and remediation planning.
Cynthia Minor Thompson Saint John, who said she has been affiliated with Highway Baptist since childhood, urged the board to allow time and help for repairs. “I have been at Highway Baptist since I was 8 years old… This is not okay,” she said, describing the building’s murals, congregation history and repeated efforts to secure assistance.
City staff, the fire marshal and the chief building official told the board…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
