Without Much Money, Foundation Still Hopes to Save Eberwein House

It’s been a little over two months since that sits on the Eberwein Park property and keep the barn, a decision most council members said was driven by money.

Before the Jan. 3 vote, Ward 2 councilman Bruce Geiger gave a bit of hope to those who would like to see the house remain standing. Government work takes a long time, he said. It could be four or five months before the house is demolished. If in that time private funds were raised to save the house, he would change his mind. Ward 4 councilwoman Connie Fults agreed.

Members of the Heritage Foundation, a previously dormant group that came forward , said they would start work immediately to raise the money. The cost to restore the home was estimated at more than $300,000.

But so far, not much has been done.

Jane Durrell, the treasurer of the Heritage Foundation, said the group has taken a bit of a breather since the vote. It hasn’t been easy to both build up the group and tackle a big project at the same time.

“It’s sort of a chicken or the egg problem,” Durrell said. “We’re probably not going to get people interested in donating money without a project, but we aren’t going to be able to take on a project without money.”

The Eberwein house, and the controversy surrounding it, spurred the foundation back to action after being dormant for about three years. The discussion on what to do with the house, which the city purchased when it bought the 18.5 acres for Eberwein Park several years ago, has been bitter at times. Efforts by the city's Landmarks Preservation Committee to save the house ended in accusations of fraud and the resignation of most of the 10-member commission.

After the Jan. 3 city council meeting, Jane Durrell, the treasurer of the Heritage Foundation, said they would update their website to make it easier for people to pledge money online. She also said the group would like to hold fundraisers and make calls to solicit pledges. At the time, she said they’d aim to raise $400,000, which should have been enough to restore the home. The group had raised $5,000 in the 10 days before the council meeting.

Durrell said the foundation has had a meeting to discuss members’ duties going forward. Todd Williams, the foundation’s vice president, is updating their website. Members Lynne Johnson and Dan Rothwell are rewriting the foundation’s mission and drafting goals.

Durrell said she had floated another idea to save the house to Geiger about a week ago via e-mail. She said she asked that the city put up the money to keep the home from deteriorating any further for a year or two. Then, once the foundation has raised some more money, they’d pay the city back, take over management of the house and restore it. Geiger hasn’t responded, Durrell said.

The foundation still has some time, though. Mike Geisel, the city’s director of planning and public works, said that it would be awhile before anything happens to the home. Staff members are reviewing bids to demolish the home, Geisel said in an e-mail. Those bids are usually good for 60 days.

Once staff selects the lowest and best bid, they have to prepare a proposal and take it before council. Then, if council approves the proposal, the bidder has to apply for permits to demolish the house.

Durrell said the foundation is still accepting donations to save the house. They’re considering moving on to other projects too. She said the foundation is considering starting a grant for homeowners to restore older homes. And they’ve got their eyes open for any other historical homes to save.

“We would always appreciate any donations,” she said.