Old Fort Sorghum property up for sale

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Old Fort Sorghum

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – In a Dec. 27, 2019 called meeting, the county officially transferred the Old Fort Sorghum Property to the Development Authority (DA). After researching the matter, Commissioner Lamar Paris decided the historic property offered “no foreseeable use” for the county.

The approximately .95 acres used to be the home of Union County’s yearly Sorghum Festival. Built in the early 1970s, many can remember working during the festival or taking field trips to the Fort. The Sorghum Festival moved to Meeks Park in the 2010s, and since then, most of the Fort has been taken down. Currently, the lot stands vacant.

“[The county] is usually buying property just in case we need it at some point in the future,” said Paris. “However, it’s been determined it’s in the best interest of the county to transfer this property to the Union County Development Authority for the purpose of being sold.”

The DA previously approached Paris about potentially transferring the property and felt it would be a good area for retail expansion of some sort.

DA Board Member Mitch Griggs attended the property transfer meeting on Dec. 27.

“Union County has looked at all options for this property for many years and other than a little event in the old building sometimes, nothing really regular [happens there],” stated Paris. In 2017, the county had the property appraised for $225,000, but the value might have increased since then.

DA can sell the property at market value and determine who ultimately buys it while the county would have to sell it to the highest bidder. The board and director of the DA meet and discuss who can purchase the property, what for, and at what price. The county and the DA must also decide on a percentage that the board will receive for selling the property. In the past, the DA has received between 10 and 15 percent for selling county property. Most of the money from the actual sale of the property will go to the county.

“We’ve had several people contact us about it,” explained Paris, “because of the demand, I got serious [about it]. It’s too far from the Civic Center to do a parking lot. It’s a long uphill climb to get to the Civic Center, and if it can benefit the community by providing a good business location, then that’s good.”

The public hearing concerning the transfer of Old Fort Sorghum occurred on Dec. 23 at 4 p.m. with no objections.

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