Resident urges county to press Historic Preservation Commission for plan as C.B. King building deteriorates

Bruce Capps, a resident, told the Dougherty County Board of Commissioners on April 7 that the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and city code enforcement are not protecting the county’s historic district and that at least one landmark, the C.B. King building, is being allowed to fall apart.

Capps described a multi-year history of work by earlier HPC members to survey and plan for historic properties, then said the process changed and earlier reports were abolished. “The C. B. King building is being quietly but substantially disassembled,” Capps said, adding that important architectural pieces have been removed and that steel beams are missing.

The request came during the meeting’s public-delegation period. Capps asked that commissioners who appoint HPC members call the commission before the board to explain their role and actions and to develop “some sort of plan for the future of the historic district.” He said he has “bits and pieces to a plan” and would like to work with county leadership to assemble it.

Commissioners responded that the matter would be routed to the county’s governance committee to work with Capps offline and return with recommendations. Commissioner Gaines (District 5) agreed to involve the governance committee and to bring the issue back before the board. Vice Chairman Jones and others said they recognized the importance of historic preservation and noted prior steps to digitize and identify local historic resources.

Capps raised several specific concerns: that earlier condition reports and surveys were discontinued, that four earlier HPC members who favored preservation left the commission, and that the planning/administration offices have adopted new procedures that limit the HPC’s role to receiving lists of addresses proposed for demolition. He also said the recreation/parks’ recent plan would demolish seven historic buildings to create parking for events that occur infrequently.

No formal board action or vote on preservation policy was taken at the meeting. Commissioners directed the governance committee to meet with Capps, help him consolidate his plan materials, and present a proposal or recommendation to the full board at a future meeting.

The public comment stretched beyond the typical three-minute limit and included back-and-forth with commissioners who asked clarifying questions about the speaker’s proposals and the HPC’s authority.

The board next moved on to purchases and agenda business.