By Brannon Dawkins
For The Tribune
TRUSSVILLE — The property owner of the Cahaba Project home on Meadow Lane that was demolished more than two weeks ago is speaking out and says he wants people to understand what led to the family’s decision.
The historical marker outside the Cahaba Project.
The property is owned by Trussville residents Henry and Kim Wideman. The Wideman family purchased the property last year, and had a home plan approved by the city’s Design Review Committee last November. The Cahaba Project is a historic district and homeowners must present plans to the committee in order to receive a building permit. The neighborhood was designated in 2006 as the Cahaba Homestead Village Historic District by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
“We wanted to keep all that we could of the house,” Wideman said in a recent interview. “The house plan we had approved was designed around the home’s original floor plan.”
The Wideman’s original plan was to turn the 1,200 square foot home into a 4,500 square foot home. A finished room over the attached garage would have added another 600 square feet, he said.
“We used exterior inspiration from another home (on Rockridge Avenue) in the neighborhood and just assumed that it was a good model,” Wideman said. “The home was going to be white brick with a metal shingle roof for a lighter look.”
He said the existing home was ultimately demolished on the advice of his contractor, home designer and engineers after discovering the home’s foundation had problems that would make their renovation plans difficult.
“We didn’t like taking the old house down,” Wideman said. He was told the foundation was unstable from decades of water erosion on various sides of the house and there was some termite damage.
“What we were doing on top of the structure that we were keeping was no small thing,” said home designer Jordan Huffstetler. “The water issue has degraded the structure that we were going to rely on. The foundation as it is, is clearly not suitable for what you’re doing on top of it.”
Wideman also said if the foundation was repaired, the water problems would likely remain.
“Once we realized the house had to come down, we had more flexibility with the floor plan and began thinking more about the overall look,” he said. “Remembering a conversation with one of the design committee members and after talking with a few city councilman with the city, we realized that we might have been using the wrong template for what a majority of people down there had rather see. So we redesigned the home to more of what we thought would resemble an (original) duplex (in the neighborhood that had been) expanded.”
The changes included lower pitch rooflines that were simpler in design. “We felt like we could eventually get to a point that we could even set a template for what future home renovations and builds could look like. We were planning to submit the new plans soon.”
The Widemans did keep materials from the original home to use in their new home.
“We kept most of the old hardwood floors, all interior doors, old windows from the garage, brick from the fireplace and foundation, many rafters and wood walls,” he said. “We were planning to use these items very visibly throughout the new home. We felt if we had to remove the history on the outside, then we wanted to incorporate all the history of the home on the inside. We even had the home designed to keep a huge oak tree in the backyard.”
However, after many residents in the neighborhood spoke at a recent city council meeting concerning the future demolition of any more Project homes, the Wideman’s have put the lot on the market and put their house plans on hold for now. “We are evaluating all options to determine what is best for our family going forward.”
Currently, the city council has placed a moratorium on all external demolition of any Cahaba Project home as a first step in preserving the historic neighborhood. The council hopes to come up with a plan to create ordinances that allow home renovations and additions, while maintaining the architectural integrity of the historic homes.
26 Comments
Joe Domnanovich
Trussville seems to have a problem with Private Property.
Jeff Hodgson
Interesting. Hope they continue with plans. Changing owners now could further dilute the continuity they are planning on.
Michelle Quick
Sounds like they had no choice. I’m sure a new home can be built with the old look and be a sage dwelling. It’s unreasonable to expect them to keep an unsafe structure.
Cindy Johns Robertson
I hope the owners will reconsider and go ahead with their plans! Don’t let people bully you!
Justin Williamson
Hey, fair enough
Kathy Sills
If you are from Trussville it would be very obvious about foundation problems…I really hate to see the project destroyed..if one knows where Louise Garrett lived, across the street from the old junior high, it’s not hard to figure out what a person can do with a project home without destroying it…this home has added lots of Sq feet but holding on to its original beauty
Bob Haynes
I’d be thinking if the family could not build their dream home I’ll go somewhere else and build. if they can get a reasonable price for the lot all the better. I would hope the next lot purchasers would build an exterior appearing as one of the larger Project homes approved by the City, like at the end of Meadow Lane./ the big white home on the corner.
Traci Roberts Henderson
Thinking it is too late for that.
Jennifer Chinnis Lawley
I’m sure the home they had planned would be beautiful and compliment the neighborhood nicely. I’m sure it would be much nicer than a lot of the project homes that are in dire need of repair and simple maintenance.
Massey Willingham
It was approved by the city and they reworked the plans so it would be similar to the houses on the Mall. They are moving on because of the cyber bullying and villainization by the people here on social media. The project area is missing out on a great neighbor and a rise in property values. It’s our loss.
Bob Haynes
That is too bad.
Cindy Johns Robertson
😞
Cicily Welch Mobley
It was generous of them to even explain themselves. They own the property and had their plans approved. End of story. Way to go Trussville cyber-bullies/council complainers. These are the kind of thoughtful neighbors you want.
Sydney Weldon Wilbanks
Whitney AndBeau Mosley
Anna Scharf Key
Exactly! And they invested who knows how much time, money and effort into these plans for their dream home. In a week everyone else will be worried about some other drama and maybe the property owners will change their minds and continue moving forward with what was already approved.
Tommy Dodson
Build your home …You are welcome here on Meadow Lane
Tommy Dodson
Some people need to mind their own bussiness..There aint no Welcome Wagon in this area for sure..
Tommy Dodson
$210,000 for the house and I would guess $ 25,000 to tear down and of course the architect isnt cheap.. Well done
Tommy Dodson
Would of liked to get the old doors out of it tho
Cicily Welch Mobley
From the article: “We kept most of the old hardwood floors, all interior doors, old windows from the garage, brick from the fireplace and foundation, many rafters and wood walls,” he said. “We were planning to use these items very visibly throughout the new home. We felt if we had to remove the history on the outside, then we wanted to incorporate all the history of the home on the inside. We even had the home designed to keep a huge oak tree in the backyard.”
Michelle Alfano
I agree with Tommy, we would love to have you on our street!
Matthew Belter
Ridiculous! There are apparently plenty of people out there with WAY too much time on their hands. If somebody is willing to spend the money to demolish and start over, they’re obviously going to build something bigger and better, thereby raising property values. Who are these people complaining? City approved it, these fools spent the money. End of story.
Carrie Anne Chapman Willingham
You know we (your potential next-door neighbors) welcome you with open arms!!!
Carrie Anne Chapman Willingham
These owners are honest, law & permit-abiding, well-intentioned people who were excited to make a major investment in rehabilitating this property. I hate how the pitchforks were raised on social media, often by those outside the neighborhood, & always without all the information. I would LOVE to have them as next door neighbors!
Katie Karhan Amberson
I hope they decide to stick it out and stay and build and make their home here!
Katie Karhan Amberson
i dont think it’s too late! they havent sold yet have they?