Old bank building to get million-dollar facelift
It’s the iconic cornerstone of a downtown that’s seen better days. Now, the historic Community Bank & Trust building in Cornelia is undergoing a $1.2 million renovation to help revitalize the downtown district it anchors.
Past, present, future
The 118-year-old, two-storied, buff brick building has been around as long as any living inhabitant of the county can recall. The building sat empty for much of the past decade, now work’s underway to preserve and repurpose it.
That work began in earnest this morning. It’s expected to take nearly two years to complete. “We are currently doing selective demolition and stabilization, so that we can have the building open to the public at the Apple Blossom Festival,” says Cornelia Community Development Manager Jessie Owensby. “We are currently looking at bids from architects to have renderings of the finished building on display during that festival.”
This year’s Apple Blossom Festival takes place April 20-22. The renovation project is expected to be completed by December of 2019.
A ‘win-win’ proposition
Exactly what it will be when it’s done remains unclear. The Cornelia Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is still developing plans for how the building will be used. Previous DDA discussions centered around a possible residential complex or commercial business. Owensby says, “We have several ideas and we know what we want, but nothing has been finalized yet.”
However the property is used it will be with clear strategic goals in mind. The city embarked on the redevelopment project as a way to “create jobs, get rid of a blighted building, and revitalize” the downtown area.
The work will be paid for with grants, tax credits, and a small construction loan, says Owensby. She says the investment will be good for both Cornelia and Habersham County.
“We believe what is good for Cornelia is good for Habersham,” says Owensby. “The Cornelia DDA, the Clarkesville DDA, and the Demorest DDA have been working together in a joint effort to help revitalize all of our downtowns. The Cornelia DDA is hoping that this will help create jobs, stimulate our local economy and support more tourism in our downtown. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Corrected to reflect property was site of former Community Bank & Trust office building, not Habersham Bank.
