Hoschton candidates highlight local landmarks; Allen Clinic donation announced
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Summary
Multiple candidates said Hoschton’s historic assets should be preserved but acknowledged the cost. Mayor Debbie Martin said owners intend to donate the Allen Clinic property to the city; candidates urged public input on preservation priorities.
Candidates at the Hoschton forum identified local landmarks they want to preserve and discussed the costs of maintaining older properties.
Mayor Debbie Martin told the audience the Allen Clinic building on Highway 53 and Peachtree is the only property currently marked as a landmark and that the owners "are going to be donating that building and property to the city of Hoschton." She encouraged residents to engage with the city’s Historic Preservation Committee, which meets monthly.
Other candidates named local sites they consider historically important, including the depot, Larry’s Garage, Thompson’s (the former City Hall/ hatchery), and the Darby House near the coffee shop. James Lawson and Shannon Sale stressed that rehabilitation is expensive and that public input is required to set priorities. "If it's gonna be done, we have to pay for it," Sale said.
Candidates suggested a public process to determine which properties to restore and recommended weighing cost against public benefit. No formal preservation actions or funding commitments were made at the forum; the discussion identified potential future steps for the council to consider in budgeting and planning.