What Should the Town Do with the Berry House?

Summerville Town Council unanimously agreed to allow Mayor Bill Collins to study several options for what to do with the historic house at 127 W. 5th South Street.

The property is called the Berry House, and it is contiguous to the western Azalea Park, near the Cuthbert Center.

The town purchased the property for around $700,000 in 2008, but has only hosted one event there since. Since the purchase, the town has invested another $85,000 into the property, according to Collins.

Now the mayor will consider whether or not the property should be sold, leased to a private contractor or maintained by the town and rented out for events. 

Collins will have a proposal ready at the Aug. 20 budget retreat of council.

Selling the house is the least desirable of those options, Collins said.

"With property values depressed as they are, we would probbly lose several hundred thousand dollars," Collins said.