- May 6, 2024
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Lewis Heaster stands in front of his Gaslamp Shoppes. He has a suggestion on how the city can keep the MacDonald House plus allow more development. Photo by Wayne Grant
The MacDonald House was built in 1895. File photo
The owner of the Gaslamp Shoppes (left) wants to extend them to where the MacDonald House is now. Photo by Wayne Grant
The owner of the Gaslamp Shoppes wants to extend them to where the MacDonald House is now. Photo by Wayne Grant
What does the future hold for the historic MacDonald House? A wrecking ball? Renovation into a local museum?
Local businessman Lewis Heaster has a third option for the city-owned building. He has offered to purchase the underlying land, and suggests the city use the money to move the 1895 building to the northwest tennis court in the adjacent Ormond Beach Tennis Center.
“Maybe we can get the best of both worlds.”
LEWIS HEASTER, on relocating the MacDonald House
He would use the space to expand his Gaslamp Shoppes, which now line the boulevard from the MacDonald House to Billy’s Tap Room. Where the MacDonald House now stands, he envisions a coffee shop facing east.
“You’d see a courtyard of people enjoying themselves,” he said. “To me, it’s a welcome to the beachside.”
His proposal shows room for added parking in the tennis court area as well.
The MacDonald House, 38 E Granada Blvd., has deteriorated through the years, and the idea of tearing it down for modern development has been discussed in City Commission workshops. On the other hand, members of the historical society and others want to restore the building for a local museum.
An architectural firm is currently studying the viability of restoring the structure to help the city decide whether a wrecking ball or renovation is in the building’s future.
Heaster has sent his proposal to the city, offering to buy the land, about one-quarter acre, for $273,000, which was based on an appraisal commissioned by the city.
He sees benefits for the MacDonald House in being moved to an open area.
“It would stand alone and stand out,” he said. “It would give it little more prestige.”
Some history buffs say moving a building diminishes its value, but Heaster points to the historic Pilgrim’s Rest Primitive Baptist Church, now standing at Bailey Riverbridge Gardens on the northeast corner of the Granada Bridge. It was moved from a previous location at a cemetery and is now accessible to the public and set off with landscaping.
Also, the MacDonald House would be next to The Casements, another historic structure.
His plan shows the MacDonald House occupying one tennis court, while the other three remain. But he said his offer gives the city a chance to think about the best use for that land.
“Maybe this proposal will start a discussion,” he said.
Heaster originally made an offer to the city in 2014 to buy the MacDonald House. Seeing the strong interest in the structure, he developed the new proposal as a way to keep it and also add new commercial development.
Heaster said he would be adding more retail, jobs and tax base.
“Maybe we can get the best of both worlds,” he said.
Public hearings are planned to discuss the fate of the MacDonald House as the study is being done by an architectural firm on the feasibility of restoration. The next meeting is a Stakeholders Workshop, 7 p.m., Feb. 8, at The Casements. There will be a City Commission Workshop, 5:30 p.m., Feb. 21, at City Hall. The date for the City Commission meeting where a decision may be made has not been determined.
