DeLand OKs demolition of old building on Woodland Blvd.

Published: Monday, March 4, 2013 at 9:43 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, March 4, 2013 at 9:44 p.m.

DELAND City commissioners approved the demolition of a century-old building on Woodland Boulevard and honored two World War II veterans at their meeting Monday night.

On a 4-1 vote the commission approved the demolition of 428 S. Woodland Blvd after DeLand businessman Robert Miller, who is under contract to buy the property, said it would be "economically unfeasible" to restore the existing two-story building to a usable condition.

"I can assure you that (demolition) is not my preferred course of action," he said. "I am very passionate about saving historic buildings in the DeLand area," he said, noting he had restored other buildings within the city of comparable age.

However, Miller said while the properties in the area he restored had "good bones," the building at 428 S. Woodland Blvd. did not.

The lot the property sits on is about a quarter of an acre. Miller said he does not have any concrete plans for its future use, but raised the possibility of a metered parking lot that would serve the future Intermodal Transportation Facility opening later this year nearly across the street from the site.

That possibility concerned Commissioner Leigh Matusick, who noted the property was not on a corner or near a crosswalk, and said the ITF will have its own parking area.

DeLand Mayor Bob Apgar and City Attorney Darren Elkind pointed out that only the possibility of demolition was what was under consideration Monday night -- not any future plans, which would have to be considered separately.

Matusick said she voted no on the motion to allow demolition only because city staff had not been able to get inside the building and examine it themselves.

City staff recommended against allow the building to be demolished, saying although by itself it was not of historical significance or located in a historic district, it was a "contributing building" to the historic character of the area.

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DeLand OKs demolition of old building on Woodland Blvd.