The historic Anderberg house and its less-famous sibling at the Drumlin Farm in Fitchburg may have gotten a reprieve from the wrecking ball last week.
Fitchburg Mayor Jay Allen had previously told Isthmus the city was powerless to stop the Alexander Company from demolishing the house ("Drumlin Farm's Days May Be Numbered" 09/04/09).
But last week on his blog, the mayor wrote, "Our ordinance requires that demolition must commence within six months or the permit lapses," which means the permit expired in July. Last week, the Fitchburg Common Council toughened its demolition requirements, which now call for the Plan Commission to "review the historical significance of the structure to be demolished" and state that the applicant "provide a detailed plan for the reuse of the property."
Company president Joseph Alexander believes the permit is still good, but adds, "It's certainly not our practice to get into lawsuits with the city where we do business."
And Alexander says his company is still willing to sell Anderberg house, for a dollar, to the city of Fitchburg or the Fitchburg Historical Society, so long as they move it.