Politics & Government

Board of Assessors Approves Historic Landmark Application

The property is on Dubose Avenue.

By Brittini Ray 

The Athens-Clarke County Board of Assessors voted unanimously to approve an unusual historic landmark application on November 14.

“We [occasionally] do have isolated cases that some people add to the property.” Kirk Dunagan, Chief Appraiser, said. “Very seldom does this happen. This is an unbelievable major change.”

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The board approved an application request to include the new additions made to a residential property located at 321 Dubose Ave on the National Register of Historic Places.  The original Dubose Avenue building is already listed on the registry, but owners have since made additions to the building. Changes to the property included a modification of the building’s roof, a new garage, and a new building connected by a porch.

“When this happens, the original structure and the land has to go in [the register] at the sales price or our value— whichever is higher at the time— and if  [owners] add on something new [to the house] then [we] add on the new value,” Dunagan said.

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The additions to the building will call for a reassessment of the property’s value. The board will assess the new property’s value by taking the base value, the property’s original value and adding to it, the value of the additions made.

The board’s decision will only approve the owner’s application. It will not establish a new assessment value for the property additions.

“They’ll get an assessment notice if the application is accepted,” Amanda Stephens, Information and Technology Supervisor, said.  “Then they can appeal it if they want to.”

Some board members were concerned how changes would affect the market value.

“What about increases over time?” Johnny Fowler, board member, said. “We have to keep up with it.”


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