Board of Regents Considering Creative Solutions for Historic President's House

The President's House Foundation, a non-profit organization founded to promote the preservation of the UGA President's House for the benefit of the community, is pleased to announce that the Board of Regents and University of Georgia administration have been presented with innovative solutions to preserve the historic President's House. This significant effort follows a series of discussions that took place in January, where representatives from the Foundation met with key university officials, including Board of Regents Chairman Harold Reynolds and UGA President Jere Morehead, to discuss the future of this iconic property.

Foundation President Lee Epting expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, "The preservation of the President's House and its gardens is of paramount importance to our community and the history of our University. We are delighted to see a unified commitment from all parties involved."

Also present at the January meeting was Wright Mitchell, CEO of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, who proposed the inclusion of preservation easements in any potential sale of the property. The Foundation is pleased to report that, when the property was listed for sale in June, these preservation easements were indeed a requirement for all offers.

Over the past six months, the Foundation has been working diligently to present Chairman Reynolds, President Morehead, and the Board with a viable alternative to selling the property outright. Epting commented, "We are excited about the introduction of a preliminary plan that not only ensures the preservation of this historic property for future generations but also explores creative options with the support of the State of Georgia."

The Foundation strongly encourages the Board of Regents, President Morehead, and state legislators to consider these and other possibilities to safeguard and maximize the use of this treasured landmark. Epting added, "The willingness of Chairman Reynolds and President Morehead to explore new avenues is commendable. We are optimistic that this 'jewel in the crown' of our university will not only survive but thrive, benefiting our community, students, alumni, and the citizens of Georgia for years to come."

The UGA President’s House is located at 570 Prince Avenue in Athens. For more information on the President’s House Foundation’s efforts visit www.presidentshousefoundation.com.