One of Fairhope’s iconic downtown buildings could soon have a new owner.

The building goes on the auction block March 24.

The old Fairhope Hardware Building, at 301 Fairhope Ave., has watched over the intersection of Fairhope Avenue and Church Street for 101 years. It is designated as a “contributing” building within the Fairhope Downtown Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The building was constructed in 1922 and has seen many tenants over the years. Gabriel Gold-Vukson, director of the Fairhope Museum of History, gave some history on the tenants of the building. The first businesses to occupy the building were the People’s Cooperative Store and bakery and the People’s Cooperative Restaurant. In 1929, it became Hammond’s Store and then was purchased by Curtis Rushing who operated a grocery store in the space. In the 1950s, Piggly Wiggle occupied the building before a succession of department stores. The last business to occupy the building was Fairhope Hardware, which vacated the building in 2017. The name has stuck.

The current owners have only had the building for a few years. David Gilmore, broker and auctioneer for SVN Gilmore Auction & Realty (the company conducting the auction) said the owner is selling to pursue “other potential opportunities.”

When asked why the owners opted to put the building up for auction Gilmore said, “An online real estate auction offers many things, including an all-cash sale and a 30-day closing without conditions, which means it is not contingent on a bank loan, permits, inspections or anything else with the exception of a clear title.”

On social media, residents have expressed concern over the building being torn down. Despite being in a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is not protected from being demolished.

“The National Register designation does not specifically prevent a structure from being torn down as long as federal funds are not being used to fund the demolition,” said Stephen McNair of McNair Historic Preservation Inc. “The City of Fairhope can make the decision if a demolition permit is requested by the owner. As opposed to many places in Alabama, Fairhope does not have a local historic district or local historic guidelines or regulations that specifically prevents the demolition of a National Register property.”

Fairhope has three historic districts: Bayfront, White Avenue and Downtown. Mayor Sherry Sullivan said the Alabama State Historical Commission is coming to city council's work session the Monday, May 13, to talk about Certified Local Governments (CLG). CLG is a status local government can achieve from the National Parks Service and gives access to matching grant funds.

“I would like to preserve the historic structures but know that it is also a balance when it comes to property rights,” Sullivan said. “We already work with folks who are buying historic properties to educate them on the significance of the property, the historic tax credits and the importance of preservation. We must make people appreciate preservation through education and make it a priority in our city.”

When asked what she hopes happens with 301 Fairhope Ave., Sullivan said, “I hope that someone will purchase it who has a vision, and the design will enhance the charm of downtown Fairhope. It is always important, to me, to restore a historical building just because of its historical value and because people like historical buildings. They remind us of our history and culture. I also know that sometimes as a businessperson, you have to look at the costs of preserving a building.”

The online bidding for 301 Fairhope Ave. begins March 24 and ends March 29. The starting bid is $950,000. Bidders are encouraged to perform any type of inspection that they would like before bidding. A Phase 1 Environmental Report and Asbestos Air Monitor Report and other documents can be viewed at www.SVNGilmoreAuction.com. Gilmore said his client is “motivated to sell the property.”