March 9, 2005
Skaneateles Press
To the editor:
Town of Spafford Supervisor, Gordon Ireland, arranged for the town to purchase the property next to Borodino (Grange) Hall at 1865 East
Lake Road for $65,000 with a grant from community development of $50,000 plus $15,000 from the town coffers.
The town then applied for another $50,000 grant from community development to provide for a septic system and handicapped parking for
the Borodino Hall and to eliminate blight. Sometime after the grant’s public hearing~ a clause was inserted in the award calling for demolition of the
two buildings to eliminate blight.
The buildings in question cannot be considered “historic” officially because they have been remuddled several times since original construction in the 1830’s. However, upon inspection, Carl Stearns, restoration architect said: “I do not think that (their present) condition mandates demolition of either of these buildings. A sensible rehabilitation of the two buildings would be a far more attractive option than a larger scale open space or parking lot, in my opinion.”
At the Januaiy town board meeting I asked that the buildings be saved and used as a possible auxiliary building for Borodino Hall for archives. Or perhaps, a senior center with a library and a ‘Cracker Barrel’ meeting room where one could get a cup of coffee or tea and a snack, a place for community members to get to know each other and chat. And looking to the future, a place for high school students in the area to work on their required community service credits A well-developed program for this building would benefit all of the townspeople.
Ireland appointed me to chair this committee after Billy Vinzant made a motion that the demolition of the building be put on hold for three months to give me time to come up with a plan, costs arid funding for this proposal. The Irelands voted against it but the motion passed.
Septic and parking are being addressed for this property. The remaining goal is to~p this house and rehabilitate the structure for public use when the clause “to demolish” is removed from the wording of the grant. If this building is destroyed, the “community” of Spafford and Borodino will decline even further like many other communities across the state that have had their hearts torn out due to the lack a good plan for their future citizens.
Once destroyed, our "historical" building cannot be recovered. Change comes to all of us. As we age we often look back to "what could have been" because we let an opportunity slip by. It is far better to look forward, see an opportunity and use it to an advantage. Let us not let this one slip by.
At present we are working to determine the costs to rehabilitate the structure and are soliciting funding to accomplish this. If you can help us, please make a pledge for this very important community project. Any questions will receive a prompt response.
Lauri Clark
Spafford