TYBEE ISLAND, Ga () — A demolition permit was submitted to the city of Tybee in February for 803 First Street, also known as the “Brown House,” a home constructed by a Black business owner in the 1950s.

The home is believed to be the first black-owned home built on Tybee’s main street. The property is listed on the Tybee Black History Trail and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

At Monday’s meeting, community members were worried about the erasure of black and post-war architectural history, as the home only has a less than a month until a final decision is made. More than a dozen showed up in support to hear family members and organization leaders like Julia Pearce speak.

“It’s a history of the struggle of black people here in Georgia,” Pearce, coordinator of Tybee MLK Human Rights Organization said. “It’s a struggle, and the struggle should not be erased.”

Walter Brown Jr. was in attendance, and spoke with him before the meeting. His father built the home, and he was raised in the Brown House until he was 18.

He told News 3 that the brick and walls symbolize his family’s determination to face segregation and discrimination. As demo day nears, Brown said he has learned that it is less about the house itself and more about the values passed down to his family and other families who lived on the island during that time.

“I think things are growing on Tybee Island,” Brown said. “…there could be something symbolizing… like with a photo and the history of the house…I realized things have to move on.”

Pearce agreed that if it is the only option, that is what they will take, but she is not going down without a fight. Speakers at the meeting agreed like Dionne Hoskins Brown, Ph.D., Marine Sciences, with the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.

“I think that is the creative option for us is keeping heritage in history in a way that is honoring the desires of the new and the accomplishments of the old,” Hoskins said.

The Tybee Island Historic Preservation commission has the opportunity to seek individuals who would be interested in the relocation of the home, but doing so would jeopardize the eligibility of the National Register of Historic Places. The commission said an agreement with the owner must be in place before April 6 for relocation to be possible.