School District Releases Rendering of New Administrative Building

Photo credit: Cherokee County School District

The Cherokee County School District has released a conceptual architectural rendering of its plans to build a new central office building in downtown Canton.

In a memo sent to Cherokee County School Board members, Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo on Wednesday unveiled additional details about the district’s plans to preserve certain aspects of Building A, the former Canton Cotton Mill office, and Building B, the former Canton Grammar School.

The superintendent has recommended the board demolish both buildings and build a new facility on the site. The plans show the main entrance facing the corner of West Main and Academy streets.

Petruzielo also states that the design does, “as I committed to Cherokee County Historical Society leaders in November 2014, incorporate architectural details and design cues from the Building A facade, with a focus on creating a building that both nods to downtown’s past and looks to its future, much like the historic architecture-inspired buildings constructed in recent years in downtown Canton.”

Some of the specifics from the district include:

• The original white marble diamonds in the current facade of Building A are those pictured in the facade of the new/replacement building design;
• The original white marble steps in front of Building A will be transformed into the benches on either side of the main entrance in the new/replacement building design;
• The red color of the brick in the new/replacement building design is the same shade as those used in the current buildings (the original bricks are not in reusable shape for construction purposes, according to the district);
• Artifacts that have been preserved, such as the school bell from Building B, will be incorporated into the exterior or interior design of the new/replacement administrative building; and
• Landscaping, wrought-iron fencing, sidewalk pattern and other exterior details surrounding the new/replacement administrative building will blend in with downtown’s existing streetscapes design.

Currently, the district has 62 employees who operate out of Buildings A and C, the former Canton High School.

The new administrative building, Petruzielo states, would allow for the return of roughly 90 staff members, including all employees in the Financial Management Department now at the Keeter Road annex, non-classroom special education staff at the former Buffington Elementary School and at various schools and other support staff housed at other offices and at various schools, for a total of about 152 district employees.

The administrative building also would expand professional development capacity, bringing an additional 50-100 employees from throughout the county to the facility on a regular basis, Petruzielo states in the memo.

The school district’s plans also call for 219 parking spaces and an additional four handicap-designated spaces, which doesn’t include the ”large” lot at the corner of Archer and West Marietta streets the school system allows the city of Canton to use for public parking at no charge, Petruzielo writes.

“As I have previously stated, while economic development is not our mission, we are the No. 1 employer in the city of Canton and Cherokee County, and understand the impact our departure from downtown Canton would have both in terms of the immediate loss of patronage for businesses and in the significant negative impact on real estate,” the superintendent writes.

The Cherokee County Historical Society said it’s still interested in talking with the district and the school board “on an option that would save at least one of the buildings to be integrated into your new administration campus.”

“As we expressed five years ago, if the BOE were interested in offering the property for sale, we would be happy to assist in finding another buyer or purchasing it ourselves,” the society’s board said on Wednesday in a statement. “The information that we need to act on this offer would be the sales price and the ability to inspect the property with our engineers. We encourage you to explore all options for this site and consider a delay in the demolition plans to do so. There is much public debate about this issue and the taxpayers are taking time to share their concerns with you. Please give this matter every consideration before making the decision to destroy these landmarks.”

The school district contends plans for the replacement project “have been known to the public,” including the Cherokee County Historical Society, for years. In a meeting with Petruzielo and his staff in 2010, Historical Society leaders committed to raising money or seeking a buyer for both buildings, “but the organization has not done either,” the system said in a statement on Wednesday.

Additionally, the school system contends members of the organization during that 2010 meeting “set no prerequisite” of the district providing a price or an inspection to jump start that process.

“Historical Society leaders know, just like most citizens — and especially those who regularly interact with the real estate and development community as a preservation organization would — that you don’t need a for sale price in order to make an offer,” Petruzielo noted.

The school system also references minutes of a September 2012 meeting that allegedly show the Historical Society “still had no plan in regard to raising money” or seeking a buyer for the building.

“It should be noted that the school district never received the letter mentioned in those minutes that (Historical Society Executive Director Stephanie) Joyner was directed to send, and the issue is not mentioned in the minutes of their subsequent meetings,” Petruzielo said.

According to an excerpt of minutes from the Historical Society’s September 2012 meeting:

The question was asked about Building B of the Cherokee County School District (CCSD). There is interest in finding out when, exactly, the CCSD is planning to start building its new administrative building(s). The comment was made that we should be interested in preserving that as well. Stefanie Joyner suggested we should pick and choose which of these projects we want to pursue. The question was asked about whether or not we should contact someone with the school system. There was a thorough discussion concerning contacting CCSD. Stefanie Joyner will send a letter to Dr. Petrizuelo asking about the school district’s plans for Buildings A and B.

Members of the public have utilized social media to advocate for the preservation of both buildings. A Facebook group titled Save Historic Canton has close to 800 members. Many members of the group have been brainstorming ideas on what type of uses would be suitable for the buildings as well as how to effectively publicize their cause.

Some members have also called for a group to attend and speak at the Feb. 5 meeting of the Cherokee County School Board.

Additionally, a petition asking the school board to incorporate either Building A or B into its new administrative building has over 1,300 signatures.

What Should You Read Next?

• Historical Society: BOE Has “Obligation” To Safeguard Historic Assets
• Petition Created To Save Historic Canton Buildings
• Petruzielo: Not in Taxpayer’s “Best Interest” To Renovate Buildings
• Group Wants School Board To Integrate Historic Buildings Into Office Plans
• Petruzielo: Replace Former Canton Mill Office, Grammar School Buildings

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