Sparks flew at an open meeting concerning the proposed apartment development on the 200 block of West Mifflin Street Thursday night as neighborhood residents and builders squared off.
The proposed two-building development would mean the end of an arguably historic house, and several members of the public present at the meeting reacted with anger to the plan.
The apartment buildings, owned by Madison Development Co., would hold eight units each. But one of the two buildings would replace a house at 441 W. Mifflin St. that is more than a century old.
'I can't see tearing down the house,' nearby resident Gene Devitt said.
The house was built in 1884, and much of the debate at the meeting centered around whether it is historic or simply aging.
'This is an antique house,' Devitt said. 'Is not 1884 historic'?
'No,' MDC President Frank Staniszewski said. 'It's old, but it's not historic.'
Another concern at the meeting was whether Madison Development Co., which owns the house, had done everything in its power to save it from the wrecking ball.
'You haven't kept up the building,' Devitt said. 'I could name a number of things that you have not done.'
Staniszewski said the structure of the house was simply too old for restoration, but Devitt's claim that MDC had not taken care of the house was enough to cause resident Rosemary Lee to ask the MDC representatives to organize a public viewing of the building.
If the city's plan commission approves the plan Monday, MDC will go to the city council in March. If the council gives final approval of the plan, MDC would begin demolition of the existing house in April.
Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc. President Ludell Zellers said she thought MDC had a good plan for a future development, but added that the group should do everything possible to save the 121-year-old house.
'If there's a way at all to save that house, it should be done,' Zellers said. 'Because once these houses are gone, you can't go back.'
