By Eric Curl
June 14, 2023 update – The Historic District Board of Review continued consideration of the plan to restore the historic downtown mansion at 127 E. Gordon St. The board was concerned with the proposed demolition of an addition on the building’s west side and construction of a new 3-story in its place. The demolition was opposed by staff, who say the addition is also historic and worth preserving. The continuation included recommendations that the project be redesigned in order for the addition to be retained. The continuation was to the September meeting, although the petitioner can present a revised plan before then.
June 11, 2023 – A deteriorating downtown mansion may get restored, but one aspect of the plan could block the project from moving forward.
The new owner of the 19th-century mansion at 127 E. Gordon St. recently submitted plans to rehabilitate the 3-story structure for use as a single-family residence.
However, the plans by Hansen Architects also include the demolition of a 3-story addition on the west side of the building and construction of a new 3-story addition and garage in its place.
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The demolition is opposed by Metropolitan Planning Commission staff, who say the addition is also historic and worth preserving. As a result, those staffers are recommending consideration of the plan be continued for a maximum of 90 days when it goes before the Historic District Board of Review on Wednesday.
The plans come about seven months since Gary Twigg purchased the property for $1.9 million, according to sales records. Attempts to reach Twigg last month through the architectural firm were unsuccessful.
While the original building dates back to 1856, the western addition was constructed sometime between 1937 and 1954, according to the MPC staff report. The addition’s construction “during the local district’s period of significance and, although physically separating from the main building, still maintains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association,” the report states.
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However, the architect’s petition states that through the review of the Sanborn maps and zoning requirements, they have established that the addition is not a contributing element to the original side hall townhouse. A report by Ethos Preservation submitted with the petition states that, while the addition is within the period of significance, the structure lacks integrity due to its condition and because it does not meet any additional criteria for contributing status.
“It is not associated with an important event or person, it does not embody distinctive characteristics or have high artist value, and it is unlikely to yield additional information important to history or prehistory,” the Ethos report states.
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Some residents and visitors may have some familiarity with the mansion due to a business that once operated out of the building. The property previously housed the The Book Gift Store on the ground level, which sold Midnight and the Garden of Good and Evil merchandise until closing in 2012.
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