Funeral home building to become city hall

DAHLONEGA - Dahlonega's City Hall is getting a new home -- albeit in an old building.

City Manager Bill Lewis confirmed to AccessNorthGa.com Thursday morning that the city has purchased the old McKinney Funeral Home building on North Grove Street for $425,000, a little over half of the appraised value of the historic building. The two-story building contains 4,400 square feet and a basement. Lewis added it will cost over $ 1 million to restore the structure to its original architecture. The renovation will take at least two years, according to Lewis.

He said additions made in the past to the rear of the property will be demolished, and new ones, in keeping with the original architecture, will be added. Renovation is expected to take about two years.

City officials have not yet decided what to do with the current city hall building, although current plans are to sell it.