[ back ]
Opportunity knocks; recognition arrives
(by Barbara Christian - May 16, 2012)
Opportunity knocks; recognition arrives
By BARBARA CHRISTIAN
The 1844 Sears-Adams House in Chagrin Falls was named a "Top Preservation Opportunity" for 2012 by Ohio Heritage during a May 10 luncheon in Toledo.
Beth Skeel, chairwoman of the ad-hoc committee formed by Chagrin Falls Mayor Thomas Brick to work for preservation of the historic house on the former Windsor Hospital property, and Wendy Naylor, a historic researcher and committee members, were in Toledo to accept the award.
"This award is very important to our committee, because it validates and publicizes the importance of preserving this house and brings recognition to our community," Mrs. Skeel said.
The committee's efforts were not in vain. The day before the award was announced, the committee learned of a contingency sales contract on the house, with the final agreement pending an inspection and financing approval.
The identity of the new owners has not yet been announced, but the committee has been told that they plan to return the home to its original purpose as a private residence.
"Success is within reach," Mrs. Skeel said. "We are hoping that the technical assistance offered with the top-opportunities award will help the prospective buyer through the rehabilitation process."
The Sears-Adams House began life in the early years of the village and became home the families of Charles Sears and then Alfred Adams. Mrs. Naylor's research found that both men were early planning and business leaders of the community.
In more recent history, the house served as the administration building for Windsor Hospital, a psychiatric facility with a long history in Cleveland and Chagrin Falls.
After the hospital merged and moved to Willoughby, the property was sold to developers Gary Spaeth and Robert Micco.
They originally said they intended to save the Sears-Adams House and sell it as a rehabilitation project within their Falls Walk cluster-home subdivision. Three years later, in August 2011, the developers asked permission to demolish the home after attempts to sell it failed.
After the Chagrin Falls Historical Society determined that it wouldn't be feasible to adapt the house for use as a new museum and offices, its efforts were extended with formation of the mayor's investigatory committee. Mr. Brick's charge was to "explore realistic options for the preservation and future use of the Sears-Adams House."
The developers supported the committee's work by giving it six months to find a buyer who would rehabilitate the house.
"We went to work and began by focusing on residential rehab as the best chance for reuse of the house," Mrs. Skeel said.
Mrs. Naylor then compiled a report that included the home's history and information about the current zoning and other technical information.
The committee held a spruce-up day to remove debris and give the house a thorough cleaning.
Committee member and local architect Ann Dunning prepared architectural drawings of how the interior space of the two-story home might be used.
With an anonymous donation, the north side of the house, which had been left open with demolition of a newer addition, was closed off from the weather.
The committee asked a structural engineer and building contractors to tour the house and provide estimates for its rehabilitation and shore it to more than 60 Realtors. It also created a three-page handout, presentation boards and a window display in downtown Chagrin Falls.
There is a lesson learned from the effort, according to Mrs. Skeel. "We are hoping this experience will encourage Village Council and the mayor to set up an intervention process for future situations of this type and before we get to the demolition stage," she said.
Eight other Ohio properties also won recognition as top preservation opportunities from Ohio Heritage. They include the Rev. Doolittle House in Hudson, the Farmers Exchange of Medina, Jones Mansion in Findlay, Melscheimer Schoolhouse in East Sparta, Linden Center of Dayton, the Columbiana County Home in Lisbon, First National Bank Tower, flood-threatened Zoar Village and former Masonic Temple in Middletown.
Ohio Heritage is Ohio's official historic preservation and Main Street organization, works to foster economic development and sustainability through preservation of historic buildings, revitalization of downtown areas and neighborhood commercial districts and promotes cultural tourism.
[ back ]
