ATLANTA, Ga. — The Friendship Baptist Church congregation has approved the city of Atlanta's $19.5 million offer to sell the church's property for the new Atlanta Falcons stadium project.

It's the final step to make way for the retractable-roof stadium.

The Mount Vernon Baptist Church congregation voted overwhelmingly Thursday night to accept a $14.5 million offer to sell their property.

The city of Atlanta needs land from both northwest Atlanta churches to build the stadium south of the Georgia Dome, which is the city's preferred site because it's closer to two MARTA stations.

"If Frienship decides that they don't want to accept the $19.5 million, we'll simply move to the north site, which has almost no encumbrances on it and will be a relatively easy transaction," Mayor Kasim Reed said Saturday.