How Wheaton Park District could help save Loretto mansion

A historic Wheaton mansion on the grounds of the Loretto Convent could move to neighboring Seven Gables Park through an agreement between the Wheaton Park District and preservationists trying to save the architectural gem from demolition.

Park district commissioners are reviewing a plan to relocate and restore the 19th-century House of Seven Gables, a major undertaking that would require expert movers and support from developers of the Loretto Convent.

But the biggest question mark is whether a group of history buffs can meet a tight deadline to raise private funds to help repurpose the mansion into a special events venue.

The proposed deal comes about a month after the Wheaton City Council approved a project by Pulte Homes to redevelop the Loretto campus, a secluded, 16-acre property owned by Catholic nuns since 1946.

The project would demolish more than a dozen Loretto buildings to make way for a community of 48 upscale, ranch-style homes for empty nesters and retirees at 1600 Somerset Lane.

Developers say they need the 1890s-era mansion off the property - either by demolition or relocation - by July 10 so that crews can complete site grading and roadwork before asphalt plants close in the fall.

Movers have indicated it would take a month to finish their job. After a week of preparations, relocating the two-story mansion itself - an engineering feat - would last three weeks. That means movers would have to start staging on the property by June 12, Pulte executives say.

The timeline could give preservationists just weeks to secure donations or pledges to cover a funding gap in the mansion's restoration. Under the tentative terms of the agreement, the park district wants that funding in place before the mansion moved roughly 800 feet to the far western edge of Seven Gables Park.

Pulte had spent about a year searching for someone willing to save the mansion, said Rob Getz, the company's director of land acquisitions. But a longtime Wheaton couple, Bob and Katy Goldsborough, recently offered to front the moving costs and asked the park district to reimburse them within a year.

Wolfe House & Building Movers estimates that relocating the brick, Tudor Revival mansion could cost about $228,000. The company has relocated historic landmarks across the country. Closer to home, Wolfe movers transferred the Harriet F. Rees House on dollies down a city street in Chicago three years ago.

In Wheaton, the city could contribute up to 50 percent of the bill to move the House of Seven Gables. The city council could vote to authorize the funding as early as June 19.

Some park district commissioners on Wednesday expressed support for preserving the mansion in concept but want specifics about a business plan for a restored structure and raised parking concerns. The board is expected to revisit the deal at a special meeting May 31.

If commissioners agree to proceed, the park district would likely match the city's share of the moving costs upfront. Administrators had initially proposed taking out a loan to reimburse the Goldsboroughs and using new property tax revenue generated by the Loretto development to make principal and interest payments on the debt.

The park district also has proposed setting aside $150,000 in impact fees - a one-time payment from developers - for the restoration of the mansion.

Officials will soon determine how much more the restoration would cost - and how much preservationists would have to raise - after an inspection expected later this week of the building's roof and masonry.

The park district has so far called for building a new foundation, utility connections and a heating and air-conditioning system.

The long-term vision? A restored House of Seven Gables and its historic allure could draw banquets and weddings, officials say. Rental fees for special events could finance the mansion's ongoing maintenance and ornamental gardens.

The Wilder and Cheney mansions, owned by the Elmhurst and Oak Park park districts, respectively, could serve as templates for the project, officials say.

Preservationists have called the mansion an irreplaceable work of architect Jarvis Hunt. Built in 1897, the house was part of the "Colony," an exclusive neighborhood of summer cottages for members of the private Chicago Golf Club, the first 18-hole course in the country.

Steel magnate Jay Morris commissioned Hunt to design the home for his daughter. The aging structure features a gabled slate roof, ornate wood carvings and painted beams.

Pulte hired architectural consultant Jean Guarino to complete a survey of buildings designed by Hunt in Wheaton. Guarino identified six structures, including the Chicago Golf clubhouse and the mansion.