The landmark status of Florence's Keirle House is safe for now as the Florence Historical Foundation and local preservationists look into options for selling the property.
Those two parties entered a meeting Wednesday of the city's Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission in opposition, as the Florence group asked to rescind the landmark status on the 106-year-old house.
But preservation group Landmarks Inc. offered to connect the historical foundation with a potential buyer, and the commission urged the group to accept the offer of help.
Florence foundation leaders said the property would be going on the market. But they said they would work with the preservation group to try to arrange a sale.
The commission voted 7-0 to delay a vote indefinitely, giving the group time to work out an alternative.
"We want to sell the place," said Lynn Farris, the Florence group's president. "Whoever buys it, fine. We want to get rid of it. We don't need the burden."
Foundation leaders say they can no longer afford to maintain the home, which until earlier this year was rented for office space. They took the rare step of asking the city to drop the home's landmark status in hopes that it would ease the property's sale.
With the landmark status in place, the home's classic features and its continued existence are protected. But if the designation were dropped, a buyer would have clearance to demolish the property.
Commissioner Eduardo Santamaria said he didn't believe the Florence group wants the property to be demolished.
"You want to save it," he said. "You want to maintain it, and the community does, also."
The Florence Historical Foundation received the property after the 1994 death of Maude Keirle, who was the last surviving member of the home's original family. Keirle was murdered in the home, and she willed the property to the group.
The foundation restored the house, and it earned landmark status in 1997.
Foundation officials say two potential buyers have pulled back because of the renovation restrictions presented by the landmark status. Neighboring St. Philip Neri Catholic Church also is interested in buying the property.
Commissioners said the landmark status could be a benefit, even a tax advantage, for the property.
Paul Nelson, president of Landmarks Inc., was one of two people who said they found a potential buyer.
While one Florence foundation representative downplayed the home's historic value, Nelson said losing the landmark status and the home would hurt Florence. He called the issue "a big deal for Omaha right now."
"This is one that I think we can save," he said.
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