Two historic buildings sold in Canton
Canton city officials cleared the way for new development downtown with the sale of a pair of historic buildings.
The Downtown Development Authority approved the sale of the former Canton Elementary School and Canton cotton mill buildings and the approximately four acres on which they sit. Harris Diversified Systems will repurpose the buildings on Main and Academy streets into restaurant, retail and office space.
Mayor Gene Hobgood said the purchase price was $600,000 and the new owners can’t demolish the structures as part of the deal. Meeting the same night, the city OK’d a development agreement with Harris.
The city acquired the property in a land swap with the Cherokee County School District in March. School officials had at one time considered tearing down the buildings to construct a new administration headquarters, drawing an outcry from preservationists.
