By Colin Whitworth/Daily Commercial Staff Writer
Lauren Stokes,head of the Mote-Morris Steering Commitee,surveys the tower of the house Wednesday in Leesburg.
City Manager Rex Taylor said the House should be moved by the end of 1990
The Mote-Morris House Planning Committee will recommend that the 97-year old house be moved to Yates Clark's land on Magnolia and Eleventh streets,it decided Wednesday. Committee members,at their third meeting,picked that site from three choices because it is the largest site and because it is not as expensive as their other favorite spot,which is the Dunstan property next to Beyer's Funeral Home on Main Street.
"The other is just too much money," said Sanna Henderson, a Leesburg commissioner and committee member. "The Clark site is just more realistic."
Because it is the largest site it would allow the city to use it for the most purposes,including a park, gardens or a parking lot,members said. The Third site, across from the Mote-Morris house next to the Morrison United Methodist Church of Leesburg, will not be considered because it would be too difficult to move the house there, the committee members decided. The Leesburg Commission formed the committee after church officials, who own the house, said they wanted to clear the lot for future use and preservationists said they wanted to save the house.
The house is on National Register of Historic Places, which is a status the committee said it will preserve. All three sites are in the same neighborhood as the current site, which is required to keep it on the list. The church has offered the home to the city or to any group interested in moving it. Moving the house was initially rejected by the city because it was believed that would cause the home to lose its place on the National Register.
Clark is asking for $10,000, although committee member James Gregg said he thinks the price could be lowered. The lot, which is next to an odd railroad line, has been clear for years and the owner would like to sell, he said. Lou George, who owns the smaller Dunstan lot,which has the old fence surrounding it, wants $140,000, and committee members said they thought he would not lower the asking price. The committee plans to present its recommendations to the City Commission at its 4p.m. meeting in City Hall on Monday.
Besides picking the site,the committee is also expected to recommend that money raised to but the lot be given to the city, making the purchase tax exempt. The land will be bought with donations, while the cost of moving the house-about $65,000, officials estimate-will be paid through the sale of the Lassiter-Ware building, the committee said. The restoration costs, which would be at least $75,000, would be paid through a state historic preservation grant, officials said.
Committee members have not decided what to use the building for, although some have suggested making it a learning environment for those interested in Leesburg's history. A timeline drawn by City Manager Rex Taylor shows that the land should be brought by next April and the house moved by the end of the year; the restoration is scheduled for completion in July 1991, he said.
(The Site) 1195 W Magnolia Street Leesburg, Fla
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