Fate of Historic Norcross Home On Buchanan Street Undecided

The small green painted house at 167 Buchanan Street has been around for over 150 years, that's long enough to pre-date the Civil War and long enough to pre-date this country's well-known 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, who wasn't elected until Nov. 6, 1860.

Though it was build soundly, a century and a half has taken its toll on the wood-framed home. Its owner, Ms. Jane Holbrook, a relative of the late Ludi Simpson who deeded the river-front property that was to become Simpsonwood, has requested permission from the city to raze the historic home.

But the structure lies within the city's designated historic district, so demolishing the little house is not that simple.

"It's an historically significant home," said Chris McCrary, Norcross' Community Development Director. And that makes any removal process a bit more complicated.

McCrary's office is in the process of preparing a presentation to the city's architectural review board for its Aug. 19 meeting. The board will study the options that include the cost of bringing the little house up to code.

"The building is probably pretty solid," said McCrary. However, the city has received an abandoned building complaint which requires the city to act. One option said McCrary is to secure the home to ensure no one can get inside.

McCrary said an analysis will be done to determine if it costs more to bring it to code then it's currently worth. Because of its historical significance there is a 90-day period to allow someone to step up with an alternative plan. 

The Architectural Review Board will meet on Monday, Aug. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall to hear the Community Development Department's presentation.