Saye building

The demolition of the Saye Building marks the end of a years-long battle between commissioners, residents, and the building’s owner over its fate.

If you've been downtown lately, then you know...The Saye Building is gone. Find out what's happened since the last episode, including some changes to county ordinances.

Demolition of the historic Saye building is underway, bringing a years-long legal battle between the Athens-Clarke County Government and Athens first United Methodist Church to a close.

The special use permit will allow the building’s owners to replace the building with a parking lot once it is demolished.

At an agenda setting meeting Tuesday night, the Athens-Clarke County mayor and commission lingered over a zoning change that, if passed, would increase housing stock on the West side.

The Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission will meet Tuesday night to consider next steps for the controversial replacement of the downtown Saye Building.

At their meeting April 3rd, the Athens-Clarke County Planning Commission unanimously voted to deny Athens First United Methodist Church’s application for a special use permit.

At Tuesday night’s regular session, the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission voted to remove the historic Saye Building from the West Downtown Historic District.

At Tuesday’s agenda setting meeting, the Mayor and Commission were supposed to discuss an ordinance that would remove the historic Saye building from the boundaries of the Western Downtown Historic District.

Planning Commission chair Matthew Hall felt the delay was necessary since the Saye Building is still considered a part of the West Downtown Historic District and the request to remove the property from the Historic District is still pending.