Rehearing Denied for Historic Designation of Heideloff Property
But the owners of the home have offered to allow neighbors to move the home.
The Lakewood Planning Commission unanimously upheld its decision to deny the designation of the Heideloff property as historic landmark under the city’s ordinance.
Last month’s decision ended in a split vote.
The home at 13474 Edgewater Drive was expected to be demolished to make way for a new $2 million lakefront home.
But it may not be.
The property owners, Michael and Stacey Semaan, would consider allowing the neighbors to move the home to save it, said James O’Leary, an attorney representing the family.
“This house could be moved and the Semaans would be willing to donate it,” he added. “And why wouldn’t they? As long as someone wants to move it, and pay to move it, it saves them the cost of demolition and it keeps the preservation of the house.”
Members of the commission deliberated for only about 15 minutes before voting 7-0 to deny the rehearing.
“I think the commission was consistent with what we saw,” said O’Leary. “The request for a rehearing presented no new information. I think the commission made the right decision.”
At the center of the debate was the issue of private property rights versus historic preservation.
The neighbors, not the property owners, submitted the paperwork to make the mansion a historic landmark.
Mary Breiner, the applicant for the designation and resident of nearby Homewood Avenue, said she’s not likely to take any additional action.
“What good is the city’s ordinance?” she said after the meeting. “It’s a disappointment.
The historic landmark ordinance is written as a two-step process: First the planning commission must decide whether a property is eligible for the designation — which it did in December.
“Almost any building in Lakewood could meet the eligibility, the next step is a little more subjective,” said Mark Stockman, the chairman of the commission.
If this is designated historic what kind of burden would this place on the owners who have stated that they want to tear it down?”
Bill Gaydos, who abstained from voting at his first meeting on the board last month, said that he considered the “highest and best use” for the property.
“The owner should have the right to take the property to that next level,” he said.
The Semaans have said they intend to build a $2 million home on the lakefront. Those plans are pending in the city’s architectural board of review.
Alex Vandehoff
9:01 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Good work Lakewood, you nailed this one.
Alright 'neighbors' (meddlers) time to pony up the cash to save this building you love so much.....
Susan Kaminski
9:17 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
I'll be looking forward to that as well, Alex.
ian king
9:44 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
Hey Colin, how about doing a followup in a couple weeks. Will these neighbors now refocus their energy/their group to save what they consider so historical, and start a fundraiser campaign? I mean, if this house is soooo historically important to them, then these neighbors should be at the forefront to move it and preserve it - right? Hey PATCH - please stay tuned and keep us all informed if they accept the Semann's generous offer.
M-F Schreiber
12:41 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
This sets a precedence for the demolition of future homes deemed of historical significance to Lakewood to make way for newer construction. I hope the Seemans will allow the Lakewood Historical Society to document in photos the house they plan to demolish for posterity's sake. We cannot save all these "Ladies", but you should not condemn those who try.
Alex Vandehoff
1:10 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
Save it with your own money. It's private property, end of story.
ian king
9:32 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
If only it was for the historical designation, but this wasn't about that at all. this house is not worth any designation at all. that it got this far shows that there were definitely some insiders able to manipulate the process. i hope the seeman take photos too - as the interior is a dump, falling apart, rotting and should be designated a disaster! take the photos and show the world that this was no lady, but a pauper in disguise. great decision - finally! and what a waste of time and energy for all involved. now may lakewood can focus on its real problems: apt building falling apart, houses needing major repairs, streets with big potholes, crime along the 117th area, etc. etc.
M-F Schreiber
1:45 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
@ Alex: I live next to the Boarding House the city just bought. The city would like to see someone buy this atrocity, deconvert it into a single family home and renovate it, when some of my neighbors would like to see it demolished. So, maybe I should buy it and tear it down. I understand the concept of private property and I'm not saying save it. I'm saying SALVAGE what is beautiful from the wrecking ball and DOCUMENT it for historical posterity, END OF STORY!
ian king
9:34 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
M-F, if you want to see houses worthy of a very rare status - historically important - then lakewoodites neighbors just picked the wrong house. tell me what is worthy about this house HISTORICALLY! what is worthy about this house that my kids would want to know about? just because it is old does not make it historically relevant.
and lets not even talk about its non-architectural value.....
hey, go over to Shaker Heights and see some real mansions worthy of preserving.
or better yet, move on pleease!
Pat Ballasch
12:39 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Are you talking about the Mars home? The problem I see with that home is it's size. For the cost of a proper renovation someone could buy a great home in a better area. University Circle had a similar challenge years ago. What do you do with massive homes that are no longer practical. Many are now adapted for groups like The Gestalt Institute. It helps that the area is next to University Hospital, Case Western Reserve and all the museums. You could have Lakewood Library or a non invasive business take advantage of the commercial area of Detroit Rd with a change of zoning. For all that's said about "Thinking outside the box" not doing anything to adjust for changing conditions is usually the default setting in many minds.Expanding the city's business area (based on what we consider the new down town (Arthur to Bunts) in a way that respects the residential is something to work toward.
ian king
9:39 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
THANK YOU LAKEWOOD PLANING COMMISSION for this decision. And thanks to all the Patch contributors who exposed the absurdity of these awful neighbors, who tried to use/abuse government policy, to protect their property values and to keep diversity/change from happening in their back yard. I believe in Lakewood again!
And, I love the Seemans offer to donate the house to all those who believe it to be so historically important. Put your money where your mouth has too looong been!
Mary Breiner, are you ready to write that check now to save this "historical" "mansion"? LOL
Pat Ballasch
12:45 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Ian. Building a new home should be good for the property values in the area. It will be a little messy for a while but that's life. A new build or a renovation would have been messy.
H.M. Welsch
6:08 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Above you said the "interior is a dump, falling apart, rotting and should be designated a disaster!" - were there photos of the inside that I missed? Just curious.
ian king
6:19 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
TO H.M.Welsch - Photos? Anyone could have toured this decaying so called "mansion" when it was open during a 2 day estate sale over a year ago. ALL ROOMS were open and available for inspection, as was the small side building and the unkept yard area to the Lake's edge. Next time we Lakewoodites have to endure another "Historical Landmark" the nosey neighbors - not the owners - want designation process, I'll take some interior pics of that "mansion" and post for you!
Chris
8:00 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Bravo.
Dennis Spirgen
12:45 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
According to Mark Stockman, almost any building in the city is eligible for historic designation. Perhaps Ms. Breiner would like to petition to have her own home placed under the restrictions of historic status. I would be happy to support her effort.
ian king
3:39 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
THANKS COLIN! and LAKEWOOD PATCH - for finally referring to this property as a house, a property, a home, and not a mansion. It is not by any common historical or architectural standard/definition a mansion. I think some confusion reigned during this whole nasty process, as it often "sounded" like a huge mansion of rare distinction was going to be destroyed. Well, this house is not rare, historical and not that large. Colin/PATCH = keep us informed on what happens next --- will the "concerned" neighbors ante up and pay to relocate this property?
H.M. Welsch
7:33 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Wow, I just asked if there were photos somewhere I could look at. I don't remember the estate sale. I am not the one who called it a mansion, nor did I disagree with what you were saying. Why do you turn everything into a personal attack?
ian king
9:19 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
To H.M. WElsch= glad you are reading my posts! ENJOY!