AURORA - David Kauber will now have to treat clients at their homes because his massage therapy business has been unpleasantly evicted from the old Heary Building along the village's historic Main Street.
Kauber and four other merchants were told they have until mid-April to leave the building - also known as The Aurora Place - while Wells College officials figure out what should be done with the local landmark.
Workers in February began gutting the second floor of the two-story brick building which once housed the village's post office.
College officials and the Aurora Foundation, the organization formed by wealthy businesswoman Pleasant T. Rowland, are determining the building's condition and future use, said Katie Waller, the foundation's executive director.
"We were booted out," said Kauber, a persistent critic of the speed with which the Aurora makeover has progressed. "It's a part of the great renovations of money-bags Pleasant Rowland... We were told to move out without any intentions of allowing us back."
Other businesses told to move are: Debbie's Corner gift shop; Q-Builders computer firm; Millodot custom jewelry; and Destiny Designs silk screening.
Some of the businesses have already left. They were notified in January by Wells College Treasurer Diane Hutchinson, who handles leases at college-owned buildings, Waller said.
A second-floor psychologist office and an antique lighting shop in the basement are being allowed to remain, she said.
Other merchants and business owners said they were not surprised at being told to leave, considering recent speculation regarding the building's future.
But Debbie Brooks, who has run her gift shop there for a decade, is upset that "it's been left up in the air" as to whether she can move back.
"They've offered me no future plans at this point," Brooks said. "We haven't been told if we fit into their program."
Brooks closed her shop Saturday and will warehouse inventory at her parents' house until she can find a new venue, although no other retail space is available in the village, she said.
Kauber, who has leased office space there for 13 years, already knows he won't be invited back. He predicts he'll rent a trailer for his business until he builds a cabin on five acres in the village, which will serve as his residence and as a business location.
"I'm being treated like everyone else, no worse than anyone else," said Kauber about the evictions. "They don't care about us."
The college had no option but to force businesses out now, so workers can do demolition work inside the building to find out what needs to be done to the century-old structure, Hutchinson said. Wells officials are not helping the businesses find new homes, because "it's not the college's role," she said.
Once the building is gutted, an architect will study its condition. The foundation has a demolition permit for interior work and, most likely, will not need planning board approval for whatever renovations are completed, Waller said.
"We haven't even had initial discussions on what will be done to the building," Hutchinson said. "Right now, we have a full plate until we get done with our three projects."
The Aurora Foundation is a collaboration between Wells College and Rowland. The foundation was formed to take over several village properties and refurbish them, including the Aurora Inn, the Fargo restaurant and a small market.
Rowland, who attended Wells in the early 1960s, made her fortune by selling her American Girl Doll company to Mattel. Always a big financial supporter of Wells, Rowland became involved in the village in the past few years because she wanted to bring it back to what it was like when she was a student.
Rowland, who lives in Madison, Wis., is also establishing a residence here in a 19th century mansion. The foundation already runs an ice cream shop in the village.
Built in 1902 and 1903, the building was first used as a school, turned into a post office in 1950 and converted to office and retail space about 20 years ago. For years, it was called the Heary Building for the family that owned it.
Workers in February began gutting the second floor of the two-story brick building which once housed the village's post office.
College officials and the Aurora Foundation, the organization formed by wealthy businesswoman Pleasant T. Rowland, are determining the building's condition and future use, said Katie Waller, the foundation's executive director.
"We were booted out," said Kauber, a persistent critic of the speed with which the Aurora makeover has progressed. "It's a part of the great renovations of money-bags Pleasant Rowland... We were told to move out without any intentions of allowing us back."
Other businesses told to move are: Debbie's Corner gift shop; Q-Builders computer firm; Millodot custom jewelry; and Destiny Designs silk screening.
Some of the businesses have already left. They were notified in January by Wells College Treasurer Diane Hutchinson, who handles leases at college-owned buildings, Waller said.
A second-floor psychologist office and an antique lighting shop in the basement are being allowed to remain, she said.
Other merchants and business owners said they were not surprised at being told to leave, considering recent speculation regarding the building's future.
But Debbie Brooks, who has run her gift shop there for a decade, is upset that "it's been left up in the air" as to whether she can move back.
"They've offered me no future plans at this point," Brooks said. "We haven't been told if we fit into their program."
Brooks closed her shop Saturday and will warehouse inventory at her parents' house until she can find a new venue, although no other retail space is available in the village, she said.
Kauber, who has leased office space there for 13 years, already knows he won't be invited back. He predicts he'll rent a trailer for his business until he builds a cabin on five acres in the village, which will serve as his residence and as a business location.
"I'm being treated like everyone else, no worse than anyone else," said Kauber about the evictions. "They don't care about us."
The college had no option but to force businesses out now, so workers can do demolition work inside the building to find out what needs to be done to the century-old structure, Hutchinson said. Wells officials are not helping the businesses find new homes, because "it's not the college's role," she said.
Once the building is gutted, an architect will study its condition. The foundation has a demolition permit for interior work and, most likely, will not need planning board approval for whatever renovations are completed, Waller said.
"We haven't even had initial discussions on what will be done to the building," Hutchinson said. "Right now, we have a full plate until we get done with our three projects."
The Aurora Foundation is a collaboration between Wells College and Rowland. The foundation was formed to take over several village properties and refurbish them, including the Aurora Inn, the Fargo restaurant and a small market.
Rowland, who attended Wells in the early 1960s, made her fortune by selling her American Girl Doll company to Mattel. Always a big financial supporter of Wells, Rowland became involved in the village in the past few years because she wanted to bring it back to what it was like when she was a student.
Rowland, who lives in Madison, Wis., is also establishing a residence here in a 19th century mansion. The foundation already runs an ice cream shop in the village.
Built in 1902 and 1903, the building was first used as a school, turned into a post office in 1950 and converted to office and retail space about 20 years ago. For years, it was called the Heary Building for the family that owned it.
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