TL File Photo/JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH The former Patrick’s Restaurant was a bright green structure at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets in historic downtown Barnesville. The owner of the damaged building was seeking approval in late January from the village to demolish it.

BARNESVILLE — Barnesville Village Council decided to demolish some local landmarks this year, including the former Patrick’s Restaurant and neighboring buildings at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets.

During a council meeting Jan. 17, Community Development Director Bill Knox proposed that the three buildings be sold and the money used to install a 20-space parking lot in the area behind the buildings. He said the estimated cost to the village was $165,000 to $265,000.

The village of Barnesville had purchased the properties intending to demolish them to create additional parking for downtown. Potential tenants and buyers of the village-owned Bohandy Building on South Chestnut had mentioned that parking was a deal-breaker when trying to finalize a lease or sale.

The demolition permit for Patrick’s Restaurant was initially brought before the council on Jan.17, but it was put on hold when Councilman Steve Hill brought up the fact that the property owner’s plans for the site had not received approval from the Board of Architectural Review – an organization that was founded in 1993 to help maintain the historic downtown’s architectural integrity.

On Feb. 27, council voted 4-2 to tear down two historic buildings on North Chestnut Street to create the new parking lot after receiving the required board approvals. A large number of concerned residents showed up for the meeting, but council had already decided on the fate of the structures.

Village officials received a lot of criticism from the public following the announcement. Many community members wanted to preserve the historic buildings.

During a council meeting on Sept. 10, Councilmen Brian Yarnall and Steve Hill said the project would put Barnesville’s designation as a “Historic Downtown” in jeopardy and that the extra parking was unnecessary.

Mayor Dale Bunting said he agreed that the village did not need more parking right away, but he expected that more parking would be needed in the future.

The demolition began in October despite opposition from many community members.

On Oct. 19, a gas leak was discovered in the vicinity of North Chestnut Street, where demolition work on the three village-owned buildings was taking place. The gas leak forced nearly 100 people to evacuate nearby businesses, apartments and community centers.

On Nov. 27, council took the first step toward selling a portion of its property along North Chestnut Street to a private developer for $20,000.