Vineville neighbors fight to preserve historic Macon house

MACON, Ga. — The discussion carries on this week around designs to demolish a century-previous, condemned household on Macon’s Vineville Avenue.

Some neighbors say it is historic, but the Huge Dwelling Basis, which owns the residence, suggests it’s not seriously significant.

“Catherine Brewer Benson lived in the house with her father in 1840 when she was heading to Wesleyan, and grew to become the very first female in historical past to get hold of a bachelor’s diploma,” stated historian Caitlin Mee, who life in the community.

“It was designed out of other old houses around 1918. So, that helps make it aged but you will find no historical significance to it,” stated Jim Wells, the treasurer for the Massive Property Basis.

There you have it: the central discussion all over the home at 2353 Vineville Avenue. Mee says it can be historic.

“It can be essential to women’s background below in Macon,” she said. “This current residence that we’re attempting to preserve is the remaining half of the Brewer Benson residence.”

Others, like Wells, claims Brewer Benson hardly ever lived in it at all. He claims that initial dwelling burned down in 2007, and that 2353 is developed from other structures around Brewer Benson’s residence.

“We have superior historic data that it was put with each other from the outbuildings that ended up on the home all over the complex,” Wells reported.

He says the Major Home Basis owns the home, which is following doorway to the previous Allman Brothers home. The foundation originally planned to restore it, he claims.

“To restore the developing for an party space on the 1st floor and have archival storage,” Wells mentioned.

But when they started out the renovation, here is what they discovered.

“The property was in structurally unsafe problem,” he said.

Now, the foundation designs to demolish the residence and plant gardens. Wells suggests that’s the greatest issue for the assets. Not all people agrees.

“Tax credits, American Rescue Act money, there’s a whole lot of fiscal incentives suitable now to do more creative matters with properties like this,” Mee claimed.

Monday, the Macon-Bibb Design Evaluate Board denied the demolition. The last selection belongs to Macon-Bibb’s Setting up and Zoning Commission. They’re established to vote on Monday, August 8.