Last week the Troup County Board of Commissioners considered a special use permit that would allow the former Mountville School to once more become a place for minds to expand.

Grady Sain III, who owns the property, requested permission to convert the former elementary school into Positive Fields, a maker space, art education center and event facility and has already received unanimous approval from the zoning board on the application. The proposed use would take advantage of the 3.5 acre property following much-needed renovations to the school building.

“303 College Street is the old Mountville School that has been there for a long time, and it has been abandoned, and Mr. Sain has purchased the property,” Senior Building Official Jay Anderson said. “He wishes to use the property for art education, a maker space and a special event facility at the old school there in the Mountville community.”

According to Anderson, the property is currently bordering on dilapidation and the renovations would be a positive change for the area. The commissioners also seemed amicable to the use.

“We are certainly interested to learn more about it, and I think it will be very interesting from what we were given,” County Commission Chairman Patrick Crews said. “It is a unique opportunity for that community.”

Sain has held several meetings with the community regarding the planned use already to gauge public interest and receive input.

“I did attend the town hall meeting that he had, and it was a very well-represented community,” Commissioner Ellis Cadenhead said. “The neighbors that were there were very receptive.”

For more information on the project, visit Positivefields.org.

The Troup County Board of Commissioners plans to vote on the special use on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 9 a.m. at 100 Ridley Avenue.