HPC Approves Abbott Manor Roof Repair

A property owner's costly plight cut no ice with members of the Historic Preservation Commission Tuesday when they approved a new roof and other repairs only if they met strict standards.

Andre Yates, the new owner of Abbott Manor, spent most of the evening giving examples of his previous reconstruction of city homes and detailing the extensive costs he faces in restoring the former nursing home at 810 Central Avenue. After citing his "fabulous work" on the other buildings, he said he had gone up on the roof of the Central Avenue home with contractors who, after examining the slate roof, deemed it at the end of its useful life and "beyond repair."

The city's Historic Preservation ordinance, which the commission upholds, calls for replacing "like with like" in exterior repairs to buildings in historic districts. Yates urged commissioners to accept a kind of asphalt shingles instead of slate, calling the cost of slate prohibitive and noting use of such roofing in several nearby buildings.

Glancing around the table at commissioners and at several residents in attendance, Yates said, "I need everyone in here to help me get it right, and I know you will."

But the commissioners held out for slate or a shingle that closely resembles slate, although Commissioner Bill Michelson said he might consider a shingled roof if Yates told what he plans to do with the building. That question went unanswered as the discussion wore on, with Yates continuing to stress cost factors.

"I have a huge project here," he said.

Commissioner Pat Turner Kavanaugh said, "I want that building to come back as you clearly do, but it will not return to anything like its former status if you put a roof on there that's totally inappropriate."

After more back-and-forth between Yates and other commissioners, Turner Kavanaugh said, "This roof is not right for that building - end of story."

Still, Yates persevered, saying the total renovation was going to be an "enormous financial undertaking" and asking for "understanding."

But Commissioner John Favazzo said he saw a compromise on the roof as a gateway to further compromises.

"You have to get off to the right foot," he said, calling the roof "most important."

If the work has to be phased, Favazzo said, then Yates might have to do so. A wrong change, he said, "compromises every other building in Plainfield."

"You are asking us to alter the whole city of Plainfield," Favazzo said.

Although he said he understood Favazzo's point, Yates noted the ongoing recession and decline in property values.

"To spend $45,000 on a roof, that's a lot of money," he said.

Michelson told Yates, "You have done us a great service by getting Dr. and Mrs. Lapid to sign a deed," referring to the former owners, but adding, "You bought a house for $100,000 knowing it would need repairs," and calling Yates' concerns "crocodile tears."

In public comment before the vote, several residents agreed with commissioners on the negative effect of using lesser materials for repairs. Rowand Clark asked the board not to "summarily dismiss the idea of putting on real slate" and others pushed for copper metalwork exclusively.

The board finally approved the project with architectual slate-like tiles and copperwork, with all materials to be reviewed before construction.

Outside the meeting, Yates declined to say what he had in mind for the building once it is rehabilitated and would not confirm a rumor that he planned a veterans' home.

Abbott Manor was once a 35-bed nursing home, but drew intense opposition to a planned expansion. Read the history of litigation on the matter here. 

--Bernice