“Historical tourism is very big right now,” said Nancy Boehm, who chairs the Cave Spring Downtown Development Authority. “They spend an average of $668 versus an average of $427 for regular vacations, and Cave Spring should get some of that money.”
The city already meets most of the eligibility requirements but would have to designate a local historic district.
Although about 90 structures are on the National Register of Historic Places, a previous attempt to establish a local district unleashed a firestorm of criticism from homeowners concerned it could restrict the use of their property.
“We already know what happened last time we went down that road,” Mayor Rob Ware said. “It blew up in our face, and I want to be sure that doesn’t happen again.”
The proposed solution: Designate only the city-owned historic Georgia School for the Deaf campus and adjacent Rolater Park.
Members of the Cave Spring City Council were cautiously supportive of the DDA proposal Wednesday but deferred a decision until after an information session which will be scheduled in late June or early July. Leamon Scott of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, which oversees the program, will be asked to give a presentation.
“I like the idea, but I represent people who have concerns about their own buildings,” Councilwoman Mary Littlejohn said. “I want to be sure the obligations don’t grow.”
Rome is a Main Street city — a program for communities with a population between 5,000 and 50,000. The Better Hometown program offers similar services for communities with fewer than 5,000 people.
For more about the programs you can go to their web site.
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