The owner of a church in Northampton is saying thanks but no thanks to a purchase offer from the city.
The owner of the historic St. John Cantius Church on Hawley Street turned down the half-million-dollar offer.
The city wanted to use the building to create a "community resilience hub" for displaced individuals, but the owner wants to tear down the church and build several town homes.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette reports that the city would need to grant a demolition permit for that to happen.
(Photo Credit: John Baibak, WHYN News)