Congregation members have told a Hamburg village commission exactly why First Baptist

Church should not be named a local landmark.

The action, they said, violates their property rights and feels like government

interference in running the church at 116 Main St.

But the Historic Preservation Commission has designated the building, which dates to 1836,

a village landmark.

&#8220That building is extremely important, both architecturally and from a historical

[background],&#8221 said Damon Ayer, commission chairman, adding that the building, one of the

oldest in the village, remains largely intact and similar to the original structure.

The designation &#8220also provides some level of protection in the future to make sure

that building remains,&#8221 Ayer said.

The state has listed buildings that might qualify for landmark designation, and the

preservation commission has targeted the top five, Ayer said, including sites in the village

business district and village neighborhoods. The local designation can be the first step

toward state and federal designations, and structures receiving the federal designation are

eligible for a number of grants, he said.

That&#8217s strike one as far as the church is concerned. The Baptist church does not

believe in taking taxpayer money, said the Rev. Kevin M. Leary, pastor of First Baptist.

&#8220We believe in a strong separation of church and state. That&#8217s in our

history,&#8221 he said. &#8220There&#8217s absolutely no benefit for us.&#8221

The designation also brings oversight by the commission, Ayer said.

&#8220We are just concerned with the exterior of the building,&#8221 he said.

&#8220We&#8217re not going to come in and tell you you have to paint your bathroom blue.&#8221

But village code does allow the commission to determine the color on the exterior.

It also requires owners of property designated as landmarks to get approval before starting

any exterior work, such as constructing additions, decks and patios; removing or adding trees;

changing or removing features; installing new windows and doors; or changing the color of the

exterior.

Although landmark designations do not require Village Board action, owners of such

properties have the right to appeal any of the commission&#8217s specific requirements to the

board.

&#8220It&#8217s another level of bureaucracy that we now have to go through. We believe

it&#8217s a violation of our property rights,&#8221 Leary said. &#8220Now there is another

layer of government interference with a church seeking to do what they might do for the

furtherance of the work of the gospel ministry.&#8221

He said a small part of the structure, the chapel in the front, is original. Several

additions have been made over the years, and a brick structure behind the chapel contains the

main auditorium where the congregation of about 220 members holds services.

The congregation, which is celebrating its bicentennial this year, is growing, and parking

is becoming a problem, Leary said. The historic designation may limit the church&#8217s

options.

Ayer noted that the structure is unique because it has housed the same congregation for 174

years. The bell in its tower was used to signal fires in the village in 1859, he said.

The commission, he emphasized, took a long time to review the designation and listened to

opponents.

&#8220The thought that there could be a demolition of that property down the road &#8212

that&#8217s just unacceptable to us,&#8221 Ayer added.

Whatever the congregation decides, it would want a building that meets design and safety

standards, Leary said. But the church believes people are the church&#8217s most important

asset.

&#8220Our focus is not on our buildings. We want to keep them up. We don&#8217t want to

have run-down, beat-up facilities,&#8221 Leary said, adding: &#8220We believe in government.

We&#8217re not anti-government. We pray for our government leaders.&#8221