Historic house set for demolition

The owners of a historic home in Marietta are preparing to demolish the former residence so they can construct a new commer- cial building.

Fowler House at 789 Church Street is on the chopping block as its new property owner, Michael Sunshine of BAMM Realty, plans to lease the new space to McAlister’s Deli, The Poke Company and possibly a medi- cal office tenant.

Fowler House, which was built in 1926, was the Fowler family’s private residence until it was converted into office space in the 1960s. Although the home’s original facade remained, it has been used as office space by Peoples Financial, the company started by the Fowlers.

The site, which is located next to WellStar Kennestone Hospital, provides a perfect opportunity to redevelop the site to adapt to the changing community, developers said. Sunshine’s purchase took local preservation promoters by surprise. Cobb Landmarks, a nonprofit that works to save historic sites, worked with Sunshine to salvage windows, shutters, solid wood doors and light fixtures that could be used in future projects.

They also extensively photographed the house as documentation that it existed. Cobb Landmarks will use some of the salvaged items as part of its new interpretive center that will open at the William Root House Museum.

You can view a list of other historic properties Cobb Landmarks is working to preserve by visiting its website at cobblandmarks.com.

JENNIFER BRETT / JBRETT@AJC.COM The Fowler House was built in 1926 as a private residence. It was converted into office space in the 1960s, but the home’s original facade remained. It will be demolished for restaurants and office space.