Wednesday, July 21, 1999
Historic home to be demolished
BY ALLEN HOWARD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
By week's end, the historical significance of a 139-year-old pre-Civil War structure in Hyde Park may be shattered to pieces.
William Langevin, director of the Cincinnati Department of Building and Inspection, said he will issue a permit by Thursday to tear down the Piatt Grandin House, 2167 Grandin Road.
Edward Tyrrell, headmaster at Summit Country Day School, which owns the house, said once he gets the permit, plans are to demolish the structure immediately.
“We have no immediate plans on how we will use the land,” Mr. Tyrrell said. “The house is just too costly to maintain.”
The school applied for a demolition permit June 22. Mr. Langevin said by state law he has to issue a permit within 30 days after receiving a permit application or give a legal reason why it cannot be issued.
“Right now, we don't have a legal reason,” Mr. Langevin said. “We are concerned about the loss of this historic structure. But despite everyone's best efforts, under state law we must issue the permit.”
Efforts by a residents committee are continuing, however, in an attempt to preserve the house, built in 1860.
The Cincinnati Preservation Association (CPA) also is working with a developer who has indicated that the house can be moved.
“We are trying to facilitate a happy outcome for both sides,” said Beth Sullebarger, executive director of CPA. “We are disappointed that the house could not be preserved at its present site because if it is moved, it loses its historic significance.”
Developer Jay Andres, who owns property at Torrence and Herrick in Hyde Park, about a quarter-mile away, said the house could be moved to his property.
Moving the house does not satisfy Mary Ann Wendling, who heads the committee to save the house. “Moving it takes away the historic value,” she said. “Part of the history is its being located at this spot, where it has been since 1860.”
Mrs. Wendling lives across the street from the house and said she and her husband moved there 31/2 years ago from a horse farm in New Richmond because of the heritage and historical values of the area.
“You can imagine how we feel to have to face a parking lot or a vacant site,” she said.
Mr. Tyrrell said the school has offered to sell the house for $1 to anyone who wants to move it. “We have listened to alternative suggestions for use of the house, but none seemed workable,” Mr. Tyrrell said.
He said the school was receiving $1,900 monthly for rent until May, when a lease expired. He said the school recorded an $8,000 loss each year after paying insurance, taxes, maintenance and a mortgage note on the house.
The school bought the house in May 1996 for $695,000. Estimates at the time to convert it to use as part of the school were between $90,000 and $115,000.
After an inspection last week, Mr. Langevin said it would cost the school $500,000 to repair the structure for occupancy.
“The building is sinking because of stress on load-bearing supports,” Mr. Langevin said. “Moving the building to another location is not an option without additional structural reinforcement.”
It may boil down to a question of who gets there first, the movers or the wrecking ball. Mr. Andres said he could not make arrangements with movers for today. .
Mr. Tyrrell said as soon as he gets the permit — that could be today or Thursday — he plans to make arrangements to start demolishing the house.
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