Lawrence University will demolish a historic home this summer over safety concerns
APPLETON – Lawrence University will demolish a historic home it owns later this summer because of safety concerns.
The 2 1⁄2-story house at 128 N. Union St. is unsound due to structural issues and is currently vacant, according to a statement from the university. No decisions have been made regarding the future use of the property, but the university is working on a master plan for all its properties.
The statement did not include additional details of the master plan.
University officials held a meeting with neighbors recently to provide an update on the plans for demolition.
The Queen Anne-style home, which sits on the corner of North Union and East Washington street, was built in 1894, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society. It’s been on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places since 2002, as part of the Appleton City Park Historic District.
“While Lawrence has deep pride in its historic surroundings and prioritizes its role as a good neighbor, safety is paramount,” the statement said, emphasizing that the university’s first duty is the safety of everyone on campus.
There are “significant impediments to renovating this building,” the university said, but did not include specifics. It added that the Wisconsin State Historical Preservation Office and the City of Appleton Inspection Supervisor were part of the conversation.
If a private property on the State and/or National Register of Historic Places is damaged, there’s no requirement to rebuild or repair it, the Wisconsin Historical Society said in a statement to The Post-Crescent.
“...Listing a property in the registers does not automatically protect it from demolition or other alterations,” the statement said.
The State Historic Preservation Office was notified in March of the intent to raze the property, as is required by state statute.
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Reach AnnMarie Hilton at ahilton@gannett.com or 920-370-8045. Follow her on Twitter at @hilton_annmarie.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Lawrence University to tear down 'unsound' historic Union Street home
