Latest news with #historichome
New York Times
14-07-2025
- General
- New York Times
$3.8 Million Homes in California
Santa Barbara | $3.795 million This five-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom house was designed by the architect Francis W. Wilson as his primary residence in 1898. Mr. Wilson designed a number of grand estates in Santa Barbara and Montecito, as well as the Santa Barbara railway station and the city's public library. The Old Mission Santa Barbara and the Mission Rose Garden are within walking distance, as are the oak and sycamore trees in Rocky Nook Park. By car, downtown Santa Barbara takes five minutes, East Beach takes 10 and Solvang takes 45. Los Angeles is a two-hour drive. Size: 3,452 square feet Price per square foot: $1,099 Indoors: The front door opens to a foyer with a hanging glass light fixture and a staircase to the second floor. In the living room, a fireplace has a red brick surround and a wood mantel, and dark wood beams line the ceiling. French doors open from the living room to a sunroom overlooking the backyard. A powder room is off the foyer. The living room and sunroom have access to a formal dining room with a fireplace and a set of doors that open to a deck. The kitchen, with hardwood floors, green cabinets and a strip of exposed brick, has a door to the rear patio. All five bedrooms are on the second floor. The primary bedroom has a fireplace and a large balcony with neighborhood and ocean views. A smaller bedroom is attached to the primary bedroom, and a full bathroom with a shower is shared by both rooms. The bedroom next door has a fireplace and a walk-in closet. The larger of the two remaining bedrooms has an en suite bath; the smaller one is used as a home office. A laundry room is also on this level. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Telegraph
05-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
‘Historic' home to be demolished despite estate agent's promise to elderly owners
A historic home is set to be demolished in spite of the developer's pledge to sell it to a family. Eric Abbott, 94, lived in Hiawatha Cottage in Swanmore, Hants, for more than 60 years with his family, before agreeing to sell it on the condition that it went to a family who would enjoy it. But Simon Smith, the new owner, has since applied to Winchester city council for permission to tear it down in favour of two two-storey newbuilds with four-bedrooms each, parking for three cars and gardens. Mr Abbott, 94, a former company director, raised his family in the house with his wife Peggy before putting it on the market last year for £585,000. In an objection he wrote against the planning application, Mr Abbott said: 'As the previous owner of Hiawatha I was totally dismayed to see the change of heart of the new owners attempting to destroy Hiawatha and replace with totally unsuitable houses. 'I instructed the estate agent to ensure my wonderful house was only sold to a family who would love it like I did and not destroy it.' He claimed that the estate agent had assured him that the new owners wanted it to be 'their forever home', adding: 'All I ever wanted was for another family to love it like I had for the last 64 years.' Mr Abbott added: 'I had been offered to sell to many builders and I declined as this house is party of history, it was there before chapel road was even made. 'I would never have sold it had I known this was their intention and they knew that. 'There is an ancient well that in the deeds demands that it should be operable for future water shortages in the village and this was a legal requirement. 'I believe Hiawatha was built in the 15th century it is a beautiful flint cottage which should not be replaced with two identical newbuilds.' Neighbours have criticised the plans, claiming that they will not fit the character of the village, and will cause traffic problems on an already busy street around the corner from a primary school. Houses on the street cost an average of £800,000, and some buildings in Swanmore – which is mentioned in the Domesday Book – date back to the 16th or early 17th centuries. Villagers received flyers about the petition against the redevelopment, which has 931 signatures, through their letterboxes. The flyers said the cottage was being 'flattened' and replaced with 'two modern, bland newbuilds'. Two hundred objections Almost a thousand people have signed a petition to stop the development and 200 objections were written during the public consultation period for the plans. Neighbour David Hughes, 63, said the current cottage was 'unusual' but 'breaks up some of the monotony of the architecture'. He added: 'If we're not careful, we'll have a lot of new houses here.' Meanwhile, another neighbour, John Allen, 79, said the verbal agreement 'isn't worth the paper it's written on'. On the planning application, Historic England said there is no evidence to indicate that the building predates the 19th century – it is believed to have been built between 1840 and 1868. It said: 'The building does not illustrate an important aspect of the nation's history, nor does it have the historic associations with nationally important individuals, groups, or events, which might give it historic special interest.' A decision is due to be made about the planning application on July 18.
CBS News
02-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Village of Dolton, Illinois votes to buy Pope Leo XIV's childhood home
What was once an average home in Chicago's south suburbs has now received national attention for being the childhood home of Pope Leo XIV. The Dolton Village Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to take control of the house at 212 E. 142nd Pl. Village leaders called the purchase a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The house is small and so is the street on which it's located, but there has been a lot of traffic headed its way lately. That is exactly what Dolton village leaders want. At a special village board meeting Tuesday night, most people agreed with Dolton Mayor Jason House on seizing the opportunity to buy the home before investors do so. But some residents had reservations. "We need to be mindful of addressing the issues the city has while trying to address the debts and lawsuits," said Dolton resident Ryan Reese. "I'm not sure this is the first priority." "As a practicing Catholic I see no reason why you want to buy that house," said Dolton resident Annette Mauro. "The house inside does not look anything like when Father Prevost lived there." Another longtime resident, Mary Avent, said the current lack of a police chief and fire chief in Dolton is more important. "Purchasing the pope's house is admirable," Avent said, "but with the state we're in right now, I guess my concern is, do we have the money?" Before finalizing the decision, Mayor House addressed the concerns, and ensured that the purchase would bring much-needed state and congressional funding to Dolton. "Some are talking about the repair of our streets and current infrastructure,' House said. "We are fully committed and will be doing both." The mayor agreed with some trustees who compared Pope Leo XIV's childhood home to the homes of other popes, and how historical acknowledgement of those homes has only benefited communities. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said House. "We can either seize this moment and move it forward, or we can let that moment go to an investor. I would like our community to get the benefits of this opportunity." The village attorney earlier said Dolton is planning to provide police protection at the house on a 24/7 basis, and to turn the entire block on which the house sits into a historical site. There is already a plan to purchase other properties on 142nd Place. On Tuesday ahead of the vote, contractors were out all day fixing the house's 30-year-old roof and replacing it with a new one. The new roof was donated by a roofing company in the area. Meanwhile, there continued to be a steady stream of visitors stopping by to pray. "I really would like to see the community have more jobs so people can have more income," said neighbor Donna Sanga David. "I think that's part of the problem in our community is, you know, the poverty." It was not clear late Tuesday how much the village would be paying for the house. Before all this, it was listed for just under $200,000, and the current auction price has a reserve of $250,000. The village estimates the sale will close within the next two weeks.
