Wondering why the friends of the house chose this location over the other dozen sites considered.

Of all the places, why there? Who needs another (another!!) vacant lead laden old house taking up more precious green space in Kent? I can see wanting to save the house for it's history, but not at the expense of such a gem in Kent. Between the lush green space with it's mini gardens and Edwin George's soul inspiring mural, there is NO room for this house. Setting the house back 10 ft is supposed to be enough? Edwin's mural does not deserve to peek out from behind an old dilapidated house. The house may have history, but so do most things in Kent. Maybe there was no need to save this house since there is no where to put it. Then again, judging from what Burbick is doing, Kent isn't big on green spaces anymore, so maybe this is just what Kent ordered. Acorn alley is a sterile, treeless pit in our little "Tree City".

It would be great if some of the property owners spruced up but unlikely. Standing Rock Cultural Arts leases its location as do some of the other business owners and have little say about restoration of the buildings, much like the land. The mill owns several properties along North Water.

I viewed the photo but still enjoy the green space versus a house up against the other buildings. The photo does not compare the differences in sizes of the properties of the past and of the proposed. There was a time in history that all our trees and rivers made way for industry and employee housing at a cost that we continue to pay today. I just continue to have a hard time seeing this as the best available location or cost-effective alternative. Maybe it plans to pay for itself with rental fees for those partnerships that were mentioned.

sounds like you're scrambling for a location. this is not the location you are looking for. it's an old house, no real historical value, sounds like sentiment to me. next.

I'm enjoying the lively discussion and debate on this topic. I think we can all appreciate Sally's pleas for a bit of understanding. The group, your fellow neighbors really, has been crunched for time and has done a whole lot of leg work in short order. That said, to some extent the opinions expressed here either for or against the location are moot, as the Kent Planning Commission and Kent Board of Zoning Appeals have the ultimate say in whether this house can in fact be allowed to be moved to this site.
Lisa, you are right to ask for transparency, as the Friends of the Kent Wells-Sherman House will likely be asking Kent City Council tonight for public money to help with the effort.
But for now, I would encourage everyone to wait and see what the zoning and planning boards have to say. Thanks for reading!

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In agreement with Lisa and others, I would like to add:
Sally's argument seems to be that because they worked very hard and long on this project, the elimination of the green space is justified because there is no alternative. Maybe it's just me, but that is a leap of logic I just can't take. Just because you want something badly and just because you work very hard to get it, doesn't mean it is a good idea.

Kent City Council voted tonight (June 6 2012) to give $15,000 of city money towards the effort. Look for the full story Thursday on Kent Patch.

Thanks for sharing the photos Sally.

"We regret the ill feelings generated by some people about this"

I hope that Ms. Burnell has no hard feelings about dissent in opinion. As the Friends have moved toward preserving something that they believe in passionately, I hope that there is understanding of my desire to do the same by speaking of my thoughts in this matter. I apologize if my particular communications here on the Patch was seen as generating ill feelings. I initially expressed my support for the preservation of the home even while dissenting about location in my initial post. I am just disappointed that it involves the destruction of green space and a community gathering place and felt the need and right to speak out equally about the matter until a decision was finalized. I sincerely wish the best for restoration of this home to its initial grandeur even if I am opposed to its location in the planned site.

were seen*

@Tina, I think everyone has had a fair and civil discussion about it, and what's great is each side of the location issue has made similar statements, including thoughts that there can be a partnership moving forward. I hope everyone can continue to be so neighborly! Great stuff Kent.

Gracious. Reading this you'd think this lot is the last oasis of greenery in the entire city of Kent. Never mind the Hometown Plaza downtown, the empty lot at the corner of College and Franklin, or the entirety of Riveredge Park lining the western edge of downtown. Oh, and let's not forget the more than 20 parks and preserves in Kent (which doesn't count DePeyster Field), the wide open spaces of campus, and the many many wooded yards and tree lawns in town. There is no shortage of green space in Kent by any means.

If Standing Rock and those around it wish to keep the green space, then by all means do what is necessary to acquire the land. If not, you will always be at the mercy of others. Just because some kids have enjoyed playing there or people like how it looks doesn't mean it's the best use or that it is always going to or should be like that. Downtowns, by their very nature, are densly populated with minimal green space. And frankly, a lot of the "green space" I see on North Water consists of overgrown weeds, unmowed grass, and trees that are far too close to the buildings (meaning they are likely causing structural damage).

I have been on the periphery of the discussions regarding the site for the house and have offered comments here and there as it has progressed. I have not attended the meetings due to a variety of reasons. Despite that, I can say that various sites were not only discussed in great depth but investigated by several members (as judged by the large volume of email I have received the past few months from all this!). This was by no means a quick or light decision.

I don't think Sally is implying that we should do this just because "we've worked so hard"; it's because, based on months of research and weighing options, this is the best option available based on resources available. Nowhere has anyone stated this is the *perfect* option or that it is the best for everyone.

But seriously, if people really feel strongly about this little green space, get together like the Friends of the Wells-Sherman House did and acquire it. Then you'll never have to worry about it again. Personally, though, I'd like to see downtown actually look like a city again with the holes filled in, North Water especially. The 1970s absolutely decimated North Water street in terms of lost businesses and demolition.

looks like you looked at a bunch of impractical places to start with. great work!

i'd say at least 7 of those spots are not "vacant land" but i digress...

I see two really bad things in the list of possible sites. First, our public servants, the administrators at KSU, our taxpayer-supported university, wants that historic house gone. Those same public servants said they don't want the house included in the project . Now the last time I checked, university administrators are on our payroll working for us at our directive. So this is what the Mayor does: calls whatever administrator it is at KSU, and tells him this house will not be torn down. It must be relocated. Simple as that.
The idea that we need to organize into little private organizations to save historic structures from the unstoppable bulldozers of our government is ridiculous. The name of the place is Kent, Ohio, not Pyongyang, North Korea.
The mayor does what we want him to. The KSU administrators do what we want them to. Otherwise, they are in trouble, not us. They serve us. OK? So change the mindset here.
Now, the second bad thing I saw on the list of possible sites was the statement "John Brown Tannery Park: disinterest by Kent Parks and Recreation". Please reference my above factual observation that this is not North Korea, and take a guess where I think the administrators of the Kent Parks and Recreation can stick their disinterest. We are calling the Mayor again.
Further, deadlines don't scare me. Bulldozers must stay idle until the house is relocated where everyone likes it, and if our public servants don't like it, they can quit.