Member Event: Hewson House Open House, September 9th
Photo Credit: Kate Scott, Black Box Images
The Historic Hewson House at 2008 Pillsbury Ave. S., Minneapolis, a 2010 10 Most Endangered site, will be open to Preservation Alliance members for one day only on Thursday, September 9th. The event is sponsored by the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, Whittier Alliance, and Bell Mortgage. The open house will allow neighborhood residents and preservation supporters to see firsthand the pre-restoration condition of this historic house, built in 1905.
The Hewson House was built in 1905, designed by Minneapolis architects Kees and Colburn with interior design by John S. Bradstreet. During the summer of 2009, the house became the victim of foreclosure, and an attempt to remove decorative interior finishes and fixtures was thwarted only at the last minute, when the lender, TCF Bank, intervened. For much of the past year, the house has been vacant and listed for sale. In April, a tile mural valued at $150,000 was stolen from the property. Presently, the house is under interim design review protection while it is being considered for landmark designation by the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission.
The Hewson House requires significant repairs to the roof, mechanical system, plumbing, and exterior envelope. Preliminary estimates for the rehabilitation are in the range of $200,000-300,000, beyond what most homeowners can afford. In an effort to return the house to viability as a single-family residence, Bell Mortgage recently purchased the Hewson House from TCF. Bell will finance the necessary repairs and renovation before presenting the house for sale at cost. The Preservation Alliance and the Whittier Alliance will assist in the effort by advising on preservation priorities, developing a plan of action, and facilitating the renovation work. Rehabilitation is expected to be completed by late spring, 2011.
The Hewson House will be open for self-guided tours from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 9, 2010. Attendance is limited to Whittier residents, businesses, and property owners, and members of the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota. PAM memberships begin at $40 and may be purchased at the door, or in advance at www.mnpreservation.org/get-involved/join/
About Bell Mortgage
Bell Mortgage, the oldest and largest independent mortgage banking company in Minnesota and one of the largest in the nation, has a long history of intervening on behalf of significant historic properties. Through the efforts of CEO Gary Kirt, Bell Mortgage has supported the Twin Cities Boys and Girls Clubs and Simpson Housing Services. The Bell House, a historic mansion at 2100 Pillsbury Ave. S. on the same block as the Hewson House, was donated to Simpson Housing Services by Gary Kirt and Bell Mortgage for use as the non-profit’s administrative headquarters. Most recently, Bell financed the restoration of the Big Fish, a roadside landmark in Bena, MN that was listed on PAM’s 10 Most Endangered list in 2009.
About the Whittier Alliance
The Whittier Alliance is the officially recognized citizen-participation organization for Minneapolis’s Whittier neighborhood, which is bounded by Franklin Avenue to the north, Interstate 35W to the east, Lyndale Avenue South to the west, and Lake Street to the south. Anchored on one side by the Washburn-Fair Oaks Historic District and on the other by Eat Street, the neighborhood contains a diverse collection of buildings and businesses that create a rich, urban environment only one mile south of downtown. The Whittier Alliance is nearing completion on a historic preservation action plan that includes an updated historic context study and historic preservation design guidelines.
The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota has participated in a voluntary review by the Charities Review Council. To read our charity review report, visit the Charities Review Council at 