Main Street Presbyterian Church wants to know if you, or someone you know, has both an interest in historic architecture and some free space.
The church is looking to free up some land right behind its sanctuary, located on the corner of Main Street and Seventh Street North, for better Americans with Disabilities Act parking access. A house, built in 1905 — once the parsonage and then the location of Life Choices Pregnancy Care Center — sits there now.
Longtime church member Henry Pilkinton told The Dispatch Tuesday afternoon he went to the Historic Preservation Commission on behalf of the church in December to ask for a permit to demolish the house, which has been vacant for about two years.
The commission unanimously denied the request and put in place a six-month stay on demolition, President Barbara Bigelow said.
“The house is beautiful, and it’s on the National Register of Historic Places,” Bigelow said. “It’s not dilapidated in any way. We would just prefer to see it moved rather than torn down.”
Pilkinton said the church doesn’t necessarily want to tear it down, either, but the property would better serve the church as parking than as a site for a house.
“We don’t have any handicapped parking that’s accessible to our sanctuary right now,” Pilkinton said. “The only ADA parking we have is on (Eighth Street North), which means somebody has to come all the way through the church and go up a flight and a half of steps. It’s a struggle.”
Pilkinton said he would like to see someone buy the house and then relocate it, similar to what was done with the Tennessee Williams Home, which was relocated from College Street to Main Street.
“(Moving the house) is exactly what we’re looking for,” Pilkinton said. “… The church would entertain any offer for moving the house. I don’t think there would be a lot of cost for the house, as long as it’s moved.”
Bigelow said the church has the 180-day period to work out any arrangements it can as far as moving the house, and then can come back to the commission again.
“After that (six-month) period runs they can come before us and ask for a permit (to tear it down) again if they haven’t been able to sell it,” Bigelow said. “If it’s denied again, they can go to the city council.”
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
