Nonprofit moves to acquire JP Connell House; city to partner on preservation incentives
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Summary
Wildwood Property Sanctuary (a nonprofit hosted by Fabricators Foundation) is under contract to acquire and restore the JP Connell House; staff said the group intends to raise funds to restore the house and may pursue historic landmark status and city incentives to facilitate preservation.
A local nonprofit group, identified by staff as the Wildwood Property Sanctuary (housed under the Fabricators Foundation), is under contract to acquire the JP Connell House and pursue restoration, staff told the commission.
Staff said the group approached the city seeking a property suitable for a gallery and for preservation activities; city staff shared the JP Connell House opportunity. The nonprofit is assembling funding and plans to restore the house for use as a gallery and a hub for historic-preservation projects. Staff said the nonprofit's proposed uses may include a public gallery and artifact display.
Staff also noted the department will work with the organization if it seeks historic-landmark designation, and that the city's code contains preservation incentives that can be used to support feasible restoration. The department said it will continue to check in with the nonprofit as it moves toward closing and restoration.
Why it matters: the acquisition would keep the Connell House in private nonprofit stewardship and enable preservation work that the city said might otherwise be difficult to undertake through municipal channels alone. Commissioners welcomed the news and staff said they would pursue partnership opportunities and incentives if the nonprofit pursues landmark status.