CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. -- When Morehead City announced plans to demolish the building that was once Charles S. Wallace High School, a local historian spoke up.

• The city purchased the building in 2006 but the 2008 recession changed plans
• The building would cost $4.89 million to rebuild and $5 to tear down
• Construction on the property is expected to be completed by May 2020

Rodney Kemp graduated from the high school's last senior class in 1964 and said he feels the building is important not only to him, but also to the small community who once walked its halls.

The city purchased the building in 2006 with plans to restore it and use as government space, but when the recession hit in 2008, plans changed and the building has since been vacant. 

According to the city, the building would cost $4.89 million to rebuild and $5 million to tear down.

Kemp hopes to preserve the facade of the building, which is the section that means the most to Kemp and his fellow alumni.

"We don’t think we can save the whole building," Kemp said. "Particularly we’d like to save that centerpiece that’s so epic, if you will, and iconic because of its design. It’s a 1929 building and that’s where, when you were a senior, you got your class picture made on those front steps."

However the city reports that saving the wall would cost an extra $350,000.

Construction on the property is expected to be completed by May 2020.