The Alpharetta City Council has approved a zoning change that would preserve a the historic Ben Manning House at 94 Academy St. for office or residential use.
GRBK Academy LLC requested the rezoning for the building’s .39-acre site from R-8A/D (for-sale attached/detached residential) to DT-LW (Downtown Live-Work). The developer has used the house as the sales office of the East of Main residential development.
The house was built between 1908 and 1910 and is being renovated. The developer originally planned to restore the structure as a clubhouse for residents, but code requirements, such as adding a fire sprinkler system, made that plan economically unfeasible, staff said in a report to the Council.
“The developer has prepared covenants, conditions and restrictions that will provide access and use of the Ben Manning House yard and formal gardens by residents of East of Main,” staff said. “The long-term sustainability of the structure will be with a single private owner that will have the funds to property maintain the structure.”
About the Author
