Perry council approves downtown historic district

Key takeaways –

• Council shares properties excluded from the downtown historic district before approval. Benefits of businesses in the historic district discussed.
• Airport Road and Sam Nunn Boulevard neighborhood commercial space approved unanimously. 
• Mayor Randall Walker announces Community Development Director Bryan Wood will be retiring in July. Clifford Cross was selected to fill his seat.
• Wood shares five homes will be built in the Oldfield neighborhood at the end of this year or early next year.

PERRY – Downtown Perry is now a historic district after Mayor Randall Walker and council approved the ordinance during Tuesday night’s city council meeting. However, a number of properties were not included. 

Downtown Historic District approval

Community Development Director Bryan Wood proposed the ordinance establishing the historic district during the May 6 meeting. It included Carroll Street, portions of Main Street, Ball Street, Jernigan Street, Washington Street and parcels on Macon Road. 

During pre-council, City Attorney Brooke Newby clarified the ordinance will require an additional second reading if any changes are made to the Historic Preservation Commission map. It will be presented at the next council meeting.

Properties not included in the district are:

• 1028 Macon Road
• Kerri Moore Interiors, 1026 Macon Road
• The Village Shops, 736 Carroll Street
• 748 Carroll Street
• 723 Carroll Street
• 745 Main Street

Councilmember James Moody asked Wood how it would benefit business owners who are in the historic district. 

Wood said there may be additional work done, but there’s potential for Historic State and Federal Historic tax credits for any improvements done to buildings in a historic district, a potential benefit for someone who wants to do substantial improvements to their property that would not be available otherwise.

Members of the Historic Preservation Commission spoke in favor of the ordinance and thanked the mayor and council for considering the ordinance and the district’s importance. Members mentioned the importance of conserving history and their personal connection to the area, many mentioning childhood memories.

Board member Val Sanders clarified Historic Preservation is concerned with the external appearance of buildings and its use. Paint colors will still fall under the Main Street Advisory Board.

The overall purpose of historic districts is to maintain the city’s small town character and preserve what makes it unique. Mayor and council approved the amended map and there will be a second reading for final approval at the next council meeting.

Airport Road and Sam Nunn developments approved

Earlier in the meeting, council heard a second reading of an annexation of property located on Airport Road. There was also a second reading on rezoning property from R-1 single-family residential and R-AG to C-2 General Commercial district. Both were approved unanimously during the regular council meeting.

As mentioned in the previous meeting, a representative from Widner Associates said the property will be a neighborhood amenity. The representative once again spoke in favor of the annexation, saying their vision is to build a neighborhood commercial space, including shops, offices and other businesses that will serve existing and future residents.

The next request was to rezone property on 2009 Sam Nunn Road from R-1, single-family residential to C-2 General Commercial district. This was also approved unanimously.

Community Planner Emily Carson it is the adjoining parcel to the previous two applications. She shared it would be the final piece of the neighborhood level commercial development proposed.

Walker announces Wood’s retirement

Usually, nothing is mentioned during the unfinished business portion of the meeting but this time, Walker made an important announcement. Walker said Wood will be retiring this July. The city went through a selection process last week during their special called meeting about personnel and their final selection was Clifford Cross. 

Oldfield Development update

During the end of the pre-council meeting, Wood shared the Houston County Land Bank received the CHIP New Construction grant. He said the Land Bank will receive the money during the end of this year or early next year, and he is looking forward to the project’s beginning.

The grant will go towards building five new houses in the Oldfield neighborhood on Land Bank-owned property.

Mayor and council will meet again for their pre-council starting at 5 p.m. and regular council meeting at 6 p.m. on June 3. Everyone is invited to attend these meetings, and the agenda can be found here.