Dan Thomas wrote:I mean even when the place was still open, it was a dump in the non public spaces. The roof leaked and the property had been added on to several times over the years and the wiring, pluming and general infrastructure of the building was in poor shape to put it mildly. Unless some deep pocketed people were willing to put up some pretty substantial cash to restore the property, I say good riddance. The Wilson's spent enough "saving" Whiskey Row that I'm sure they will never see the full return on.
Another fine example, I'm wondering when they are going to bulldoze Colonial Garden's on New Cut Rd.? It's no surprise to me why they can't seem to find someone to take on the project and for good reason. If I were a developer looking at that property, why would I be inclined to try to restore an old eyesore at triple the price of new construction. Especially in a location like that one, where one would be lucky to recoup any investment in a reasonable time frame.
Just because a place is old and the fact that Abe Lincoln may have taken a dump there once, is not always the best reason to slap a Historical Site label on a property to keep it from the wrecking ball.
Just my .02
^This. A thousand times this ^.
Its all grand to love local historical buildings and architecture. But it chaps my behind when local busy bodies (other than the buildings owner) get historical labels slapped willy nilly on buildings thereby limiting what the owner can do with it, what other developers can do to it, and then throw a hissy fit when the whole thing collapses into the ground because NO ONE (owner, tenants, developers) are willing to put in the ridiculous amount of money required to now fix the building.
If you like the building so much, you buy it, you pay to restore it, and eat the huge net loss. Otherwise mind your own business.
This reminds me of the big empty brick building sitting on Steve Poe's land by River Park Place. 2nd story is rotted out. Interior framing rotted out. Brick walls shot through with mold. Ground floor rotted out to dirt. But some local do gooder got it designated a historical building and now he is stuck with the dang thing. Its a ridiculous situation and unfair to him.
My suggestion....you want to designate a building historical? You should be required to buy it or pay for renovations or have the owner's permission. Otherwise keep quiet.
I eat, therefore I am.