Lowell Council Takes Control Of Historic House
Last updated Tuesday, August 5, 2008 10:18 PM CDT in News
By Caleb Fort
The Morning News
LOWELL - The fate of a 19th-century house will not be decided by this city's historical museum.
The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to take control of the L.P. Davis house and have it appraised after the museum committee made a recommendation to sell the house and use the money to pay for a new museum.
"Thanks, council," said Mayor Perry Long after the vote. "You just moved the problem from one place to another."
The city purchased the house, 424 McClure Ave., in 2006 for $150,000.
It was supposed to be renovated and used as the museum's new home, but apart from some volunteer cleanup, the rundown two-story house has not seen any improvement.
Council members said they were not ready to make a decision about whether to sell the house.
"I disagree with making any move in a down economy," said Alderman Jerry Foley. "We should leave it sit there until the market does come back up."
Whatever the city wants to do will be fine with Frank Mocivnik, the chairman of the museum committee.
"It's not our problem now," he said. "The council bought it, let them figure it out. This goes on and on and on, to sell or not to sell."
Glenn Jones, the former museum director, has said selling the house, which might be the oldest structure in Lowell, would be a mistake.
Jones said in July it would cost about $285,000 to renovate the house, but thought much of that could be paid with grants.
It would be worth it to preserve an important - and rare - piece of Lowell's history, he said.
Mocivnik argues taxpayers should not have to pay for restoration.
An appraisal in 2006, just before the city purchased the house, valued it at $153,000.
Council Member Paula Allred said that appraisal is irrelevant because real estate values can change in a matter of weeks or months.
Council Member Carol Harmon said she knows someone who is interested in buying the house if the price is right.
Long said interested parties can come to the city with an offer.
Also at the Tuesday meeting, the council approved changes to its curfew law. The new curfew is in effect from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. instead of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Under the new curfew, minors are allowed out only with their parents instead of with anyone 18 or older.
The curfew has exceptions for minors who are at work or traveling to or from work; on emergency errands; or on their way to or from school, church or community activities with a letter of permission from parents.
VIEWPOINTS
Takeover Talk
On the Lowell City Council taking control of the L.P. Davis house:
"Thanks, council. You just moved the problem from one place to another." - Mayor Perry Long
"It's not our problem now. The council bought it, let them figure it out. This goes on and on and on, to sell or not to sell." - Frank Mocivnik, chairman of the museum committee
Source: Staff Report
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