Petition Created To Save Historic Canton Buildings

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A local organization that advocates for historic preservation has created a petition urging the Cherokee County School Board to incorporate either Building A or Building B — both recommended for demolition — into its new office complex.

The Cherokee County Historical Society’s Integrate Downtown Historic Building Into New Design petition was created Thursday morning, and “asks that the BOE integrate one of the historic buildings into their new downtown administrative complex.”

Over 50 people have signed the petition so far.

The society on Wednesday said that both buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of Canton’s historic district and are the key to keeping the historic characteristics of the city in place.

“Over the years, Canton has lost dozens of its historic buildings to urban renewal and road projects,” the historical society said on Wednesday. “The loss of two important landmarks, one at a prominent entry point, would be detrimental to the efforts of those working to revitalize historic downtown.”

Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo last week recommended to the board that the district demolish both Building A, the former Canton Cotton Mill offices, and Building B, the former Canton Grammar School.

Building B 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 said.

The basement level of the two-floor Building A was closed shortly after due to similar concerns. As a result of these closures, several departments and more than 100 district employees were relocated to schools and other facilities.

The school district’s project would replace the administration buildings with a single, three-story building on the same footprint. The construction of a new facility would accommodate all district staff, cost $9.9 million and could be completed by the fall of 2016.

School district staff said both buildings have already been evaluated by independent architects and engineers, who say renovating the structures ”would be significantly more expensive than construction of a new facility on the same footprint,” the district said on Wednesday, adding the renovation costs would exceed $14 million.

“The school district’s mission is not historic preservation: its leaders must remain focused on being good stewards of taxpayer dollars and focusing on the primary mission of teaching and learning, and it is not in the taxpayers’ best interest to renovate Buildings A or B,” the district said in its statement.

What Should You Read Next?

• Group Wants School Board To Integrate Historic Buildings Into Office Plans
• Petruzielo: Replace Former Canton Mill Office, Grammar School Buildings