Decision on Landmark Status for Gulfport Library Today A decision on whether to grant the former Harrison County library in Gulfport a historical "Landmark" designation is expected today by the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives & History. The designation could save the Katrina-damaged building on the beach in Gulfport from demolition. A subcommittee to the board determined Wednesday that the building should be given the landmark designation as it is similar in design to the Lincoln Center in New York and the Kennedy Center in Washington. The style of the building is the best example on the Coast of what is called New Formalist architecture. The Gulfport library was severely damaged by Katrina on August 29, 2005 and has been empty since. The building is owned by Harrison County and the county is to construct a new library with FEMA recovery money, but the new site will be in the Gulfport Orange Grove community, well away from any future flooding. The former library has been subjected to damages over the years from other hurricanes. Officials with both the county and the City of Gulfport have voted to
demolish the building, but library The Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives & History could concur with the subcommittee's recommendation, or disregard it. Both the City of Gulfport and Harrison County have sent letters asking that the board not approve the landmark designation. Both political entities say there is no money to restore the building, although library supporters say a landmark designation could open the door to restoration grants.
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supporters say they want the library preserved. The supporters took their
appeal to the state Archives & History board hoping that a decision to
designate the building as a historical structure would force the county
and city to refurbish the building and not demolish the structure. Only a
few structures remain in the downtown area of Gulfport that was within the
worse of Katrina's storm surge.