FOLEY, Ala. — The Baldwin County Board of Education has withdrawn an application to demolish the 70-year-old church building that sets on the corner of Pine Street and West Laurel Avenue.

The application had been submitted to the Foley Historical Commission since the old church building, built in 1940, is in the Foley Historic District. A city spokeswoman said the application was withdrawn at the “eleventh hour” on Tuesday, just prior to the Historical Commission’s 1 p.m. meeting that same day.

BCBE had proposed to demolish the building and use the site for greenspace in connection with new school construction that has taken place on that corner. BCBE said the basement in the old Methodist church building leaks and the building itself is beyond salvaging.

According to the spokeswoman, the City of Foley and BCBE will continue deliberations concerning the future of the building. She points out that should BCBE decide to demolish the building the matter will have to come before the Historical Commission.

Besides being in the Foley Historic District, the church building is a contributing building on the National Register of Historic Places.

In years past, the church building served as a band room for Foley High School and more recently as a meeting place for Girl Scouts.