Standing Rock Offers Alternate Site for Kent Wells Sherman House

The director of Standing Rock Cultural Arts made one last push Wednesday to try and stop the relocation of a historic Kent house to greenspace adjacent to the arts group's gallery.

Jeff Ingram, director of the SCRA, urged members of Kent City Council to stop the relocation of the Kent Wells-Sherman House to the lot at 247 N. Water St.

Ingram asked council to consider an alternate site for the historic house, which already has the necessary approval from several city commissions to be moved to the space next to the North Water Street Gallery.

He suggested the house be moved to the vacant lot at 202 N. Lincoln St., which is owned by Kent State University and was formerly home to Hillel at Kent State.

"North Lincoln over North Water has many benefits," Ingram said.

Ingram pointed to the lot's level grade as a potential cost savings, as the non-profit group working to save the house, Kent Wells Sherman House Inc., must move dirt to grade the lot on North Water Street so the house will sit level.

Members of Kent Wells Sherman House Inc. estimate initial site work and the cost for a new foundation will be $30,500, according to the group's redevelopment budget.

Ingram said he talked with university officials, who said they have no plans for the lot and would be willing to donate it to the city. If the city would then donate it to the Kent Wells Sherman House Inc., that would save the group the $21,000 cost to buy the lot on North Water Street, Ingram said.

The house at the lot was razed in May 2011.

"There’s also on-site parking available," Ingram said. "It’s a better fit on North Lincoln."

Members of the Kent Wells Sherman House board of directors disagree.

Roger Thurman, vice president of the Kent Wells Sherman House Inc. board, said that one part of this story that often is lost in reports is that of the non-profit board and what it's members want for the house — a location in the historic downtown district where it's sure to garner lots of exposure.

He disagreed with Ingram that the North Lincoln site would see lots of foot traffic. The group reviewed about a dozen possible sites for the house before settling on the spot next to the gallery.

"We prefer the North Water Street site," Thurman said.

Ann Ward, a member of the KWSH board, said they never originally considered the North Lincoln Site because it's not in a commercial zoning district, which is what the house needs in order to have an upstairs business tenant.

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