Lakewood Church's lease, if approved, runs for a maximum of 90years–a deal that's being challenged in the courts by Ft.Worth-based Crescent Real Estate Equities Co.Jane Page, Crescent'ssenior vice president of asset management and leasing, says theREIT is "pleased" with council's decision to delay its vote untilDec. 19. "That allows us two weeks to put forth our view that theLakewood lease is not in the best interest of Houston taxpayers,"she says in a prepared statement. "We believe the process which hasled up to deciding the future of the Compaq Center was not a fairand legitimate one."

Crescent filed against the city in July, charging the churchlease violates deed restrictions from the early 1970s by the site'sdonator, the late Kenneth Schnitzer. The restrictions required theproperty to be used as a municipal sports arena for the first 25years. For the next 30 years, uses were restricted to an arena,offices, library, post office, retail, banks and savings and loanassociations.

Two weeks ago, Federal Judge Kenneth Hoyt dismissed Crescent'sinitial filing, saying it was premature to allow the case toproceed since the city and church had yet to reach a finalagreement. Crescent is appealing.