Historic board recommends relocating Andrews House to Ocean Avenue next to Magnuson House

The Boynton Beach preservation board voted to recommend that the city commission relocate the Andrews House to a site adjacent to the Magnuson House on Ocean Avenue, request city or CRA ownership, and repurpose the building for public use.

Board members said the recommendation flowed from public comment and staff presentations about potential relocation sites and constraints. Richard Hoffer, assistant director of Public Works, presented three potential relocation sites and described technical constraints the city has identified, including a life‑safety separation that building and fire officials have cited for wooden structures.

The recommendation followed extensive public comment from residents and local historians. Susan Oyer, a long‑time board member and resident, said, "I really think we need to be pushing this. I think option 2 is a logical choice." Ben Lowe, a professor of history at Florida Atlantic University, added, "We really need to save it."

Hoffer told the board that staff had initially considered five sites and narrowed those to three for the presentation. For the site adjacent to the Magnuson House (site 2), staff reported that building and fire officials flagged a minimum 20‑foot separation for two wooden structures and said some wall upgrades might be required. Hoffer said staff had received more detailed feedback late in the week and that further technical work — site surveys, coordination with planning and fire marshal, design services and permit reviews — remained to be done.

Hoffer also presented preliminary moving and site work budgets. A moving contractor provided budget pricing of about $75,000–$150,000 for the move itself; staff said foundation, utilities, site design, permitting and construction would add substantially to the total and that rough order‑of‑magnitude totals could reach about $290,000–$390,000 after contingencies.

Several public speakers urged placing the house near the Magnuson House on Ocean Avenue and using it for public, museum or light‑commercial purposes rather than a full restaurant. Tom Warkley, vice chair of a citizen committee to save the Andrews House and a member of the Boynton Beach Historical Society, urged the board to recommend immediate steps to transfer ownership to the city or CRA and to repurpose the house for public use.

Fitzpatrick, a resident who reviewed prior minutes, said he found records indicating a demolition permit application and a notice of commencement and asked why the board had not been notified earlier. Board and staff members replied that the presentation was informational and that follow‑up would go to the CRA and the city commission; staff offered to collect questions and follow up by email with permit and timeline details.

The board passed three motions by voice vote: to recommend (1) site 2 (adjacent to the Magnuson/Magnuson House on Ocean Avenue) as its preferred relocation site, (2) that the city commission pursue acquisition of ownership by the city or the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), and (3) that the city commission repurpose the Andrews House for public use. Each motion was carried by voice vote; the record shows "motion carries" but no roll‑call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.

Staff emphasized that the presentation was informational and that the CRA and city commission would take up any formal decisions. Hoffer said additional technical reports (building and fire marshal guidance, survey data and design estimates) will be developed and that staff will present updates at CRA and subsequent city commission meetings.

Next steps identified in the meeting: staff will present the matter to the CRA at its meeting, follow up with planning and building officials about separation and fire‑rating issues, refine cost estimates and provide the board with the requested building/fire‑official correspondence and timeline details.

The board’s recommendation will be delivered to the CRA and city commission for further consideration and formal action.