werner-gilchrist continued
Neighbors Divided On Historic Home's Future ; Permit to Demolish 1908 House, One of First in University Heights, Could Be Issued This Week

Source: Albuquerque Journal
Publication date: 2005-11-08

By ISABEL SANCHEZ Journal Staff Writer

Somewhere behind the tangle of weed trees and ropey vines, behind the decaying porch shrouded in forlorn sheets of plastic, survives the house that had been a city pioneer.

An application for a permit to demolish it is likely to be granted this week -- and while some neighbors look forward to new housing there, others hope for a reprieve, another chance.

At the time the house was built in 1908, the site at Cornell and Silver was Albuquerque's version of prairie -- grassland and scrub, with a sandy road to Downtown.

"It was one of the first, if not the first, in the University Heights addition," said Tom Drake, spokesman for the state Historic Preservation Division.

The house was built by Laura Werner and her son-in-law Ralph Gilchrist, a family "in the vanguard of the thousands of people" who would settle on Albuquerque's constantly eastwardmoving border. It is listed on state and national registers of historic places.

For the University Heights Neighborhood Association, the Werner- Gilchrist house represents a chance to preserve a piece of history and retain a little open space on the four-lot property.

"We would like for there to be a good outcome," said David Miertschin, association president. "A good outcome would be for the house to be renovated and stay."

For developer Juno Raby, the property could become home to a "catalytic" project, such as the $380,000 townhouses he and partner Rick Goldman are building in nearby Nob Hill. By catalytic, he said, he means coming "into a neighborhood that needs redevelopment, we get them going, kicked off."

For Dan Kelley and Reeves McGuire, who bought the house about three years ago, it had investment potential -- until they realized the costs.

The 16-inch adobe walls were true to their times. So was the stacked stone foundation, which could now never pass a building inspection, and which McGuire said would cost more to replace than the property is worth. The house also needs a new roof, wiring and plumbing.

Raby estimated it would take about $500,000 to restore the house and said any sale would be contingent on its being demolished. He said he has "no idea" yet of how the property might be developed.

Miertschin said that maybe a nonprofit foundation would be interested in the property but that he isn't overly optimistic.

"Somebody's going to have to step up and say, 'I want that and I'm willing to pay whatever it takes.' I don't know anyone in that position," he said.

Ed Boles, the city's historic preservation planner, said a property could be saved if the mayor or his representative, or the owner, applied to have it designated as a landmark.

There's no real consensus in the neighborhood about what should happen, Miertschin said -- some are sad about the house's condition, some are upset that it might be destroyed, most just want to see an improvement.

"They want the corner to be nice again," he said.