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Up in the Air: No deal yet on loan that would keep Nissen House from being torn down
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The Nissen House, built about 1876 in Lewisville, will be torn down unless it can be moved by December.
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Published: September 25, 2008
LEWISVILLE
The fate of the Nissen House is still up in the air.
Two weeks ago, the Lewisville Town Council voted to offer a loan of up to $68,000 to the Lewisville Historical Society to help cover the costs of moving the historic house, which is one of the town's most visible landmarks.
Unless the house is moved by December, it will be torn down to make room for a new dental office.
The historical society scrambled throughout the summer to find a way to save the house. On Monday, about 20 members agreed to accept the loan if the town changes some of the language in the contract.
"We agreed to accept the thought of a loan, but the devil is in the details," said John Byrd, the interim president of the historical society. "Without the right language, we still may not be able to proceed."
Byrd said he plans to talk to the council at its briefing session on Oct. 2.
The historical society had originally asked the town for $100,000 to help pay for the moving costs. Moving the house from its present location at Shallowford and Arrow Leaf Drive to town property at Arrow Leaf and Lucy Lane will cost about $103,000. The historical society has raised $49,000, and the town has agreed to offer a no-interest guaranteed loan to cover the difference.
Under the provisions of the loan, the town would continue to own the property that the house sits on and lease it to the historical society at a nominal rate. The ground lease would be up for renewal after 10 years.
Byrd said that he and others in the historical society would like to see ownership of the property turned over to the historical society after 10 years.
"Ten years from now, who knows what kind of council you're dealing with?" Byrd said. "What if they decide that they need that property for something else?"
Such a question could keep foundations from awarding huge chunks of money to the historical society for the house's renovation.
"No one gives you a large donation if you don't even own the underlying land," Byrd said.
Mayor Dan Pugh said that a renewable lease will help ensure that the house will be properly maintained and not fall outside of the town's standards.
"That's how I see it from my standpoint, but I'm not sure about the rest of the council," he said.
The historical society would also like to be able to find an upstairs tenant to help defray some of the costs for utilities and upkeep. As it reads now, the contract states that the house must be used solely for public purpose.
These provisions struck Byrd as being too restrictive.
"We don't want to have a situation where we are set up to fail," he said.
Pugh said he thought that the town's offer was fair.
"I'm kind of shocked that they wouldn't accept it as is," he said.
Pugh's original motion was amended to offer the historical society a larger loan and more time to pay back the town.
The Nissen House was built about 1876 by George Nissen, who owned Nissen Wagon Works. Among those contributing to the fund to move the house are descendents of George Nissen, Byrd said.
"Should we fail, the house is lost," Byrd said. "And that will be a tragedy."
■ Lisa O'Donnell can be reached at 727-7420 or at lo'donnell@wsjournal.com.
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