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Vineville home razed to make way for Big House event center

Some neighbors opposed the demolition, but the Allman Brothers Museum hopes to build an event center on the site next year.

MACON, Ga. — Wrecking crews on Monday turned a century-old home in Macon’s Vineville neighborhood to rubble.

Last month, Macon-Bibb County’s planning and zoning approved demolition of the home at 2353 Vineville Avenue, next door to the Big House Allman Brothers Museum.

The owners want to build a 2,200-hundred-square-foot event space for recitals, receptions and other events. Their application says the center could host up to 100 people and have 38 parking spaces.

Opponents, including some neighbors, say the old house was the home of Catherine Brewer Benson. She was reportedly the first woman to receive a degree from Wesleyan College.

Some say she lived there while attending Wesleyan.

The Big House says their own research says that's likely not true.

Neighbors fought the demolition for more than two years. They argue that the old home is historically significant.

But the Big House argued that the home is dangerous and unfit to live in.

They submitted an engineer's report that says due to fire and damage, it would cost more to fix up the home than it's worth.

And a staff report from the county planning and zoning report says the building's architecture is important, but "not vital" to the historic district.

The planning commission approved the demolition by a 3-2 vote.

Big House treasurer Jim Wells on Monday said they’ll apply for building permits soon and hope to build that event center next year.

He says they think the neighbors will be happy with it.

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