EDITORIAL: ‘Fading five’ could keep more properties from disappearing

Historic Macon, in an effort to identify endangered properties before they fall victim to the wrecking ball, has come up with a preemptive plan. The organization calls its annual efforts the “Fading Five.” The name is self-explanatory, structures that are “architecturally, historically and naturally significant places,” said Alex Morrison, the chairman of Historic Macon’s board of directors, will be identified and the organization will work with the owners to develop a restoration plan or find new owners for the properties.

The first “Fading Five” are the former Alexander IV Elementary School building, the Schofield Iron Works Complex, the Cotton Avenue District, the Bonnybrae-Bedgood House and the Ware House. While trying to protect such properties is nothing new, it is particularly important in a developing market that gives every indication of heating up. The area has dodged a few bullets in the past and been hit by a few.

Elam Alexander was one of the area’s great philanthropist who died in 1863. Aside from designing and building some of Macon’s most stately homes and structures, such as the Woodruff House and the Raines-Miller-Carmichael House, the educational fund he founded built several schools around the city all bearing his name.

The Schofield Iron Works made cotton presses, steam engines and boilers, and it also produced shells and cannon during the Civil War.

The Cotton Avenue District is anchored by Stewart Chapel AME Church (141 years old), First Baptist Church (170 years old) and other historically significant African American businesses. It is also the area that was the inspiration for the “Fading Five” idea. Last year, the vacant Tremont Temple and Douglass House met the same fate and are now gone for the ages, replaced by a Dunkin’ Donuts and a sandwich shop.

The Bonnybrae-Bedgood House is an excellent example of Greek Revival architecture built in 1838. Its history is long and varied and has undergone many transformations, one led by noted architect Neil Reid.

The Ware House, from its corner location on Oglethorpe Street, has watched its neighborhood and the city grow, decline and grow again in its 135-year lifetime.

It will be interesting to see this program evolve over the years as what is old becomes new again. Take the Iron Works building for example. The market for such a building just a few years ago was nil. Now with a bustling loft community downtown, its location could be considered ideal for developers looking to invest. Those possibilities would never have occurred if the bulldozers had already arrived.

This story was originally published August 28, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "EDITORIAL: ‘Fading five’ could keep more properties from disappearing ."