The Clarkesville city council made an important decision during its work session Monday afternoon. That decision could change the appearance of the square for years to come. The city council was split on their decision but with a 3-2 vote among the members, the council approved to make a public offer to purchase the old courthouse property from Habersham County.
The council has requested numerous times over the years for the old courthouse to be either redeveloped or demolished. The city has gone so far at various times to partner with the County and the Habersham County Development Authority to do either option, even committing funds for either purpose.
At one point, the city of Clarkesville submitted a sealed bid to purchase the property. However, since the city was the lone bidder, the county rejected the bid.
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In September, development firm Parkside Partners terminated an agreement with the county, the development authority, and the city of Clarkesville to redevelop the property. Upon termination of that agreement, the development authority requested the county to transfer the property to the authority in November. The intent for the transfer would allow for the demolition of the courthouse and market the property for redevelopment.
During the county commission’s called meeting on December 3, the county commission discussed the fate of the old courthouse. A motion was made to demolish the building but failed approval with a 3-2 vote against its demolition.
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Purchase discussion
Clarkesville City Manager Keith Dickerson started the discussion about the courthouse with the city council. “We are right back where we started from,” he said. He recommended that the council move forward with purchasing the property and the city do the demolition itself.
Dickerson was unclear what the county would do with a new commissioner coming onboard. Mayor Barrie Aycock said that “he was quoted in the paper as saying he would vote to tear it down.”
Council member Brad Coppedge felt like the council would know more after the commission meeting this month.
“We might cloud it up if we get involved,” Council member Don Nix said. “Give them one more chance to tear it down.”
Dickerson said that he was fine with that but wanted the county to know that the city was still interested in the property.
Council member Angelia Kiker asked the council, “Why would we not make another attempt, at this point, to offer to purchase it and us tear it down?”
Nix responded that if another attempt was made that it could muddle the waters and take another 10 years before a decision was made. However, he stated that he was not opposed to the idea.
Kiker reminded the council that they had all agreed unanimously to purchase the property but the county elected to not open the offer. That process was not very public at the time. She felt the offer this time should be public. “It may be our last opportunity to have a shot at it,” she said. “Once it’s torn down, then what?”
City needs
She expressed that the city needed the property. “We have a purpose and a need for the property and that is a fire station, public parking, and tearing the courthouse down and that becoming greenspace for a period of time, and then a lease for a hotel.” She added, “The city of Clarkesville will always own its heart.”
Coppedge expressed that some of the council members have had discussions with the commissioners individually about the matter. He was concerned about the messaging it may send to the commission if they made a public offer before the new commission met in January.
He felt that maybe those discussions should continue to see if the commission would entertain the idea of the city purchasing the property. “Let’s find out what they want to do, even if they would entertain an offer,” he said.
After further discussion, Kiker made the motion for the city to send a letter of intent prior to the commission meeting to purchase the property with the contingency of the demolition bid being transferred to the city. Council member Franklin Brown second the motion. The resulting vote was 3-2 with Coppedge and Council member Rick Wood dissenting. Coppedge and Wood wanted to wait to see what the commission’s next steps would be before making an offer.
The purchase offer would be in the amount of $250,000 and the city would pay the latest bid amount of $190,000 to tear down the old courthouse.
After the work session, Kiker expressed her opinion about the property. “The city of Clarkesville needs to own the old courthouse property,” she said. “It needs to own its heart and control its destiny.”
