Politics & Government

Old Town Suwanee Redevelopment Gets a Federal Boost

A portion of the area will be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The long-proposed National Register Historic District for a portion of Old Town Suwanee is finally a reality.

City officials have announced that a 67-acre section of Old Town has received a thumbs-up to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The listing was approved on Dec. 24 by the National Park Service, which administers the program at the federal level.

The Suwanee area had received state approval in August. Suwanee officials began efforts to gain National Register status in 2012.

The most immediate impact of this development means that development of the vacant Pierce's Corner building on Main Street now is eligible for federal tax credits.

The building, which dates to 1910, is under a lease-purchase deal to a group led by Michael Deming Jr. of Norcross. Plans for the building include a restaurant on the ground floor, and a so-called business incubator for start-ups on the upper level.

Also, it means that owners of other income-producing properties in the district are eligible for federal tax credits.

"This is undoubtedly a win for Suwanee," said City Council member Beth Hilscher, who also is a member of the Downtown Development Authority, which nominated the area for inclusion in the National Register.

"The registry designation is a step toward honoring Suwanee's heritage while providing tax incentives for those property owners willing to invest in the preservation of our historic properties," Hilscher said in a city news release.

During the nomination process, boundaries for the district also included Everett's Music Barn and Suwanee First United Methodist Church, which is more than 100 years old.

-- How do you feel about Pierce's Corner and Old Town redevelopment? Tell us in the comments below.



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