NATCHEZ &8212; The pecan factory site is a landmark.

That&8217;s according to a decision Thursday by the permit committee of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

But that does not mean condominiums proposed for that site cannot be built.

&8220;We will have to take the next step and ask for a permit to demolish the building,&8221; city attorney Walter Brown said. &8220;And that will prevail, in my opinion.&8221;

In June, Natchez aldermen signed an option agreement with developers Ed Worley and Larry Brown to build a condominium complex on the site of the old Natchez Pecan Shelling Co. plant.

Worley and Brown originally proposed a six-story high complex that received protests from a group of citizens.

In order to build the proposed design, the existing 1940s factory building would have to be demolished.

Under state law, MDAH has the right to review any public property to see if it qualifies as a landmark before it is to be sold into private ownership.

Landmark status gives MDAH the right to review plans for any development on the site. That includes demolition of any structures on the site.

&8220;The pecan factory does not rise to the top of the list (of places to be preserved) in many peoples&8217; minds. But it does have historical value,&8221; Ken P&8217;Pool of MDAH said Thursday night. &8220;This site would be valuable if it didn&8217;t have any buildings on it.&8221;

In fact, P&8217;Pool mentioned the historical esplanade set aside by the Spanish in the 1790s, which once occupied the area between what is now known as Canal Street and the bluff, as one example of the site&8217;s historical importance to the community.

Since the initial MDAH permit committee meeting in October, Worley and Brown have met with community leaders in a design seminar to redesign a condominium complex that adheres to the historical guidelines of the area.

As a result, the developers have submitted a preliminary design that has gained approval from the city&8217;s Historic Preservation Commission.

The new design could influence MDAH&8217;s decision as to whether the existing building should be torn down.

&8220;That is something to be considered,&8221; P&8217;Pool said. &8220;Especially if what is proposed on the property is appropriate to the site.&8221;

Brown agreed that because the proposed complex is &8220;a suitable replacement&8221; MDAH should allow demolition of the factory building.

And Brown hopes that once a demolition permit application is submitted by the city, MDAH will be able to take the issue up in its Board of Trustees meeting Jan. 21.

&8220;Hopefully this won&8217;t be an impediment to the overall process,&8221; Brown said.