A Bay area church is getting a last minute reprieve after the city ordered it to be demolished.
Praise Cathedral on Florida Avenue in Tampa was already in bad shape, but when an alleged drunk driver slammed into the wall of the church, the city ordered to have it demolished.
Pastor Pat Hall attended a meeting with the city on Wednesday to ask for more time.
“I’m heavy every minute of my life because we just want it restored," Hall said. "We don’t want it fixed or patched up.”
Hall helps countless homeless people who depend on Praise Cathedral for clothing, shelter, or food.
The city agreed to allow the church six more months before a final order to demolish the building.
“Thank God,” Hall said. “That’s why we’re proud they gave us time. We want to raise money.”
Lawyers on both sides agreed it will cost almost as much as the building is worth to fix the structural problems.