UNION SPRINGS - Nestled up on a rolling hill at 256 North Cayuga St. in the village of Union Springs sits a home that was built by George Howland in the late 1840s.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Bob Halverson, an excavation contractor, explains some of the stone manor project's details to the Union Springs Planning Board at a public hearing Monday. Listening, is B.J. Radford, the chief operating officer of the Cayuga Indian Nation.
Bob Halverson, an excavation contractor, explains some of the stone manor project's details to the Union Springs Planning Board at a public hearing Monday. Listening, is B.J. Radford, the chief operating officer of the Cayuga Indian Nation.
The home was in the Howland family for a number of years before it was owned by Emily Meier, and in turn the property was purchased by the Cayuga Nation.
BJ Radford, chief operating officer of Lake Side Enterprises of the Cayuga Nation, said that the Cayuga Nation purchased the property approximately two years ago. The idea was to create a research and archival library facility.
On Monday night, Radford, along with general contractor Bob Halverson, met with the
village planning board to discuss the current plans for the project.
Radford said the site, which sits on approximately 29 acres is between 6,000 and 7,000 square feet including the main house, a barn and laundry facility, was chosen for several reasons.
“It is a gorgeous property,” Radford said. “It needs quite a bit of work, but it is a beautiful property and it is in a great location.”
The intent is to create a place to preserve the history of the Cayuga Nation. Radford explained this is a multi-faceted effort. That will include the preservation of the oral storytelling traditions of the Cayuga Nation as well as the physical artifacts associated with the culture, Radford called this “re-patriotization.”
“There is a movement afoot,” Radford said. “And it is getting more fully developed. Ancestral relics, there are a lot of these are either in museums or held by individuals and there is a movement to want to return them to the people that are considered the rightful owners.”
Along with housing these items, the facility would also be a place for research and cultural preservation.
“There is an oral tradition,” Radford said. “The language is largely not in use anymore. And whether it is written or on video tape, this would be place to preserve those stories and traditions and that legacy and preserve it for the future. As well as a place to research genealogy and culture.”
Sidney Wolff, planning board chairman, said the work of clearing out some of the overgrowth of trees and other vegetation began on the property about four months ago and this meeting was held for a site plan review.
The property, Wolff said, is one of 30 to 40 properties the village identified in its comprehensive plan as being of historical significance and while the property is not on the National Registry of Historical Properties, there are concerns within the village regarding the property's historical and aesthetic qualities.
This meeting gave board members a chance to address some of those concerns. Board member Pat Kimber asked a variety of questions, concerning both the property's interior and exterior. Kimber said the windows on the facade of the main house were among the items that gave the house much of its character and aesthetic appeal.
Halverson said that many of the windows in the house were in a state of extreme decay, but plans called for the preservation of the visual qualities of the windows as much as possible.
“We're going to pull out the windows,” Halverson said. “Where ever we can we are going to save the moldings and just put new windows in.”
Halverson said that the stone wall that currently runs parallel with Route 90 would also be preserved and rebuilt using stones on the property, preserving the house's character.
The meeting also gave residents such as Bill Hecht the chance to address concerns. Hecht said he was interested in keeping a record of the interior measurements of the house as well as keeping track of things such as the interior moldings and doorways, doors and things of this nature.
Hecht also expressed concerns about things such as gardens or similar things that might have been on the grounds and are now sitting under inches of growth and dirt accumulated over time.
Radford said there were no plans to destroy anything that may be sitting on the property or in anyway change the property's character and given the nature of the project, the board's concerns are something that the nation can relate to.
“There are no plans to change,” Radford said. “The plan is to keep the footprint as is. I can't think of anyone that would be better or more concerned with preserving these kinds of things than my employers.”
Radford said the property will be used strictly for its stated purposes of research and preservation of the Cayuga Nation culture. She said there may be guest speakers, but the property will not have any sleeping quarters and will not be used for concerts or gambling or any other similar activities.
Halverson said work is being done on the potential for a geo-thermal system, which may require digging or drilling on the property. Halverson said a site plan could be concluded within the week.
Wolff said further discussion would be tabled until this site plan could be reviewed at the next planning board meeting July 28.
BJ Radford, chief operating officer of Lake Side Enterprises of the Cayuga Nation, said that the Cayuga Nation purchased the property approximately two years ago. The idea was to create a research and archival library facility.
On Monday night, Radford, along with general contractor Bob Halverson, met with the
village planning board to discuss the current plans for the project.
Radford said the site, which sits on approximately 29 acres is between 6,000 and 7,000 square feet including the main house, a barn and laundry facility, was chosen for several reasons.
“It is a gorgeous property,” Radford said. “It needs quite a bit of work, but it is a beautiful property and it is in a great location.”
The intent is to create a place to preserve the history of the Cayuga Nation. Radford explained this is a multi-faceted effort. That will include the preservation of the oral storytelling traditions of the Cayuga Nation as well as the physical artifacts associated with the culture, Radford called this “re-patriotization.”
“There is a movement afoot,” Radford said. “And it is getting more fully developed. Ancestral relics, there are a lot of these are either in museums or held by individuals and there is a movement to want to return them to the people that are considered the rightful owners.”
Along with housing these items, the facility would also be a place for research and cultural preservation.
“There is an oral tradition,” Radford said. “The language is largely not in use anymore. And whether it is written or on video tape, this would be place to preserve those stories and traditions and that legacy and preserve it for the future. As well as a place to research genealogy and culture.”
Sidney Wolff, planning board chairman, said the work of clearing out some of the overgrowth of trees and other vegetation began on the property about four months ago and this meeting was held for a site plan review.
The property, Wolff said, is one of 30 to 40 properties the village identified in its comprehensive plan as being of historical significance and while the property is not on the National Registry of Historical Properties, there are concerns within the village regarding the property's historical and aesthetic qualities.
This meeting gave board members a chance to address some of those concerns. Board member Pat Kimber asked a variety of questions, concerning both the property's interior and exterior. Kimber said the windows on the facade of the main house were among the items that gave the house much of its character and aesthetic appeal.
Halverson said that many of the windows in the house were in a state of extreme decay, but plans called for the preservation of the visual qualities of the windows as much as possible.
“We're going to pull out the windows,” Halverson said. “Where ever we can we are going to save the moldings and just put new windows in.”
Halverson said that the stone wall that currently runs parallel with Route 90 would also be preserved and rebuilt using stones on the property, preserving the house's character.
The meeting also gave residents such as Bill Hecht the chance to address concerns. Hecht said he was interested in keeping a record of the interior measurements of the house as well as keeping track of things such as the interior moldings and doorways, doors and things of this nature.
Hecht also expressed concerns about things such as gardens or similar things that might have been on the grounds and are now sitting under inches of growth and dirt accumulated over time.
Radford said there were no plans to destroy anything that may be sitting on the property or in anyway change the property's character and given the nature of the project, the board's concerns are something that the nation can relate to.
“There are no plans to change,” Radford said. “The plan is to keep the footprint as is. I can't think of anyone that would be better or more concerned with preserving these kinds of things than my employers.”
Radford said the property will be used strictly for its stated purposes of research and preservation of the Cayuga Nation culture. She said there may be guest speakers, but the property will not have any sleeping quarters and will not be used for concerts or gambling or any other similar activities.
Halverson said work is being done on the potential for a geo-thermal system, which may require digging or drilling on the property. Halverson said a site plan could be concluded within the week.
Wolff said further discussion would be tabled until this site plan could be reviewed at the next planning board meeting July 28.
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marsha wrote on Jun 24, 2008 12:07 PM: