AURORA -The lakefront in the town of Aurora is - for now - going to stay a little more historic following an hour of public discussion concerning the fate of the Lyon House mansion at 331 Main St.
The four-person Community Preservation Panel voted unanimously Wednesday night to reject an application for demolition of the Lyon House proposed by the Aurora Foundation and Wells College.
The Aurora Foundation hoped to replace the Lyon House with the Webb House, which has been up on blocks since 2003 when they purchased it from the Holland family for $10.
"Lyon House is just too beautiful to be demolished," said Karin Wikoff, a professor at Ithaca College who argued against the Aurora Foundation. "A gem in your little town."
The Lyon House, a single-family mansion built in the 1900s, was purchased by Wells College for $185,000 in 2003 and is currently in a state of disrepair. Because of this, the Foundation wished to tear it down because Webb House is in better condition despite also being built in the early 1900s.
"It seems kind of strange to buy a $185,000 or $175,000 house, only to tear it down and put a $10 house in its place," said Kurt D. Kabelec of Ithaca, whose grandfather built the Lyon House.
Originally, the Aurora Foundation wanted to tear down the Lake House apartments on Main Street in order to make room for the Webb House, but the townspeople refused to allow that as well. All of the property is currently owned by Wells College and the Aurora Foundation, but falls under the jurisdiction of the Preservation Panel due to the historical significance.
"We were committed to preserving what this village was," said Bonnie Bennett, chairwoman of the Zoning Board of Appeals who spoke about how Aurora was one of the earliest preservation societies.
"To demolish one of the great houses in Aurora seems contrary to that."
The Aurora Foundation was not present at the open forum preceding the vote so the public cries for preservation went unopposed.
"The Aurora Foundation has submitted to the Village of Aurora three alternative plans for the relocation of (Holland) House," Aurora Foundation executive director Katie Waller said in a written statement Wednesday. "Each application has been met with some opposition. The Foundation and Wells College are deciding which application, if any, to pursue and the CPP and Planning Board are aware that no decision has been made as yet. We had requested that the CPP hold off on scheduling a public hearing until such decision had been made."
Wednesday's vote means that Webb House will remain up on blocks until the Aurora Foundation can come up with a more publicly approved plan.
The Aurora Foundation hoped to replace the Lyon House with the Webb House, which has been up on blocks since 2003 when they purchased it from the Holland family for $10.
"Lyon House is just too beautiful to be demolished," said Karin Wikoff, a professor at Ithaca College who argued against the Aurora Foundation. "A gem in your little town."
The Lyon House, a single-family mansion built in the 1900s, was purchased by Wells College for $185,000 in 2003 and is currently in a state of disrepair. Because of this, the Foundation wished to tear it down because Webb House is in better condition despite also being built in the early 1900s.
"It seems kind of strange to buy a $185,000 or $175,000 house, only to tear it down and put a $10 house in its place," said Kurt D. Kabelec of Ithaca, whose grandfather built the Lyon House.
Originally, the Aurora Foundation wanted to tear down the Lake House apartments on Main Street in order to make room for the Webb House, but the townspeople refused to allow that as well. All of the property is currently owned by Wells College and the Aurora Foundation, but falls under the jurisdiction of the Preservation Panel due to the historical significance.
"We were committed to preserving what this village was," said Bonnie Bennett, chairwoman of the Zoning Board of Appeals who spoke about how Aurora was one of the earliest preservation societies.
"To demolish one of the great houses in Aurora seems contrary to that."
The Aurora Foundation was not present at the open forum preceding the vote so the public cries for preservation went unopposed.
"The Aurora Foundation has submitted to the Village of Aurora three alternative plans for the relocation of (Holland) House," Aurora Foundation executive director Katie Waller said in a written statement Wednesday. "Each application has been met with some opposition. The Foundation and Wells College are deciding which application, if any, to pursue and the CPP and Planning Board are aware that no decision has been made as yet. We had requested that the CPP hold off on scheduling a public hearing until such decision had been made."
Wednesday's vote means that Webb House will remain up on blocks until the Aurora Foundation can come up with a more publicly approved plan.
The Citizens' Say
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