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Neighbors unite around
Norwood House
8/1/2009 11:28 AM
By: Veronica CasteloIt's hard to
believe the dilapidated structure on Edgecliff Terrace off Riverside Drive once
belonged to some of the wealthiest people in Austin. Stockbroker Ollie
Norwood built it in 1922. A fountain, greenhouse and swimming pool once graced
the home. Today it's boarded up and falling apart.
Neighbors agree it's not the most pleasant sight. "It really looks
terrible," neighbor Wolf Sittler said. "The average person that comes
by here looks at it and says, 'Where's the match?' or, 'Get a bulldozer.'"
The City of Austin bought the property in the mid-80s but hasn't been able to
restore it. "We just do not have the necessary general fund dollars
designated to restore properties," Joanna Mesecke, a program manager for
Austin Parks and Recreation Department, said. Neighbors like Sittler have
decided to take matters into their own hands. Sittler leads a newly formed group
of neighbors and volunteers called the Norwood
Posse. It's a team of neighbors and business leaders joining forces with the
city's parks and recreation department to raise $300,000 to restore the house
themselves. "The neighbors finally decided we are going to do something
about it," Sittler said. "It's an eyesore in our neighborhood. It's an
unusable part of our public parks system. And, we'd like to change that."
They have found contractors and architects to do the work for dirtcheap, in some
cases pro bono. "Not everything is about the money," HHCC Inc.
Construction Project Manager Mark Rawlings said. "Some things are about
passion. We like old buildings. It's a great spot and we'd like to see it
restored."
The house sits above Lady Bird Lake. Joe Kendall, a manager with the Texas River
School, can see many benefits and is helping with fundraising efforts. "Any
resource on the river is golden and we want to take
advantage of it," Kendall said. Sittler said the possibilities for the
home's use are endless. "Part of it could be used as office space. Part of
it could be used as a rentable event center similar to the Zilker Club House.
You could have weddings, reunions, parties, stuff like that," he said. There's
still that one little problem: the money. Just like the city, neighbors don't
have the funds to do it all. "We don't have the money either, but
with creative fundraising, we think we can raise the money needed to fix it,
with a growing number of volunteers and funds already coming in, the Norwood
Posse has high hopes the home will once again be a sight for sore eyes and not
the sore sight it is today,” Sittler said.
Located on the same property of the Norwood House is a popular dog park. Some
have expressed concern over how the restoration process will impact them.
Neighbors and the city's parks and recreation department say raising enough
money to fix the house is their main concern. The dog park will eventually be up
for discussion, but right now it's far from a priority.