Natchez &8212; After nearly seven months of polarized debate about the fate of the old Natchez Pecan Shelling Co., it was compromise that prevailed in the end.

Friday afternoon, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees voted unanimously to give landmark status to the pecan factory site and to allow the factory building to be torn down.

&8220;There is no doubt that the site should be landmarked,&8221; said Natchez resident and board member Duncan Morgan. &8220;In the interest of compromise, I think (the building) can be sacrificed for what has ultimately come of this.&8221;

The City of Natchez has signed an option agreement with developers Ed Worley and Larry Brown to develop a condominium complex on the pecan factory site.

The initial design the developers submitted for approval by the city&8217;s Historic Preservation Commission immediately drew opposition from many residents.

After a design conference with the project&8217;s architects, developers, city officials and the Historic Natchez Foundation a more acceptable design was presented and accepted by the preservation commission.

Morgan said he has refrained from discussing the project but felt compelled as an MDAH board member to make comments Friday.

&8220;The initial design would have been disturbing to anyone on the bluffs,&8221; Morgan said.

&8220;In their zeal and all, (city officials) started this process before being aware of the potential problems,&8221; Morgan said. &8220;This thing has really polarized Natchez.&8221;

The effort at compromise

did not prevent both sides of the debate from making their last pitches to board members.

Mayor Phillip West and City Planner Andrew Smith argued the site did not merit landmark status.

&8220;I don&8217;t see any compelling reason for giving landmark status for now and in the future,&8221; West said. &8220;A small group of citizens is trying to use (MDAH) as a surrogate in order to delay and hinder what we are trying to get done in Natchez.

&8220;This project has received complete support from the Natchez Chamber of Commerce, the Natchez Downtown Development Association. The entire board of aldermen voted for this project. We are not stupid. We must look out for the development of the city of Natchez.&8221;

On the other side of the debate, a small group of citizens attended the meeting to voice their concerns about the project.

Rena Jean Schmeig expressed her fears about the project and the effect a new building would have on the existing retaining walls bordering the site to stabilize the bluffs.

Paris Winn, as a representative for Citizens for Smart Growth, said many of the group&8217;s members oppose any development on the site. But there is also a group of members that want to see the project done in accordance with the city&8217;s historic guidelines, he said.

Winn also expressed concerns about what would happen if the current proposal failed.

&8220;There is no guarantee of what happens to this site in the future,&8221; Winn said. &8220;I would love to see (the condos) built right, but parts of it need to be looked at.&8221;

After an hour of debate the board voted to give landmark status and to allow demolition of the building, pending submission of paperwork to the MDAH permit committee.

Under the state&8217;s antiquities law, any publicly owned property to be sold into private ownership is subject to review by MDAH to determine the site&8217;s historical value.

Any developments on a property designated as a landmark are subject to review by MDAH.

Before demolition of the pecan factory can begin, MDAH must approve the design of the condos.

&8220;We appreciate the community and the distinguished history of your city,&8221; former Gov. William Winter the board&8217;s chairman said. &8220;We are committed to working with you in not only preserving the historic nature of Natchez, but also in enhancing the city.&8221;