Clarkesville City Manager Keith Dickerson has submitted a letter to the Habersham County Board of Commissioners. The letter informs the commission that the City of Clarkesville Mayor and Council has approved to submit an offer to purchase the former Habersham County Courthouse and administrative building. The approval came during Clarkesville’s work session last week.
The letter, dated January 8, outlines the proposed purchase amount and the city’s intent for the use of the property.
The Council has proposed a cash offer of $250,000 to the Commission for the property. It also commits $190,000 at the city’s expense to tear down the current courthouse building and clear the land for redevelopment. This removes the county’s financial responsibility for tearing down and removing the debris of the old courthouse.
New fire station
For the city, the acquisition of the property is seen as a step toward improving the city’s fire services and revitalizing the downtown area. Mayor and Council members highlighted that moving the existing fire station—currently situated in a flood-prone area—will enhance the city’s emergency response capabilities.
The relocation will provide the fire department with improved access to all areas of Clarkesville, allowing for faster response times, particularly in the surrounding county areas that the fire department serves.
“The fire department responds to nearly 1,000 calls each year, with 40% of those calls occurring outside the City limits,” Dickerson said in the letter. “This new location will provide better access and faster response time to all areas that the City currently serves.”
Green space, parking
The redevelopment plan also includes the creation of green space and additional parking in downtown Clarkesville. The vacant property, once the courthouse is demolished, will provide much-needed parking spaces to accommodate downtown businesses and visitors. The site will also include community gathering spaces and potential retail opportunities, further driving the revitalization of the city center.
In addition to the redevelopment of the courthouse property, the city plans to clear the current fire station’s one-acre site. That property will then be marketed for townhome development. The project will put the property back on the County and City tax digest, generating additional revenue for local services.
“The area will allow for additional parking, community space, and retail opportunities enhancing both our safety posture and our ability to best serve citizens and visitors throughout Clarkesville,” Dickerson said
The letter concludes, “The property is part of the heart and soul of downtown Clarkesville.”
The offer to purchase the property is now awaiting approval from the commission. The Habersham County Board of Commissioners will meet Tuesday, January 21, for its first meeting of 2025.
