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Commission moves on Say Building appeal after hours of advocacy for preservation
Summary
After extensive public testimony, commissioners voted on whether to modify the West Downtown Historic District boundary tied to the Say Building. The item drew large public turnout, dozens of speakers and sharply divided views over preservation, reuse and a church’s demolition proposal.
After more than two hours of public testimony on April 1, the Athens-Clarke County Commission considered an appeal tied to the West Downtown Historic District and the future of the Say Building, a nearly century-old commercial structure near Hancock Avenue and downtown landmarks.
Scores of residents, preservation advocates and local architects urged the commission to maintain the building’s protection inside the West Downtown Historic District. Speakers described the building as historically and architecturally significant, highlighted rehabilitation proposals and warned that allowing demolition for a surface parking lot would set a damaging precedent for downtown preservation.
“Carving out the Say to destroy it undermines…
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