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? Spring 1984 OId Porter Rd. home: 5ave it or bash it? By CINDX LEISE G'T Staff Writer NORTH OLMSTED - The massive,two-story quarry stone home in a woaded area west of Porter Road has seen plenty of life since it was built about 125 years ago. Now, the old structure is in the midst of a fight for survival. Thursday night the city's Board of Building Code Appeals refused to overturn a demolition order issued :it the request of nearby homeowners after a fire rendered the huuse unlivable. Aowever, board members said they are as eager as anyone to save the structure. The living room interior burn- Qd two years aigo and since then the propecty has been a target for break-ins and vandalism. Current owners Steve and Alfre- da Flagner, of Cleveland, are elderly and in poor health. Porter Road and Nandina Drive neighbcrs, young couples with small ch.ildren, sought the demolition order, saying the house, unoccupied since the fire, endangers them. ONE NEIGHBOR had $8,000 of jewelry, including her wed- ding ring, stolen in a break-in and another young mother was threatened by trespassers after she reported them to police. Board Chairman Bernard Schulz explained to the Flagners there is a 60-day appeals dead- line to City Council, and if khey either start repairs or sell the home to someone who can, it will not be razed. "I saw the home and was amazed at the elegance," Schulz said. "But I'm not much for landmarks unless you take care of them." Although they iove the house and would like to once again use it as a summer residence, Flagner said he may decide to sell it ko another history buff. AMONG THOSE arguing for restoration Thursday were members of the city Landmarks Commission including chair- woman Betty Lord. "We are not just talking about any building, there is nothing like it on the West Side...it is something that belongs to North Olmsted," she said. ¦ ¦ m Demolti011 is 8y Nancy Wlodarski owner's request for a stay iu the saying it was building's demolitlon be completed in 75 days. "Without the signatures (Flag- NORTyear-oldFi quarry stone OLMSTED - house The on 125Por- - , ? Poor condition and, according to The d vandals t tt ners' and the contractors') this thing could have continued to drag ter Road will be nestored raffier . rac e neighbors, a Flagners had 60 days to appeal the on," said Councilman-at-large than reduced to rubble. ruling. Yvonne Petrigac, a house-saving The home's owners Steve and Al- freda Flagner decided the 125-year- ntin ' Clty council's bullcling, aoning and ment committee met last develo proponent. "THE NEIGHBORING RESI- g s fate by prese old structure eouncll Tuesday wit6 a signed ra p Thursday to s•eview plans to restore DENTS have been preCty patient " Building t the whole situation b pair contract, whlch enabled offi- clals to grant a stay of demolition. the home at 4302 Porter Road and agreed it should be saved if the d , a ou Commisslonzr Ernest Gundy said. adding the home has had "sporaclle City council, by a 6-0 vote dld g?ant the stay with the Tuesday Flagners cou9d produce a slgne contract by last Tuesday's council occupancy" since its living room a o , provisIon work begin or be com- leted on the house within 90 days. meeting. The commitlee also ordered the g . was gutted by fire two years "That place has been lived in for ner Fl " p TEIE CSTY'S board oE buikling ap- peals last Feb?•uary had denied the repair work to bagin within 15 days after the contract was signed and ag Mrs. the past 20 years, told the Sun. She said they plan to averte live in the home. The Qlans for the iome call for both repalrs and res- coratlOn, she suid. "Hppetully, the home can be ratsep to a level where both the ownrfs and (neigh6ortng) residents a- Iianoiwtth it." f:nndy sald.