City buying former high school for new city hall

Canton is paying $2.5 million for the historic Canton High School building downtown and will move its city hall there, officials announced.

“This purchase not only helps preserve the historic character of our city, but also provides essential space for our city government as the demands of our growing population continue to increase,” Mayor Gene Hobgood said.

The Cherokee County School Board on March 15 approved selling its Downtown Center at 110 Academy St. to the city. Canton will move its city hall to the 1.8acre facility from its present quarters in the former First Baptist Church of Canton, 151 Elizabeth St.

Canton will allow the school district’s special education office to remain in the Academy Street building until the end of the school year, a district spokeswoman said.

The old church will become the Canton Public Safety and Municipal Court Building, with police operations relocating from the former post office on East Marietta Street. A Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax approved by voters last November will pay for the moves.