Old City Hall in Southport could soon house city government offices

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — The Southport Planning Board has made a decision regarding the future of the historic Old City Hall, the oldest courthouse in Brunswick County.

The building, which has recently undergone a clean-out and is now up to certain standards, has been a focal point of discussion for the town.

The original proposed plan would designate the first floor of the Old City Hall for the Police Department, while the second floor would house the Board of Aldermen and other City administrative offices.

After 30 days of discussion and review, the Planning Board has voted to recommend the Old City Hall for government use, while seeking a new location specifically for the Police Department.

Planning Board Chair Sue Hodgin spoke about the balance the recommendation strikes between preserving the historic structure and accommodating the needs of the Police Department.

“The old courthouse is a historic structure. We wanted to be able to both give the police department its most room available and to be able to leave that historic structure so that it would be open for the public use,” said Hodgin.

The recommendation will now go before the Southport Board of Aldermen for final approval at their meeting on Thursday, April 10th, at 6:30 p.m.