A Beaufort committee and local historic foundation have given the green light to tear down a decaying home on the corner of Monson and Duke streets.

The decision hinged on the historic value of the house, which sits on a lot at 1411 Duke Street and is owned by local lawyer Jim Moss.

Moss made the request to demolish the home earlier this month. He said the house is mostly rotted, but the Historic District Review Board and the Beaufort Historic Foundation were reticent to allow the demolition until they could determine the age of the home and whether it could be restored.

It was determined the home was built in the 1940s and was "very poorly constructed," according to Maxine Lutz, the foundation's interim director. The review board voted unanimously Friday to allow demolition.

Moss, who bought the home in 2007 for $206,000, plans to replace the home with several two-story buildings that have commercial spaces on the first floor and apartments on the second.

The next step is for demolition permits to be approved by the city. Moss said he plans to tear the building down "very soon."

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Owner, preservationists at odds over future of decaying residence, Jan. 13, 2013