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Fisher Park house will be demolished

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Comments (15)

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

(Updated Wednesday, December 9 - 5:25 am)

By Lorraine Ahearn
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — A historic house that sits at the entrance to Fisher Park — and at the center of a dispute between a neighborhood association and First Presbyterian Church — has run out of time.

The unique but decrepit Holleman House at 701 N. Greene Street and Fisher Avenue will be torn down in the coming weeks, a church officer said. Crews first will remove tiles and other salvageable features from the circa 1905 Queen Anne transitional.

The Fisher Park Neighborhood Association wanted the church, which paid $400,000 for the house and an adjoining property, to renovate the house as part of the historic district.

The house had been divided up into apartments and rented over the years, but a lack of maintenance has left it in poor condition. Church officials said estimates for repairs started at $300,000.

“To try to overcome 70 years of deferred maintenance,” said David Kolsieke, director of finance and operations for the church, “it’s just beyond reasonable to try to turn it into something beneficial for the mission of the church.”

According to Kolsieke, neighborhood preservationists were able to raise about 10 percent of what was needed to restore the house. The church tried to find someone to move the house and restore it, but Kolsieke said there were no takers.

Accompanying Photos

Jerry Wolford (News & Record)

Photo Caption: The home that First Presbyterian Church bought at 701 N. Greene St.

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John McLendon

December 8, 2009 - 9:34 am EST

A correction is needed. This article says that neighborhood preservationists were able to raise about 10 percent of what is needed for restoration. We actually pledged 10 percent of the estimated cost to START a collaborative fundraising campaign. We believe that we can raise at least one-third and maybe more, but so far the property owner has not pursued that opportunity. We again ask First Presbyterian to work with us to save the historic Holleman House.

John McLendon, President
Fisher Park Neighborhood Association

YetAnotherUserName

December 8, 2009 - 9:16 am EST

We appreciate that this news article draws attention to the proposed upcoming demolition, yet it contains several inaccuracies. The amount the Church paid for the property, and two buildings upon the property, is reported here as higher than the Church has previously repeatedly indicated to congregation members and neighbors. Holleman House can be successfully renovated and we can raise the money to accomplish this. The Church simply needs to accept the offer. Convince the church to accept our neighborhood's generous offer and the fund-raising and renovation will be a bridge-building success for both the church and neighborhood.

newkid

December 8, 2009 - 9:41 am EST

This church has a similar previous historic preservation "sin" to atone for--and it is disturbing to see the scenario repeated: directly across N. Elm, next to Fishers Grille and Downtown Fitness, the church demolished another beautiful old Fisher Park home. They filled in the foundation with gravel, then ignored agreements with the city to landscape the site, and are (improperly) using the site as a parking lot.

But back to the present day. The neighborhood also asked the church to put the Holleman House up for sale--looking for a buyer who could preserve it--but that request was denied. The church indicates that it needs money, given a downturn in giving in the recession. But that doesn't seem to fit with a refusal to try to sell this property.
The church claims to have no plans for the Holleman property, but another parking area was reported to be in the works here.

Apparently "love thy neighbor" is not at the top of this church's credo.

gardengal

December 8, 2009 - 10:06 am EST

For shame on that church! For a parking lot? Are these church attendees attending to the 'What would Jesus Do?' credo??? Wake up congregation! Save the house, make it a place of harbor for good will and encourage input from those who want to see it turned into a shelter for the homeless, a kitchen for the hungry, and welcome arms for those in need. Destruction of this house and turning your backs on such an opportunity to do good to others should cause you to march forward like good Christian soldiers to be an example of 'What Jesus would do!'

ChadinGSO

December 8, 2009 - 10:26 am EST

Theres something Fishy about this story.....

cantwealljustgetalong

December 8, 2009 - 3:12 pm EST

Hmmmmm.... That is a beautiful house!

