Petruzielo: Not in Taxpayer's "Best Interest" To Renovate Buildings

Photo credit: Cherokee County School District

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo is responding to comments made by members of the Cherokee County Historical Society and other residents who have expressed opposition to his recommendation that the district replace Buildings A and B with a new central office complex.

A petition has been created to ask the Cherokee County School Board to incorporate either building into its new plans for a new complex.

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, 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 historical society states retaining both at least one building is 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. “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.”

According to the society, the school district could consider many layouts that would integrate one of the buildings into the new campus, such as a breezeway to connect the old with the new. It also recommended that architects choose a design that would be compatible with existing downtown structures.

“If the school board feels the renovation costs are beyond their means, then we would encourage them to sell the buildings to a private developer who could take advantage of the significant rehabilitation tax credits available,” the society said.

Petruzielo’s memo to the Cherokee County School Board can be viewed in the .PDF document below, along with documents from architects who reviewed the structure of both buildings.

Having trouble viewing the document? Click here.

What Should You Read Next?

• Petition Created To Save Historic Canton Buildings
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• Petruzielo: Replace Former Canton Mill Office, Grammar School Buildings