Canton Approves Proposal To Exchange Property With School Board

The Canton City Council has formally extended an offer to the Cherokee County School Board to save two historic buildings recommended for demolition.

The council on Tuesday voted 4-1, with Council member Hooky Huffman opposing, to formally offer to the board a deal in which it would swap 19.78 acres of land located along Bluffs Parkway in exchange for the property that’s home to Buildings A and B in downtown Canton.

Council member John Rust was not present.

Before its regular meeting on March 19, the school board will adjourn into executive session at 6 p.m. for the purposes of discussing real estate in connection to the future of both buildings, which have been recommended for demolition to make room for a new 75,000-square-foot administrative complex for district operations.

Building B, the former Canton Grammar School, was renovated more than 30 years ago for office use with no preservation of historic details and was closed six years ago due to structural, safety and health concerns, the school district has previously said.

The basement level of the two-floor Building A, the former Canton cotton mill offices, was closed shortly after due to similar concerns.

According to the agreement put forth by the city, Canton would retain roughly 4.19 acres that would be used as the future site for a fire station. Additionally, the school district would construct a shared access drive that would be used by the city in relation to the fire station as well as the district for its operations.

Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo expressed positive thoughts in relation to Canton’s decision.

“We are very pleased to be able to have another option to present to the school board during its executive session on Thursday night to consider for the future site of the administration building,” he said in a statement Tuesday evening. “Our staff has done a considerable amount of due diligence in regard to the site at the Bluffs and I think that this site would fulfill the school district’s needs.”

The school board at its Feb. 5 meeting voted to delay demolition in order to consider other options, including sale of the downtown property. At least one entity — the Cherokee County Historical Society — has publicly expressed its desire to bid on the properties to purchase.

What Should You Read Next?

• Historical Society Will Bid On Former Grammar School, Cotton Mill Office
• School Board Postpones Demolition of Historic Buildings
• Merchants To Canton: Encourage School Board To Remain Downtown
• School Board To Consider Offer To Purchase Buildings A and B
• School District Releases Rendering of New Administrative Building
• Historical Society: BOE Has “Obligation” To Safeguard Historic Assets
• Petruzielo: Not in Taxpayer’s “Best Interest” To Renovate Buildings
• Petition Created To Save Historic Canton Buildings
• Group Wants School Board To Integrate Historic Buildings Into Office Plans
• Petruzielo: Replace Former Canton Mill Office, Grammar School Buildings

Image via Shutterstock