The Carson City Regional Transportation Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to move forward on the purchase of the First Christian Church on John Street to allow for the extension of Stewart Street.
The commission is looking at extending Stewart north from Highway 50 East and connecting it to Roop Street by way of Moody Street, in order to create another north-south route through the city.
The church put its property on the market for $790,000 more than a year ago, but an appraisal by the city estimated the land's value at $750,000.
City transportation staff has been working on a deal to purchase the property with cash or a land trade. No suitable land trade has been found, however.
The commission does not have funds budgeted for the purchase, but is working to find them.
"We don't have any expenditures for the Stewart Street north project," said Carson Transportation Manager John Flansberg at Wednesday's meeting.
One idea is to forfeit two other projects: a $240,000 signal installation and a $500,000 "intersection participation project."
"I don't propose scrapping any of these projects, just a delay in their funding" said Commissioner Richard Staub.
During public comment before the commission's vote, Gerald Massad, owner of the Cracker Box Restaurant at 402 E. William St. for 23 years, asked commissioners to consider the effect of the purchase on his business.
"I don't believe that you would intentionally try to drive the Cracker Box from its current location or to disrupt the peaceful residential neighborhoods surrounding it," he said. "But please understand that the decision you make tonight might very well do that."
"We will do everything in our power, if this project gets off the ground and gets funding, to take into account the needs of the Cracker Box," Staub said.
Commissioner Shelly Aldean said community leaders have "placed an emphasis on business retention," but explained "we have to preserve our options." She made a motion that the commission make an offer on the church.
It was immediately seconded and passed.
The project is expected to cost $3.6 million, including real estate purchases.
Massad is concerned with the speed of the project. "It's on the fast track all of a sudden," he said. "I didn't even get one courtesy vote."
In other action, Staub was elected commission chairman.
