Politics & Government

West Wayne Building Demo To Be Heard Wednesday

The developer had previously said he would renovate it.

A builder will seek the nod to demolish a 19th Century downtown Wayne house only a few months after seeking to restore it.

Builder Matt Paolino is scheduled to go in front of the Historic and Architectural Review Board on Wednesday.

The building is 200 West Wayne Avenue, originally owned by Dr. Henry Pleasants, who was a well-known local historian, according to Greg Prichard of the Radnor Historical Society. Prichard said Pleasants likely rented out the house, as his own residence was further west on West Wayne Avenue.

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It had five rental untis, according to property information.

According to Delaware County public records, 200 West Wayne LLC purchased the three-story, four-car garage building in March of 2010 for $500,000.

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The address for 200 West Wayne LLC is the same as that for Boca Properties of Pa., builder Matt Paolino's company.

According to the Radnor Historical Society, Paolino went in front of the HARB in June, 2011 seeking to renovate the building.

The historical society reports from that meeting:

The building has been neglected over the years, its windows replaced indiscriminately. “The building needs everything,” said builder Matt Paolino in response to HARB member Andrea Pilling’s question regarding a previous proposal to demolish the building and construct a similar one in its place. “At the end of the day, I just didn’t think there would be the appetite in the community to lose the building.” Restoring the structure was the developer’s first plan of action, and they have returned to that plan despite the additional work.

Paolino had an indirect hand in creating the HARB, which is an advisory board for buildings within Radnor's three historic districts. Owners who want to make certain changes seek a Certificate of Approval from the HARB and ultimately, the Board of Commissioners.

In 2002, Paolino tore down a Victorian building at 201 Poplar Avenue to build two new homes. That sparked the creation of the HARB and the North Wayne Historic District.


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