Laurens City Council this week gave the go-ahead to seek a grant for the city to repair a building on the Historic Square. Laurens Main Street Laurens Director Jonathan Irick requested the council approval to assist in applying for a grant from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. If received, the funds would be used to make repairs to the old Chaney Building. Irick noted the building was donated to the city by the Palmetto Bank, which foreclosed on the property. He said that the building is stable with a dry basement, but is in need of a new roof and various window repairs. Irick said he hopes that once the repairs are made the building can be sold for use in a new business locating in the city. The City Council vote to seek the grant provides matching funding up front for the repairs, but the city is to be reimbursed with grant funds and any profit from the sale of the repaired building. Irick said he believes the city will be investing less than fifteen thousand dollars and added the project will protect the city from having another building fall into disrepair and become a danger to the public.
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