BROOKHAVEN — John Lynch walked out of Brookhaven’s called Board of Adjustment’s meeting Thursday evening with a smile. His property at 205 Natchez Avenue was approved to be granted a special use status to become a bed and breakfast in addition to its venue status. 

Building inspector David Fearn explained the building was already in a special use district as a venue. He said one citizen called to say she didn’t want it to be used as a venue despite the fact it already was approved as such two years ago. No one called to complain about it being granted special exception to be used as a bed and breakfast.

Lynch explained it had been rented out for the past couple of years as a home but would now be used as an Air BnB with a permanent resident acting as the host. 

“We have demand downtown and were looking for overflow,” Lynch said. “We have a gravel driveway and started pouring concrete today where the garage would have been.” 

Only one member of the board had a question about the impact of drainage from the paved driveway. Fearn said it would not have an impact on the neighbors. He added there was already a 10 p.m. time limit on outside music. 

The house at 205 Natchez Avenue is no ordinary house. It is the famous Captain Jack Hardy house built in 1877. The National Park Service placed the home on the National Registry of Historic Places in 2007. 

Lynch said the lot the home sits on covers about 3.5 acres. The Hard House website says there are six bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. Reservations for the bed and breakfast will start on July 1, 2023. Those interested in reservations can email Whitworth Properties at 4jlynch@gmail.com or call at 601-835-6541. 

“It will be a good thing,” he said once the voting was completed in favor of approving the special exception.