Macedonia — Plans are moving forward to spruce up Longwood Manor and make it available for public use by 2015 pending a resolution confirming a conditional use zoning certificate that Council left at first reading during its Jan. 21 Council meeting.
“One of the things that was determined within the legislation that was first passed giving them an extension was that they needed to identify the purpose,” Mayor Don Kuchta said. “This legislation identifies that purpose.”
Council approved an ordinance in February 2012 giving the Longwood Manor Historical Society 12 months to form a plan to restore the building after the city’s building commissioner condemned the house in 2007 for numerous building violation codes. A year later, Council gave the society an extended permit of 18 months “for the purposes of making a restoration assessment and thereafter the creation of architectural plans and thereafter restoration of the building.”
The 90-year-old house and the 300 acres of property surrounding it belonged to Macedonia’s first mayor, Col. William Frew Long. Before he died, Long donated the house and the rest of his land to the city, the YMCA and two area churches.
The conditional use permit was approved by the city’s Planning Commission at its Dec. 23 meeting but it still needs to be approved by Council. Councilwoman Rita Darrow, who also serves as Council’s representative to the Planning Commission, confirmed that City Planner Brian Frantz said even though Longwood Manor is zoned R1 residential, it falls within the plan for a permit under “community facilities” as a conditional use under the society’s intentions to use the home.
“It is the intent of LMHS to have Longwood Manor placed on the National Register of Historic Places and to preserve the home in its historic condition for tours and non-profit activities including receptions, graduations, private parties and meetings, holiday celebrations, veteran’s observances, music recitals, arts and crafts displays, education classes and senior activities,” the plan states. “The intention is to open the first and second floors for public assembly with a maximum occupancy of 49 persons. All activities will confirm with the City of Macedonia statutes.”
Dan Havilchek, the society’s vice president, said they have many ideas for the use of the house, including adding a section dedicated to memorabilia from the wars.
“We want to have a small area where these people can donate or loan their things to us,” he said, adding that he think it would be fitting because Col. Long was a veteran of WWI and WWII.
John Cassmer, the society’s president, said he is currently working with an architect to submit plans to wire the first and second floors of the building, which would not only allow lighting but also heat to the Manor House.
“We’ve done a lot of the repair work,” said John Cassmer, the society’s president, adding that they have replaced the roof, filled in holes in the landscaping, repaired damage caused by a leaking roof and replaced a flatroof on the balcony of the building. “We’re going to finish the repairs and ask for a lease to lease the Manor House from the city.”
If everything goes according to plan, Cassmer said he plans on making the Manor House available to the public by 2015.
Email: rhagenbaugh@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-541-9432
www.facebook.com/NewsLeaderReporter
Speak Your Mind