Some homeowners say the building would lower their property value and cut back their view while others were excited to see the MTC expand.
Eighty five percent of the Pleasant View neighborhood signed a petition asking the MTC to explore different ways to expand. Earlier, the Provo city council prohibited any other construction more than five stories except for the proposed tower.
A statement by the LDS church says, “Church leaders have determined that due to a number of complexities and concerns, we will not move forward with the nine-story building originally proposed.”
They are looking to find a new solution to expand that involves the neighborhood, community, and church.
When the LDS church lowered the ages of missionary service, the community thought they had lost. However, after six months of petitions and legal research, the neighborhood says they finally got what they wanted.
“We have been fighting this since last March, and now to win, it's kind of nice to win. We feel like we've won and we didn't expect to win frankly,' said James Harris a Pleasant View homeowner.
Church officials say they are finding a solution to expand the MTC with the expected growth of missionary numbers.
“This has been the hardest thing I have ever done and I am so grateful that we can go back to the status quo and go back to the win-win situation for both the neighborhood and the church,' Johnson said.