If this old Beaufort landmark sees the wrecking ball, what might take its place?

A downtown Beaufort lockup could soon see the wrecking ball — save some of its charm — in preparation for a long-awaited new use.

A prospective buyer of the old Beaufort County jail on King Street received permission from the city’s historic review board to tear down much of the building before redeveloping the property.

Esther Harnett, who has the building under contract, envisions a restaurant with outdoor dining and rooftop garden at the site.

“I’m a dreamer,” the Beaufort resident said Friday.

Barbed wire is still coiled at the top of the white brick building originally built in 1938. Rusted bars cover broken windows and “Beaufort County Jail” is etched over the main entrance.

Harnett will determine whether the original building is stable enough to renovate, while a newer addition built in the 1960s would likely be torn down. Water damage is a problem, she said.

The city panel approved the demolition on the condition a facade with notable architectural detail is incorporated into the new development.

The building and the old federal courthouse on Bay Street are the only art deco properties in the historic district, Historic Beaufort Foundation president Maxine Lutz said.

The jail property has long been a target for new development, most recently planned as an arts space and in the past envisioned as multiple residences. The Beaufort Arts Council bought the property for $390,000 in 2016.

The organization’s plans were contingent on a proposed arts district being formed and additional financing that didn’t come together, Arts Council chairman and Beaufort developer Dick Stewart said.

Developers would ultimately like to transform multiple blocks in the vicinity, driving away state and local government uses from nearby buildings viewed as inappropriate for the area.

Harnett also owns the building housing Wells Fargo on Bay Street and with her husband added office space to an unused floor.

Whether her idea of a restaurant takes shape before closing in January, Harnett said she might still be buy the jail and “maybe wait for something wonderful to happen.”

“I don’t need a return,” she said. “I need to do the right thing and see something good happen, and then make money later. I think the potential for that area is wonderful.”

This story was originally published December 15, 2017 at 3:44 PM with the headline "If this old Beaufort landmark sees the wrecking ball, what might take its place?."