History enthusiasts hoping to save Boynton Beach’s oldest house showed up in front of it Nov. 25, the day the Andrews House was scheduled to be demolished. City officials intervened and the demolition has been postponed for now. Tim Stepien /The Coastal Star
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By Tao Woolfe
The historic Andrews House, the oldest house in Boynton Beach, has escaped the wrecking ball — at least for now.
The beloved, simple 1907 wooden house suffered a near-death experience just before Thanksgiving, and the City Commission, at its Dec. 3 meeting, decided it would explore saving the house and moving it after hearing many, many residents’ pleas to do so.
Here’s what led to the commission’s determination:
In the early morning hours of Nov. 25, neighborhood residents saw — with dread — a yellow demolition excavator sitting on the Andrews House site at 306 SE First Ave.
Among them was historian Ginger L. Pedersen, who is one of the preservationists who has long advocated for the house to be saved and moved to another spot.
Pedersen and others raised the alarm, calling on the mayor and commissioners to step in and stop the imminent demolition.
Their efforts worked.
That same day, Mayor Ty Penserga and Commissioner Thomas Turkin intervened, asked the developer (who is listed in property records as Manuel Mato, of BB South, LLC) to hold off until the city determines whether there are alternative options.
At the Dec. 3 commission meeting, Boynton Beach residents — and even an out-of-town historian — spoke up. They urged the commissioners, who also serve as the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency board, to preserve the city’s heritage by saving the Andrews House, moving it to a nearby space, and letting it be used as a boutique or small business.
“It’s a beautiful home. I really think it’s an asset to the community,” said resident Flynn Holland. “I walk by there all the time. It’s a magical little home.”
Victor Martel, an Ocean Ridge resident, said he, too, walks past the house every day.
“Look into your heart. This building is not something we can put back,” Martel said. “It would be an atrocity to take it down.”
And Barbara Ready, chairwoman of the Boynton Beach Historic Preservation Board, said her board has been asking the city to save the house for many years, but no action has been taken.
She said in an email that a group of “incredibly devoted preservationists” had met the day after the demolition scare to see what could be done.
They came up with the idea of moving the Andrews House next to the historic Magnuson House and creating a historic nook that could accommodate boutiques or other small businesses.
The commissioners seemed receptive to the idea of creating a historic area, but cautioned that the expense of moving the little house and bringing it up to current building codes could be costly.
Commissioner Turkin suggested exploring the possibility of having developers pay an impact fee — like the fee they pay for public art projects — to offset development impacts.
Mayor Penserga directed the city staff to come back — after the holidays — with estimates for moving the house and economic and structural analyses of how to save the Andrews House.
Pedersen, too, suggested that the house be moved to the nearby Ocean Avenue site of the Magnuson House, which — until recently when its approved developer failed to secure financing — had been considered as the centerpiece for a barbecue restaurant.
The Andrews House, built in 1907 by Dutch pioneer Bert Kapp, has some unusual features — including built-in steel rods that can be tightened to hold the house together during a hurricane, Pedersen said.
“The house survived the hurricanes of ’28, ’47, and more recently, Wilma, Jeanne and Frances,” Pedersen said.
“Its significance goes beyond its age; the structure embodies the craftsmanship and character of Florida’s early settlers,” Pedersen said. “It’s a very cool little house.”
The house was completely renovated several years ago, restored to its former glory, and updated for modern use.
“Despite these efforts, the property’s fate was sealed amid shifting priorities and development pressures,” Pedersen said. “Its loss represents a growing challenge in preserving the architectural and cultural identity of Boynton Beach.”
Pedersen said she’s pleased that the city is stepping in, but she worries that the cost of moving the home — especially if it is moved far away — will be prohibitive.
“I think its best chance is somewhere close to Dixie Highway or U.S. 1 where it could be made into a permanent residence,” she added.
A private person could buy it, move it, and turn it into a home or a guest cottage, she suggested.
Moving costs could run as high as $200,000, Pedersen estimated, but even so, it would be a relative bargain.
“Where else could you buy a house made of Dade County pine for $200,000?” she asked.
“Right now, we’re trying to figure out who should coordinate the efforts to save the house,” Pedersen said. “There is nothing wrong with that house — it is tightly sealed and has no water damage.”
Randall Gill, former president of the Boynton Beach Historical Society, said the house serves another function, as well.
“The Andrews House is a symbol of a more gentle time, when people treated each other with respect and dignity,” he said.
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