Work Resumes On Downtown Building

A local building owner has resumed work on his building.

The Toccoa Planning Office said that it has granted a building permit for work on the inside of the former Green’s Department Store at 26 Doyle Street.

In addition, painting has taken place on the front of the building.

That building, owned by Robert Crumley, had received a cease and desist order from the city regarding work after his Certificate of Appropriateness request was denied by the Historic Preservation Commission in July.

The HPC said it denied the application because it had reservations about plans for the facade and bulkhead walls for the building.

Following that, Crumley posted a sign on the front of the building for a day earlier this month that said “No Welcome Mat in Toccoa.”

Crumley said at the time that the sign was related to the situation he finds himself in with the building and the city of Toccoa’s Historic Preservation Commission.

Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said last week after the sign had been put up and taken down that the city wanted to work with Crumley, adding that the city appreciated the work he had done on the building.

Morse encouraged Crumley to submit a new COA.

The planning office says that Crumley has submitted a new COA that will be considered by the HPC at a future meeting.