UPDATED City Residents: Randolph Street Barn Worth Saving

UPDATE: The following story was updated from a previous version to include more detail.

It's a stately old building on Randolph and West streets, and at first blush, it seems to have held up remarkably well.

But the barn and garage are the topic of an on-going debate. And it was discussed on Wednesday night in a packed council chamber full of concerned residents. They expressed to the Northville Historic District Commission a desire to save a barn and garage, located in the heart of the city's historical district, from potential demolition.

The owner, Mike Miller of Miller Building Co. in Plymouth, submitted an application for demolition to the 6-member commission because a structural integrity report indicated the building was not up to current codes.

"The structural integrity of the building was compromised because an addition was added," said Northville-based architect Walter Coponen, who contracted with Miller to identify solutions for the building.

However, commissioners and residents believe the building can – and should – be saved.

"We should do everything we can to make sure it's saved," said Keith Patterson, a Northville resident and a member of the city's historical society.

The structure – which has been amended from its original state – is likely about 70 years old, and depending on who you talk to, parts of the building could be at least 100 years old.

But one of those modifications that likely made life easier for its inhabitants is the culprit that eroded the structure's interior support over time, according to the report presented by Coponen. An addition to house was added, and in the process, key parts were cut away that supported the house, according to the report.

The report, based on the findings of the structural engineering firm Johnson Design, said that the "structural integrity of the original building was seriously compromised when the addition was constructed."

The building looks viable from the outside, but it's currently being held together by a system of steel cables.

Still, many would like to see the building saved.

"I think a barn is getting to be a rare thing in Northville," said Commissioner Leanie Bayly. "Before we make a decision on this, I would like to see us get more information."

In the end, the commission decided it would be best to get an opinion from either a city engineer, or someone who could assess the property on the city's behalf.

If that person concurs with the report supplied by Coponen, the commission can then better look at what alternatives lay ahead. In turn, Coponen agreed to pull his application until the commission has more information.

"I believe the city's inspector will come to the same conclusions about the structural integrity of the building," Coponen said.

Solutions come with complexities

Preserving the building also comes with some landmines – the first of which is that if it's agreed that the owner will reinforce or make any modifications, he will have to approach the Zoning Board of Appeals because the building exceeds current height requirements put into place by the city's ordinances.

"There's no guarantee that they would agree with us," said Mayor Christopher Johnson, who also serves as president of the Historic District Commission. "But I think with the backing of this board, there would be a very good chance that you could get the variance.

Keith Patterson, who has taken part in numerous rescue missions for historical structures in the city, said that possibility may not be a big obstacle.

"In my experience, the [zoning board] is very sympathetic when it comes to historic preservation," he said.

Rebuilding and moving using existing materials also is not feasible, said Coponen, but homeowners did not respond positively to moving the building anyway.

"We really don't want it moved," said resident Robyn Sabourin. "We want it to stay exactly where it is."

One thing everyone in the room agreed upon is the fact a carport, which was an addition, can be demolished because it's not historical. But only after the city takes a good look at the overall structure.

Also, any plan to reinforce the building would have to be favorable to Miller, the owner of the building. Miller did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

When asked what he'd like to see happen at the site, Mayor Johnson touched on the perils of modifying a historical structure.

"As a commissioner it's not my job to say what I'd like to see there," he said. "But I would like to go back to the 1960s and prevent that addition from being built."

The commission will likely address the Randolph Street structure when it reconvenes in January.