Roswell Leaders Purchase Mimosa Hall

ROSWELL, GA -- Roswell leaders have taken a bold step to protect one of its historic properties from demolition.

The City Council at its Monday, June 12 meeting unanimously voted to approve a resolution authorizing the purchase of Mimosa Hall at 127 Bulloch Avenue. The purchase price is not to exceed $2.95 million.

The move comes several months after the home was named to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation's 'Places in Peril' list for 2017. It's designed to raise awareness about the state's significant historic, archaeological and cultural resources, including buildings, structures, districts, archaeological sites and cultural landscapes that are "threatened by demolition, neglect, lack of maintenance, inappropriate development or insensitive public policy."

Georgia Trust uses the list to encourage owners and individuals, organizations and communities to employ proven preservation tools, financial resources and partnerships in order to reclaim, restore and revitalize historic properties that are in peril.

Mimosa Hall, a Greek Revival-style home, was built in 1840 and reconstructed in 1847 following a fire. It was named for its many mimosa trees by a later owner, General A. J. Hansell, prior to being purchased in 1916 by Atlanta architect Neel Reid, who renovated the house and its iconic gardens, Georgia Trust states.

After Reid's death, ownership of the property stayed with his family until 1937. In 1947, Granger Hansell, great-grandson of the home's former owner, purchased Mimosa Hall and it has remained in the Hansell family ever since.

Mimosa Hall, along with 21 undeveloped acres, was placed on the market. The significant acreage of the estate in historic downtown Roswell creates "an elevated threat of development," Georgia Trust previously argued.

According to city documents, Roswell plans to use financing through the Georgia Municipal Association to fund the purchase. It also moved $340,000 to the general fund for the fiscal year 2018 budget to cover debt service associated with the purchase.

Image via Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation