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Historic Rockwell House getting turned into student housing

The historic Rockwell House in Milledgeville is getting cleaned up and re-purposed with new ownership.

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — People from across Baldwin County came out by the dozens on Saturday to help clean up and get a tour of the historic Rockwell House in Milledgeville.

Owner Ross Sheppard is a buyer who specializes in historic buildings. 

"It went on the market, I came out here to look around, and my question what 'why not?'" Sheppard said.

He says he is ready for this $500,000 investment to pay off.

"The heating and air system is almost $50,000, the exterior paint job is $30,000, the wiring will be close to $20,000, plumbing will probably be another $20,000, so we have a pretty short list of big ticket items," Sheppard said.

The house sits on 12 acres of property and comes with a winding staircase, balcony, and complete basement. With a total of six bedrooms in the home, each room is big enough to fit more than one person.

Sheppard says each room is about 400 square feet, making it perfect for student housing. Georgia College is just two miles away.

"We will have the four bedrooms upstairs, which will accommodate two people each, paying over $500 a person, so we'll actually be able to rent this out for $5,000 a month," Sheppard said.

One volunteer who is helping with the cleanup is Mary Beth Pennington, who says she stayed in a historic home herself for three years while going to Georgia College.

"I believe that living in an old home as a student definitely gave me a bigger appreciation for Milledgeville in general, just because there was a piece of history in that house, but I became part of that history as I lived there for three years," Sheppard said.

Now that restoration has begun on the Rockwell House, students can expect to have a new housing option soon.

Sheppard encourages other volunteers to help with both cleanup and other restoration. To learn more about the house or find out how to volunteer, click here to view their Facebook page.

Clarification - From Owner Ross Sheppard:

“We are working with a preservation consultant, Kyle Campbell at Preservation South (Greenville, SC), and using the state and federal historic preservation tax credits, which require oversight by the State Historic Preservation Office to ensure compliance with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation. The tax credits are only for income-producing property, and in Milledgeville, the best way to produce income with property near downtown is by renting to students. I lived in historic houses in Milledgeville when I was a student at Georgia College, which is part of what cultivated my love for historic buildings and led me to pursue a master’s degree in historic preservation at the University of Georgia in hopes of using that expertise in my career in real estate.

The students who will be living in the house are looking forward to collaborating on hosting various events on the grounds and in the public spaces of the house, both for groups affiliated with Georgia College and for some community open-house and outreach events we have in mind. We are thrilled to have this opportunity and look forward to sharing this house and its history with the community for years to come.”

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