Roland is the executive director for the Calhoun Downtown Development Authority and she along with Gretchen Brock, National Register Coordinator are encouraging Calhoun business owners to register their business with the National Register of Historic Places. The register will help create the Calhoun Downtown Historic Business District.
“The National Register is a great recognition program that puts places on the map,” Brock said.
The registry also provides such benefits as tax incentives for those willing to purchase old buildings and renovate them.
Roland and Brock both stress that business on the register will not be put under any building restrictions or requirements.
“The National Register does not place restrictions on any private property,” Brock said.
So far there are no registered businesses with in the city limits.
“We are hopeful the downtown businesses will get on board,” Roland said.
The borders for the Historic Business District will begin with Line Street as the north border. Piedmont Street will create an east boarder with the railroad buffering the district to the west. The southern boarder will run from the railway to Oothcalooga Street.
Roland said the Historic Business District would be a big economic boost to the community.
“It gives you a wonderful sense of pride. People look for this when traveling and when several blocks of your city show up (on the register) it is great,” Roland said.
Roland wants to see such recognizable places such as the Gem Theatre and the Harris Arts Center.
“This is our county seat’s heritage,” Roland said. “We have a history worth preserving.”
The Down Town Development will host an informative meeting on the National Register of Historic places on Thursday Jan. 14 at the Depot at 6:30 p.m.
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