LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington's Urban County Council gave final approval on Thursday to an agreement with Main Street Baptist Church relating to limited parking at the church, paving the way for nearly 100 new spaces for the congregation.

Church leaders have said the upcoming construction of Town Branch Park, and the ongoing expansion of Central Bank Center, left the church, located at 582 West Main St., with inadequate parking.

Under the agreement, which has been hammered out over four years of negotiations, the City will construct approximately 85 parking spaces on both the church property and what remains of the Jefferson Street Viaduct, which was largely demolished to make way for Town Branch Park.

Cost of the construction is limited to $1.5 million, according to a press release. Through 2034, the public will be able to use the parking spaces Monday through Friday when church is not in session.

“We’ve worked hard to come up with a plan that is fair to the church and the City,” Mayor Linda Gorton. “This agreement is not perfect, but it is a solid step in the right direction.”

Main Street Baptist is a historic African American church with roots that stretch back to 1854.

After completion of the construction, the viaduct will be permanently closed as a street and transferred to the church as property. Officials said the church cannot sell the property until 2034 without the permission of the City because of the investment of public funds in the parking lot construction.