CarolinaBorn

December 8, 2009 - 4:54 pm EST

Would it not be safe to assume that alot of Fisher Park residents also attend the neighborhood church? Sounds to me like yuppy politics.

sem2811

December 8, 2009 - 5:31 pm EST

While I am sympathetic to neighborhood concerns (and would probably be concerned if I lived in sight of the house), doesn't the church (which is land locked) have a right to purchase land in order to plan for future growth? It amazes me how freely people want to spend others' money. If there is a group of concerned citizens out there that want to preserve the house, then raise the money privately and make a fair market offer to buy it. Otherwise, get over it. The church is not in the property renovation business. It is also important to remember that the church and its memebers do a lot of charitable giving in Greensboro and they are not cold hearted folks.

newkid

December 8, 2009 - 6:09 pm EST

The church has refused to put the house up for sale.

Highlander

December 8, 2009 - 10:02 pm EST

It is my opinion that a person, company, church, etc. does not have the right to buy a historic property and later decide to demolish it. If this were an ugly brick ranch built in 1975, I'd say fine, tear it down - please. But a hundred year-old house needs to be protected from the wrecking ball. Greensboro already has hundreds of beautiful homes that are now in the landfill. I don't want this one to be added to the list.

MoreLiberalNewsFromThisFishWrap

December 9, 2009 - 12:30 am EST

If I remeber correctly, the church offered the house for FREE to anyone who would move it and there were apparently no takers! Why is the church or its members the bad guys here? When I drive around Fisher Park I see a large percentage of homes that appear to be in poor shape and yet the neighborhood is going to complain about this one structure - what a joke! Have you looked closely at the house? When driving up Fisher, if you ever get stopped at the light (corner of Greene and Fisher) take a close look at the center of the house, it appears to be sunken with the rest of the house coming in (in other words it is falling down). All this complaining sounds like a bunch of folks who voted in the last presidential election for "Change" and are now getting a first hand look at what the word actually means!
I would like to say "Thanks for cleaning up Greensboro" First Presbyterian Church! It takes guts to do the right thing!

YetAnotherUserName

December 9, 2009 - 12:37 am EST

Because we specifically recognize that the church's mission is not renovation, while the Neighborhood Association's mission is (in part) "To preserve the historic and residential character of the Fisher Park neighborhood ...", the Neighborhood Association repeatedly asks the church to accept our offer to raise money for Holleman House renovations ourselves. The church can continue to own and use a renovated Holleman House for the church's many beneficial missions. They have not accepted this generous offer.

They also have not chosen to resell Holleman House. The previous owner offered and sold Holleman House specifically to the church at a price the church deemed worthwhile. Without questioning the church's purchase rights and property rights, we are attempting to facilitate change in this repetitive pattern of housing stock loss by making significant offers to raise funds for Holleman House renovations and/or to bring buyers to the table at a time when the church indicates their resources are more limited than their current facilities require. Many church members and neighborhood residents envision Holleman House renovation as a successful opportunity for us all.

ravencottage

December 8, 2009 - 6:53 pm EST

Will this be turned into a parking lot for Elder Kay Hagan's church? Maybe they need the space when she shows up with her entourage of SUV's full of pro-abortion lefties. Just after 5:00 PM today Hagan voted to allow taxpayer funds to pay for abortions in the Senate healthcare bill.

Highlander

December 8, 2009 - 9:52 pm EST

You forgot to say Socialist. Geez, haven't you learned anything from Glenn Beck? Repeat after me: "Pro-abortion Socialist Lefties".

CollegeHillFan

December 8, 2009 - 10:17 pm EST

I was saddened to see this. Greensboro's historic districts are gems that add to the City's character. That this will result in a home in the landfill and an underused (weekend) parking lot is a shame. The City has put an emphasis on creating a vibrant downtown. Another parking lot will only detract. There is plenty of parking in Greensboro in parking garages and lots. The church should look at alternatives to tearing down houses. Look at shuttles or using other parking lots that are only used during the week. Please don't tear down Greensboro's history!