One of Monroes oldest homes approved for demolition

MONROE A local church has secured approval to demolish one of Monroes oldest homes, one of the few remaining antebellum houses in the city.

And while St. Pauls Episcopal Church has not decided whether it will proceed with demolition, the potential for such a move has left some neighbors aghast at the prospect of seeing another piece of Monroes history vanish.

The Laney-Lee House, at 202 E. Windsor St., dates to 1858. The two-story frame home was built for A.A. Laney, a prominent merchant and cotton planter who was Monroes mayor in 1865, the year the Civil War ended.

This is not just some old house. Its one of the only pre-Civil War houses still in Monroe, said Theresa Eaman, who lives near the property and created a Facebook page trying to rally people to save the house. Do we want to end up like Charlotte center city, where theres nothing left of historic value?

The church, which sits across the street from the 4,635-square-foot house, received the home as a donation in 1989 and used it as a rectory until 2008. It has been vacant since then.

St. Pauls is still considering all options, including demolition, finding someone who wants to move the house or rehabbing it, said Dick Brainard, the junior warden at the church who is in charge of the building and grounds. He said church leaders will present the parish with options for the site, likely by next spring, before deciding how to proceed.

If the house is no longer at the site, he said, the church might use the property for a garden where people could meditate.

Brainard understands the neighbors concerns, but added, Weve got to do what we can afford. The house has been in disrepair for years.

An order delayed

On Oct. 13, the citys Historic District Commission unanimously approved the churchs demolition request but delayed that order for 180 days to mid-April. Under city ordinances, the boards only options were to grant immediate approval or an approval with the delay, said Doug Britt, senior planner for the city.

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One of Monroes oldest homes approved for demolition