The Shiloh Baptist Church wants to tear down the home and use that land for a parking lot.
The cost to repair the Franklin Street home is too much for the Shiloh Baptist Church in New London. Bishop Benjamin Watts says the church bought the building with plans to expand, but the economy changed that.
With no improvements made, New London Landmarks got involved in 2008 with an effort to find a new owner. They even had an article written about the house in This Old House magazine.
Sandra Chalk of New London Landmarks said, "The bones are still there wide floor boards, beautiful moldings, beautiful windows."
The house has no plumbing, no heating, and the need for a full renovation the cost is extremely high.
Chalk said, "He was very nice in terms of saying yes if someone will buy it and take it away they can have it for free."
Bishop Watts says the city has now given him notice to tear down the 1866 house or it would. That is why the Bishop says he is seeking a demolition permit.
"If a nice little open park is made at that corner that could be nice. If it becomes a parking lot for the church it's gonna hurt the neighborhood," Chalk said.
Chalk is hoping other historic homes can be saved if the city gives a tax break to those who buy older homes and spend money to fix them up. She said, "I think for the city to allow people to make that kind of investment in our beautiful old homes in the long run the city will make money on it."
The Historic District Commission can either approve the demolition permit or delay a decision for 90 days.
Source http://www.wtnh.com/
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