A major preservation project in Summerville has received one of Georgia’s top historic preservation honors.

The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation has awarded the 2026 Michael L. Starr Award to the Hurley Community Development Center, recognizing the project as an outstanding example of historic rehabilitation with meaningful impact on its downtown community.

The honor was announced ahead of the Trust’s annual Preservation Awards ceremony, held April 25 at the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta. The Michael L. Starr Award is given to projects that meet the highest standards of preservation while contributing significantly to the vitality of the surrounding area.

In a letter announcing the award, Georgia Trust President and CEO W. Wright Mitchell commended the project’s excellence and its positive influence on Summerville’s downtown.

The Hurley Community Development Center project involved extensive planning, restoration, and collaboration among design and engineering partners to preserve the structure’s historic character while adapting it for modern community use.

Leaders and project representatives were recognized during the ceremony, where preservation efforts from across the state were celebrated.

The recognition highlights continued investment in preserving Summerville’s historic assets and underscores the importance of adaptive reuse in strengthening local communities.