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Dalton to demolish unsafe Masonic Lodge building; trustees to reimburse city and retain property
Summary
Council approved an agreement with trustees of Masonic Lodge No. 238 for the city to demolish a structurally unsafe lodge building; trustees will reimburse demolition costs and retain the parcel, and said they plan to create a park.
Dalton — The Dalton City Council on July 21 approved an agreement for the city to demolish the structurally unsafe Masonic Lodge No. 238 building, with the lodge trustees agreeing to reimburse the city for demolition costs and to retain ownership of the property.
Staff told the council the trustees initially asked for time to assess rehabilitation after a 2023 resolution authorized demolition; following further review the trustees concluded that renovation costs were prohibitive because of structural issues including a collapsing roof shown in 2023 photos. The city’s building inspector and code enforcement had deemed the structure dangerous.
Trustee representative Frank Cobb (introduced as “Mr. Cobb” in the transcript) attended the meeting and said the trustees intend to partner with the city and envision a small park and a statue on the site after demolition. The trustees have executed the agreement with the city attorney.
Why it matters: The building was declared dangerous, and demolition resolves a public-safety hazard and clears a small downtown parcel for potential reuse as a park.
What happens next: The city will proceed with demolition and the trustee group will reimburse the city for costs; trustees retain title and plan to develop the lot into a park.
