GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County is seeking to buy property for a historic park in the Promised Land community near Centerville.
The land is owned by the descendants of freed slaves who once worked on a plantation on the same property. It was then owned by Thomas Maguire.
“During the Civil War, Sherman’s troops burned this whole town, but he didn’t burn this one house, because Thomas Maguire was a mason. Thomas Maguire kept a journal of everyday life, and Margaret Mitchell drew inspiration to write ‘Gone with the Wind’ right here,” said Chad Livsey, whose great-grandfather is among the freed slaves that purchased the plantation land following the war. “He fought and saved up money. He paid $2,500 for 110 acres. I think it was 1920.”
He told Channel 2′s Tom Regan for Channel 2 Action News at 4 p.m. that his grandparents sold the historic Maguire-Livsey Big House at the Promised Land, and the property surrounding it, to Gwinnett County in 2017.
The county now is pushing to acquire another 10 acres to create greenspace and a historic park. The property includes a seven-acre lake and an apartment building.
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“They want to take the apartment building where my family actually lives. That would be like kicking them out on the street,” Livsey said.
Livsey said the county made a lowball offer of $250,000 for the seven-acre lake and surrounding land, which he believes is worth several million dollars.
He said the land is already being put to good use.
“We have a farm that we started. We have food drives, campouts. We do a lot of things for the community,” Livsey said.
Asked if the matter could be resolved with a stronger purchase offer...
“No offer for the land. It’s not just the past they focus on, it’s our future,” Livsey said.
Gwinnett County said it wants to buy the land to preserve and share its history.
“Gwinnett is the most diverse county in the region, with tons of descendants from the region who will enjoy this land,” Gwinnett County spokeswoman Deborah Tuff told Regan.
Later this month, the Gwinnett County Commission will decide whether to pursue land acquisition through eminent domain.
Livsey said he and others will stage a protest at the commissioner meeting.
“We need everyone that can come to the courthouse to support us. We are going to fight this. We are not going to stop,” Livsey said.
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