To the editor:
I have been reading with interest the news stories on the county’s issue with what to do with the 1960’s courthouse off the Clarkesville square. I won’t justify referencing the subject structure as the “old courthouse” because they demolished our “old masterpiece of a courthouse” with little public discourse in the 1960s. I remember as a kid climbing the tower of that building with my grandfather to see the clockworks and the bell.
The real issue with the current MOU seems to be the amount of money the county would receive in proceeds (and maybe that is negotiable). The bigger issue should be what happens with the site if it is sold without due diligence as to future use and if the developer has the resources to not only pay the acquisition cost but develop it into something that is architecturally pleasing to the Clarkesville square and be economically viable.
I think the county owes that much to the City of Clarkesville. Otherwise, we would be better off if the county demolishes the building and sells the property. Without a major and thoughtful overhaul the building is an eyesore and detrimental to the Clarkesville square.
I don’t know Mr. Oliver or his investors at all, but I have seen his overall master plan developed for Clarkesville, and I have seen his work in other Georgia communities. His work is thoughtful to the setting and attempts to preserve the history that underlies the plan. He runs his business from the Clarkesville square and seems to have a genuine interest in helping Clarkesville redevelop its historical character and prepare for the future. He was referred to as an “outsider” as if favoritism should be given to a local developer just because they are “local.” Good decisions shouldn’t be based on outsider versus local.
Maybe his proposal isn’t the only plan that should be considered, but hopefully whatever their decision and whatever plan forward is chosen, the current county commission will think longer term. Maintaining viable downtowns within our county should be equally important as they drive good clean businesses that pay county taxes. They provide entertainment and places to gather for all residents of the county, not just those that live in the city limits.
Good decisions are not always what is the cheapest or even returns a rather nominal amount in the scheme of things to the county coffers. Those kinds of decisions are what got us to where we are today with our best county buildings on back streets and outskirts of the town with little visibility to the passerby and instead our maintenance facilities and pole barns out front for all to see.
Don Nix
Clarkesville