Free to a good owner

• 100-year-old home.

• Queen Anne style.

• Architecturally, historically significant.

• Proposal deadline — Jan. 10.

• Moving deadline — March 31.

• Phone Maurice Ungaro or Sherri Anderson, 770-461-6029.

Fayetteville officials are looking for a good home for a good home.

The historic Dorsey house sits in the path of destruction to make room for a new Fayette County Jail and Courthouse facility, and the city is looking for an individual, organization or business to take possession of the house and move it to a suitable location, preferably in the historic Main Street District.

Built around 1890, the Queen Anne style cottage originally faced the Georgia Southern Railway tracks, but was renovated in 1909 to face Long Street. The unique redesign was guided by famed Georgia architect Neel Reid.

Along with three other Long Street houses, the Dorsey house was bought by Fayette County to provide more room for the judicial complex expansion.

Fayetteville already is heavily involved in restoration on the Hollingsworth House, which was saved from the wrecking ball last year, and the Holliday-Dorsey-Fife House.

“While we are excited about the preservation and rehabilitation of the Hollingsworth and Holliday-Dorsey-Fife homes, our resources are limited,” said Sherri Anderson, director of Main Street Fayetteville. “We are hoping that the private sector can help us out with this diamond in the rough.”

At the city's request, the county has delayed demolition to allow time to find a qualified owner.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for someone with an appreciation for local history and an interest in preservation to acquire an architecturally significant home,” said Maurice Ungaro, director of planning for the city. “We are willing to help any qualified party to find a new location for the home within the Fayetteville Main Street district. The building could be adapted to office or commercial use, or used for its original purpose, as a home.”

What's the catch?

The new owner will have to act quickly. The city wants to know the proposed use of the building and is asking for a rehabilitation plan for the structure. Interested parties also must demonstrate their financial ability to carry out those plans, and must commit to moving the house by March 31.

“This will be an ambitious project, but it could truly be a win-win for the new owner and the community,” said Anderson. “We continue to lose many of our older homes to new development or neglect. The city of Fayetteville can't acquire every one, but we hope we can make it easier and more cost effective for the private sector to step into the process.”

If you're interested, phone Anderson or Ungaro at 770-461-6029. interested parties must submit proposals by Jan. 10. The Downtown Development Authority will then decide which is the most appropriate and realistic plan.