KALAMAZOO (Mich.)- Peter and Laura Livingstone-McNelis had a vision to create something exciting from an historic building. The two worked at it, and they are being recognized as individuals who are dedication to historic preservation. The two received a 2010 Merit Award from the City of Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission in the Individual or Institution category. They along with others in the community were honored during an event on May 25, at Henderson Castle.
The awards are given annually in local recognition of National Historic Preservation Month. This year’s award recipients have done an outstanding job of rehabilitating a historic structure or have actively promoted or contributed to historic preservation in the city of Kalamazoo.
There is no question about the value of Henderson Castle as an historic gem in the city of Kalamazoo and Peter and Laura have opened the Castle to events that help build community. Since purchasing the Castle in 2006, they have hosted Art Hops, retreats for cancer survivors, fund-raisers for children in Uganda and local agencies such as Loaves and Fishes, camps and classes for children, music, dance and poetry recitals, and much more.
This is the gift Peter and Laura have offered to Kalamazoo – an opportunity not only to see and use the beauty of Henderson Castle, but to do so in ways that aim toward a vision of community strength, well-being, and social justice, both here in Kalamazoo and in the wider world.
Other recipients include:
COMMERCIAL/INSTITUTIONAL/GOVERNMENT PROPERTY
524 North Burdick – Rescued Treasures Store, Kalamazoo Gospel Mission; Architect Terry Schley, AIA
After a devastating fire in August 2007 destroyed a warehouse and storage building used by the Gospel Mission, architect Terry Schley designed a new building on the footprint of the old foundation.
The site presented a challenge, with the new building sharing a wall with Old Fire House No. 4, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983. The new building complements the Fire House and echoes design details from the demolished building. Materials blend well together with stone banding from the fire station repeated on the new building.
The new building meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards by complementing the adjacent historic fire station but being clearly differentiated from it in materials and setback. Mechanical equipment on the roof is hidden behind a modern interpretation of a traditional cornice/cap.
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
Single family home-2203 Sheffield Drive – Owner Julie Heath
The family room addition to the home at 2203 Sheffield is an outstanding example of sympathetic infill construction that maintains the historic character of the house and the neighborhood while supplying the owner with more living space. Located in the “Old Winchell” part of the neighborhood, this house is typical of the Georgian and Tudor Revival styles built in the 1920s and 1930s.
RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
Rental Housing- 725 West Vine Street
Originally built in 1885, this two story wood frame house had been chopped up into as many as five apartments, lost its original porch and had the garage converted to an efficiency apartment. The general consensus in the neighborhood was that the house was not worth saving.
Janie Albright purchased the house in early spring of 2009, and began the process of bringing the house back to life. She gutted the house, demolished the former garage, removed an unnecessary exterior staircase and reconfigured the space into three comfortable apartments. While the missing porch has not been restored, the exterior of the house has been rehabilitated and is now a graceful home anchoring a corner.
INDIVIDUAL OR INSTITUTION
Old Home Rehab – Peter Carroll and Marc Ferraro
Old Home Rehab is a five year old business in Kalamazoo specializing in the rehabilitation of old windows, bringing them back to fully functional weather tight units. Windows are the eyes to a building and inappropriate replacements can significantly change the character of a historic home or commercial building. Peter Carroll and Marc Ferraro have the skills to do everything from basic window maintenance, to completely rebuilding and replicating wood windows.
Old Home Rehab also donates time and expertise to the Old House Expo, in conjunction with the Old House Network, every winter at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center. They work all day, showing home owners how to replace their sash ropes using demonstration windows in the vendor hall. They also donate time to teach basic and advanced window workshops through the Old House Network. Old Home Rehab also works with a local church to expose at risk youth to traditional building trades skills and are currently training an apprentice. Having skilled window rehabilitation contractors in the Kalamazoo area allows owners of historic homes an alternative to replacement windows.
