By Rebecca Gaunt

The city of Kennesaw and the Kennesaw Development Authority are taking control of 2881 North Main St., formerly a hardware store, in an effort to improve the downtown corridor.

The property, located next to the controversial Wildman’s Civil War shop, recently went on the market again after the bank took it back from the previous developer.

The City Council unanimously approved the intergovernmental agreement Monday. The city will loan the KDA $700,000, and the KDA will supply the remaining $200,000 to purchase the parcel.

“We will ultimately resell this…to a developer of the city and the KDA’s choosing,” said Luke Howe, the city’s economic development director.

Howe presented three possible options for the handling of the property: to sell the property to a developer, to put out a request for proposals and offer financing, or to put out an RFP and offer bonds for renovation.

According to Howe, the three-story property needs $1.5 to $2 million in renovations. 

Council member Tracey Viars said that they hope to “enliven that building that has been empty for so long.”

Local business owner Dale Hughes is in the process of developing the other surrounding properties at 2861 and 2871 N. Main St., a grass lot and the former Whistle Stop Cafe respectively, and the land that was formerly the site of the now-demolished Hair Junction and the By-Gone Treasures antique shop.

Also approved Monday:

• The 2025 operating budget and SPLOST budget for the city
• The final plat for Devin’s Shire, a 35-residence townhome subdivision on Duncan Drive
• The final plat revising the property line between two parcels for 2400 Ellison Lakes Dr.
• The appointment of Berry Wilson as the information technology director for the city

Meetings are held on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall. The city calendar and meeting agendas can be found on the city of Kennesaw website at Public Meeting Portal – City of Kennesaw (kennesaw-ga.gov).

Rebecca Gaunt earned a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in education from Oglethorpe University. After teaching elementary school for several years, she returned to writing. She lives in Marietta with her husband, son, two cats, and a dog. In her spare time, she loves to read, binge Netflix and travel.