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Design committee denies demolition
CANFIELD
The Design Review Committee has denied Sam Pitzulo’s request for a permit to demolish an old home at 275 N. Broad St. .
Pitzulo, of Sam Pitzulo Homes & Remodeling, 427 S. Broad St., said although he respects the board’s decision, he will appeal.
His plans for the seven-acre property at 275 N. Broad St. purchased in January are to construct single-family homes.
The property once belonged to Judson Canfield, the grandson of Canfield’s namesake – also named Judson Canfield.
Some Canfield citizens raised concerns at the meeting about the need to protect the historical integrity of the home.
Zoning Inspector Mike Cook said the board has agreed to hear another request from Pitzulo after he has exhausted all other options.
Pitzulo said his plans weren’t to destroy the house or the historical integrity, but to preserve them to the best of his abilities – within financial reason.
One of the avenues to preserve the house was to allow a buyer to move it to another site – Pitzulo said it would be $60,000 just to move it with the added costs of buying property to put it on and building a foundation.
The cost to fix the home, however, is much more.
“To bring it to its original state, to the state it was in from 1860 when it was built, I would estimate [it would cost] around a half million [dollars] – that’s just based on my 26 years [of experience],” Pitzulo said.
Among the issues the house faces are mold and rotting wood, a bat infestation, poor foundation quality and a roof that needs reframed, Pitzulo explained.