Albemarle Losing COA Approvals, Facade Grants

The city of Toccoa is withdrawing all applications for facade grants and Certificates of Appropriateness for the Albemarle Hotel.

Last month, the city sent a letter to Revitalizing Community Partners of Northeast Georgia, Inc. informing them that both had been removed.

According to Toccoa Main Street Director Connie Tabor, the letter was sent at the request of both the city’s Historic Preservation Commission and Downtown Development Authority.

At its meeting on Thursday, the HPC ratified that letter.

HPC members said the Albemarle Hotel, located at the corner of Tugalo and Alexander streets, is becoming an eyesore downtown.

Tabor said the letter requests a host of information from Revitalizing Community Partners of Northeast Georgia within the next 30 days.

“They will now be required to have an evaluation of the building by a registered design professional for detailed plans and specifications to be provided, as well as a project cost estimate and time schedule so that we will have an indication as to the time it will take regarding the building renovation,” said Tabor.

City officials also sent a copy of this letter to Connie West, who owned it when it was the Alexander Apartments and has a security interest in the property.

West appeared before the HPC on Thursday and apologized for the condition of the building.

She said she had no clue the building was in the state it was in and also said that Revitalizing Community Partners is two years past due on their payments to her for the building.

West said she is seeking legal counsel on what steps she needs to take next and asked the city to work with her.

Meanwhile, the city sent a separate, second letter to attorney Janney Sanders, who is representing Alden Parker and Alexander Hotel, Inc., who had done work on the Albemarle and requested COA’s and facade grants for the property.

That letter stated that the city is withdrawing any Certificates of Appropriateness and facade grants that would have been approved the request of Parker and/or Alexander Hotel, Inc. and/or Gary Donahue and/or Revitalizing Community Partners of Northeast Georgia, Inc.

In the letter, the city stated that it understands that at this point, Alexander Hotel, Inc., Parker, or Donahue have no legal interest in the building.