Riverdale Mayor Hardly Excited About Church Replacing Vacant Lot

A Chicago church plans to build a 6,000-seat mega-church on this vacant lot in south suburban Riverdale, but the mayor doesnt like the plan, because the church wouldnt bring any property tax revenue to the cash-strapped village. (Credit: CBS)

RIVERDALE, Ill. (CBS) South suburban Riverdale has the unfortunate distinction of having one of the nine worst municipal credit ratings in the nation, so the last thing some city leaders want is a new church that wont pay any taxes, but thats exactly what theyre going to get.

The Israel God of Church in Chicagos South Shore neighborhood has plans to move to a vacant lot in south suburban Riverdale, where the Board of Trustees already has approved construction of a 6,000-seat church at 500 W. 138th St.

CBS 2s Dorothy Tucker reports the final sale is scheduled for next month, but the controversy is just beginning.

A defunct fueling station that sits on 19 acres of cracked concrete and overgrown weeds could soon be home to a new mega church owned by the Israel of God church.

We dont need no church. We have a church sitting at least 100 yards away, said Riverdale resident Ken Allen, who is among those who oppose the plans for the mega-church.

Its not because of religious objections, but economic concerns.

Is that church gonna give us jobs? he said. Thats what we need out here. We need work. We need employment We have too much people out here unemployed.

The church also represents a loss of property tax revenue, since the owners of the vacant lot were still paying about $100,000 a year in property taxes for the 19-acre property.

The village was getting about half of that money, and Riverdale Mayor Deyon Dean said they cant afford to lose that funding.

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Riverdale Mayor Hardly Excited About Church Replacing Vacant Lot