First Latin American Baptist Church

The Michigan Department of Transportation acquired the First Latin American Baptist Church property as part of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. The agency initially offered $411,000 as just compensation based on an appraisal that relied heavily on sales of declining or abandoned religious facilities rather than viable, active congregations.

This approach failed to account for the church’s status as a special-purpose property, a category recognized under Michigan eminent domain law as requiring alternative valuation methods when traditional market comparisons are unreliable.

The First Latin American Baptist Church was not a declining institution. It was a long-standing community anchor and the oldest bilingual Protestant church in metropolitan Detroit, operating continuously in its historic building for more than a century and providing religious and community services to the surrounding neighborhood.

Counsel retained a qualified appraisal expert who evaluated the property using the replacement-cost approach, the preferred valuation method for special-purpose religious structures that are rarely bought and sold on the open market. This analysis demonstrated that the government’s valuation failed to reflect the cost required to replace a functioning religious facility serving an active congregation.

After extended litigation and expert review, the Michigan Department of Transportation increased its compensation to $1,250,000, allowing the church to relocate and continue its mission in a new facility.

The congregation successfully reopened and continues to serve the community today.