BELLEVILLE The future of Sukha Yoga Center was uncertain when owner Sarah Fraser learned she would have to move by the end of July, but after asking for help, she said the city has embraced her business.

John Conkright, owner of Ben's downtown, is Fraser's landlord. The City Council recently approved a deal with Conkright, allowing him to expand and renovate areas downtown.

Included in this deal was the demolition of a building at 18 S. High St., which houses Sukha Yoga Center. The city paid Conkright $185,000 for the building, which will be turned into a parking lot.

"One of my students read it in the paper and came in and told me, 'I heard they're selling your business,' and I was like, 'Wait, what?'" Fraser said. "I would have rather had a heads-up, 'Hey, I'm thinking about selling the building,' but it is what it is."

Mayor Mark Eckert said when he was negotiating with Conkright, he knew the South High Street building had a tenant on a month-to-month basis, but it was Conkright's business to work that out, not the city's.

Fraser wrote a letter to the mayor, asking for assistance in the form of relocation options and remodeling expenses.

"I asked the city for some help. If you want me to stay here, help," Fraser said. "I got a room full of people right now. As soon as they get done, ... they're going to go shopping. They're going to eat something."

Fraser posted the letter on Sukha Yoga's website and invited her yoga students and supporters to write letters as well.

"A lot of the students were telling the city of Belleville, 'I wouldn't be (in) downtown Belleville if it wasn't for coming to this class,'" Fraser said. "Majority of my population here (have) disposable income. They can't spend large amounts of money, but they can afford to have a sushi roll after the noon class."

Mary Housman, having attended Fraser's yoga classes for three years, said she was happy to write a letter to the mayor.

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With city's help, Sukha Yoga to stay in Belleville