First Baptist Church of Jacksonville will renovate the exterior of its Downtown Lindsay Memorial Auditorium, where the church is consolidating its operations.
The city approved a permit July 28 for Williams & Rowe Co. Inc. to replace the cladding and windows of the auditorium at 125 W. Ashley St. at a construction cost of $1.75 million.
On Feb. 5, the city issued a permit to Williams & Rowe Co. Inc. for interior demolition and renovations of the auditorium at a cost of $1.78 million. The scope of that work includes renovation of the sanctuary and the back-of-house choir rehearsal area.
First Baptist considered selling much of its Downtown property and then redevelop part of it in a $30 million project.
Instead, it decided to base its ministry and operations in the Lindsay Memorial Auditorium.
First Baptist Senior Pastor Heath Lambert said in August that a small group of members has pledged “millions of dollars” to fix water infiltration, HVAC and other infrastructure problems in the auditorium.