Fayetteville church gets reprieve from the wrecking ball

A Fayetteville church slated for demolition has earned a brief reprieve after owners filed a restraining order against the city.

City Code Manager Bart Swanson has said that abandoned Trinity Baptist Church on Hillsboro Street is not structurally sound and is beyond repair.

Brian Watson, a local developer and contractor, wants to fix up the property. He will get to make his case in court March 14.

Watson says he is collecting signatures on a petition to save the building.