Friday, December 21, 2001
|
Friday, December 21, 2001 |
|
Wanted: someone to save the "Blue House" By JOHN
THOMPSON
If Senoia's "Blue House" is going to survive the wrecking ball, a savior will have to step forward by Jan. 7. The house at 49 Broad St. become a rallying point for the Senoia Area Historical Society last month after members learned it could be demolished. Chuck Smith has a contract to sell the property to BellSouth for expansion of its facility next to the home. But BellSouth wants only the property, and Smith asked the City Council for permission to destroy the home. When members of the Historical Society learned of the plans, they quickly rallied and tried to find a way to save the home. Historical Society President-elect Perry Benson told the City Council Monday night that an architect had looked at the home Sunday. Newnan's Mike Miller told Benson the home is in five different sections. Some of the home was built probably in the 1850s, while other sections were completed in the 1880s and 1920s. Miller also said it would be virtually impossible to move the home because of its condition. Benson said he didn't want to interfere with Smith's property rights, but said, "It would be a tragedy to see the house destroyed." Smith said estimates to renovate the home were anywhere from $212,000 to $398,000 and he just wanted to sell the property so he could quit paying two home loans. Mayor Joan Trammell, who said she would abstain from any vote since she lives a block from the property, said the debate was turning into an issue that gave historic preservation ordinances a bad name. "This is the kind of thing that people worried about when we passed this. A property owner does have rights," she said. The City Council decided to vote on the issue at its Jan. 7 meeting. In the meantime, the Historical Society will look to see if the older and historic portions of the house can be moved and try and find a location to place the home. Anyone interested in the home should contact Benson at 770-599- 9855.
|
||