The fate of a 93-year-old house within a stone’s throw of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center has the Friends of the Bowlus in the proverbial crosshairs of a growing segment of the population.
A “Save the Northrup-Warren House” has drawn more than 500 supporters on Facebook in a matter of weeks, with many voicing concern the house at 217 E. Madison Ave., will be demolished.
The resulting furor has led to hard feelings among some on the community, and unfairly painted the Friends in a negative light, Friends board member Ken McGuffin said.
“I’ve received a few calls, and it’s been disappointing,” McGuffin said. “They’re not giving the board members any credit. We’re still analyzing and still looking at what we can do with the building.”
“We’re still open to an idea that makes us say ‘Wow,’ to have the building stay viable” at the right cost, fellow Friends board member Fred Works added.
But each suggestion must stand on three legs in order to be considered fully viable.
“Is it financially feasible?” Works asked. “Is it politically feasible? And is it logistically feasible?”
There’s the rub.
Board members have considered multiple uses for the home, including designing an art gallery, administrative offices or classroom area. All have met dead ends.
And while Works isn’t afraid of taking criticism for any decisions he or his fellow Friends board members make, “we don’t want the criticism based on misinformation.”
THE FRIENDS acquired the two-story Tudor style home from Phyllis Warren in November 2011 as part of the committee’s long-standing priority — the purchase of property around the Bowlus as it becomes available.
For all of its amenities and charm, the Bowlus was built in a densely populated area, Executive Director Susan Raines noted.
“They squeezed this building into a tight area,” she said. “That’s why they had to build up” with second and third floors. “It needs elbow room.”
The funds for the acquisition, $110,000, came from undesignated monies given by donors.
The price was based on a pair of appraisals of the house.
While there was some informal discussion at the time about using the house as a classroom or for social functions, the primary reason was to gain control of the property.
