City of Norcross buys Gwinnett’s first public library after threatening to use eminent domain

Georgia Trust sells 103-year-old Gwinnett Co. library to City of Norcross for preservation Courtesy: Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation (Courtesy: Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation)

NORCROSS, GA — The city of Norcross has bought Gwinnett County’s first public library after threatening to use eminent domain.

The Norcross Women’s Club Old Library was built in 1921 and still stands off North Peachtree Street downtown. Ben Sutton with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation says they tried to sell it to the city, but when they didn’t bite, they moved on.

However, the city recently reversed course and agreed to buy it for $450,000, adding it to their historic zoning district.