Phoebe, Albany Tech’s Learning Community Project has been on hold.

Albany, Ga. (WALB) – Construction is on hold at the Phoebe and Albany Technical College living and learning community.

This comes as the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) files an appeal. in Dougherty County Superior Court. The project will be put on hold until a superior judge makes a decision.

HPC filed an appeal in the Supreme Court on Monday. After Phoebe announced that they had started making some progress at the former Albany Middle School.

HPC members like Bryant Harden hope the Superior Court will find that the City Commission overturned its decision. HPC argued that it had abused its discretion.

“It is important to note that HPC has not rejected the idea of ​​a living and learning center. Instead, HPC denied the demolition of five historic properties,” Harden said.

In a statement, Phoebe officials said this appeal would limit their growth.

“The Historic Preservation Commission’s application in Dougherty Superior Court has put the Phoebe Albany Technical College Living and Learning Community project on hold. This project is already on a tight schedule, and any delay could prevent the expanded Albany Technical College nursing program from opening in the proposed new location in 2024. “We must be allowed to complete this project to increase our state’s pipeline of nurses and provide much-needed economic development to Albany,” Phoebe officials said in a statement.

“It is our hope that HPC will reconsider its decision to deny the Certificates of Appropriateness. Given Phoebe’s commitment to respecting the historic nature of the property and delivering health care services in our community, we believe that HPC will fully fulfill its responsibility by withdrawing the appeal and allowing the project to proceed. If HPC decides to pursue the appeal, it will be reviewed by the City Commission.” We have confidence in place and hope to resolve any legal hurdles in construction as soon as possible.

City Attorney Nathan Davis said city officials are confident in their decision.

At Tuesday’s commission meeting, the city appointed four new board members. Two members resigned, and the other two members stood up for re-appointment and were replaced by the city.

The two nominees for re-election are Bruce Capps and Jennifer Davis, the two HPC chairmen who opposed the dissolution.

“Unfortunately, I believe those commissioners were not reappointed because of their vote in July,” Harden said.

City Commissioner Chad Warbington said that’s not the case.

“It’s a normal 2-year process. It may look like they’re connected, but they’re not. It was after a very controversial heated vote,” Warbington said.

There is no time limit on when the city attorney should decide the Superior Court.

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