Renovating Your Home (While Keeping Its Charm)
Judging by the popularity of HGTV and the abundance of house magazines, home redesigns are quite a trend right now. But many central Illinois homeowners—who just happen to love older, historic homes—jumped on the renovation bandwagon long before it became trendy.
Charles Bobbitt, a retired SealTest Ice Cream employee, and his wife, La Donna, controller at Bard Optical, live in a renovated historic home in Peoria and own other restored rental properties around town. When a job promotion brought the couple to Peoria from Memphis, Tenn., the Bobbitts discovered Peoria offered a rare opportunity to indulge their interest in restoration. “Many cities have far too many drawbacks that prohibit restoration on a grand scale,” La Donna explained.
No such problem here. In fact, the Bobbitts have had immense success in their endeavors, purchasing and restoring five homes and six apartment buildings to date. One of their apartment buildings, located at 802 North Sheridan, has quite a history. “It was a former whiskey distiller’s home,” Charles said. “It was built in 1884 by J.B. Greenhut as his private residence. At the time of construction, the address was on High Street. The front of this building was changed to the former side facing Sheridan, and the front door became the entrance at the lower level. This change occurred between 1916-1917 by William Wolfner, the brother-in-law of J.B. Greenhut. In 1912, he sold this residence to William Wolfner, and the residence became known as the Wolfner family apartments. The building became three flats, including servant quarters for each floor and a residential elevator. In the 1930s, the three apartments were converted to 10, including a ballroom that was a carryover from the Greenhut days and the center of a reception for President William McKinley in 1899.”
He said the building, which the Bobbitts acquired in 1993 and completed a major renovation of in 2004 and 2005, has some of the best views of downtown Peoria outside of the Twin Towers—in addition to other impressive characteristics. “These are large rooms. Additionally, some have 90-year-old hardwood flooring, plus some newly installed oak hardwood flooring.”
The building fits in with the couple’s rental property philosophy, which La Donna said revolves around courting specialized tenants who appreciate the historic value of the dwelling. “Our rental properties are upscale apartments in and around the Historic District. We like to refer to it as a ‘niche’ business: close to downtown, the hospitals, and Bradley University.”
The Bobbitts’ current home, known as the Lovelace Home, is at 1605 West Moss. “Thomas and Gladys Lovelace commissioned the Peoria firm of Reeves and Ballie to construct the Cape Cod-inspired home in 1911,” La Donna said. “Mr. Lovelace was on the Bradley University board. Because of this association, a Bradley University dormitory was named in his honor, and it’s still known today as Lovelace Hall.”
The couple was drawn to the property partly because of its unique traits. “The house has an open stairway crowned at the top by a stained glass window highlighting the letter ‘L,’ for Lovelace,” he said. “Also unique are the birch floors used throughout the home, instead of the traditional oak. Only the former servant quarters has an oak floor.”
The Bobbitts began restoration on all levels of the home in March 2003, keeping the historic details while also modernizing for convenience. “The interior and exterior colors incorporate both a period and modern look. New ceramic floors have been installed on the lower level, the kitchen, and laundry room. The wine cellar on the lower level also has been remodeled to accommodate modern usage,” Charles said.
Though new construction is rampant these days, La Donna said there’s nothing like an original. “As we say in the West Bluff, if you want beige carpet, soft-core doors, and eight-foot ceilings, don’t come here. There’s great charm in houses with character and history. In new construction, you find fake Victorian, English Tutor, and early American. Only modern is a truly new construction architectural design.”
There can be drawbacks to renovating historic homes—such as relying on others to approve changes to your own house. “The real challenge in historic homes is not to lose their details. The City of Peoria established the Historic Preservation Board in the late 1970s through the urging of its concerned citizens. This board issues a ‘Certificate of Appropriateness’ to approve changes in the historic districts. Changes include colors and significant landscaping. This board reviews applications and determines if they’re appropriate for the structure,” he said.
While the Bobbitts no longer do as much of the work on their properties as they once did, they offered advice for couples who choose to undertake their own renovations. “If both parties would enjoy the project, select a smaller home to begin,” Charles advised. “Each should determine their own strengths and weakness, and each should do what he or she is best suited for. However, it’s code in Peoria to secure permits and inspections for electrical additions and changes, and a licensed plumber is a must. It’s surprising how many good contractor names can be secured from your hardware store.”
He said after surviving renovations to the first home, you may be ready to move on to a larger home or a commercial building—though he doesn’t foresee himself and his wife jumping into another historic renovation anytime soon.
If renovations are on your agenda and you’d like the help of a professional contractor, here are some tips from home improvement author George Stevens on choosing the best contractor for your project.
• Determine exactly what you want done, and write it down. This may sound a little basic, but it’s very important. What isn’t well defined is easily manipulated. If it isn’t in writing, it can be disputed. You do two things when you define your project in detail and in writing: you find any missing aspects you may have overlooked, and you have good definition and expectations for your contractor.
• Get three bids for each trade you hire. Never rely on one bid, and always meet the contractor face to face at the site where the work is to be done. If you’re uncomfortable with the contractor when he’s bidding the job, how is it going to be when the two of you have to work out the details of your project?
• Ask each contractor for references, and make sure they’re bonded and insured. Check their references, and call the Better Business Bureau to see if they have any outstanding complaints.
• Make sure he doesn’t sub-contract the work out to a contractor who isn’t insured or bonded. It’s a very common occurrence. Another danger of the contractor subbing work out is if he doesn’t pay his sub, the sub can put a mechanics lien on your house, and you’ll have to pay—even if you’ve already paid the contractor.
• Set a definite timeframe for the work to begin and for completion, and get it in writing. Nothing is worse than having a project drag on, not knowing when it’s going to be finished.
• Never pay for the entire project in advance. If you do, the contractor has no incentive to finish or even start. When you no longer have the money, you’re no longer in control. It’s customary with most contractors that you pay a portion up front. On a large project, hold back as much money as you can until the end. The incentive to finish must be motivated by the cash at the end of the project. tpw
Charles Bobbitt, a retired SealTest Ice Cream employee, and his wife, La Donna, controller at Bard Optical, live in a renovated historic home in Peoria and own other restored rental properties around town. When a job promotion brought the couple to Peoria from Memphis, Tenn., the Bobbitts discovered Peoria offered a rare opportunity to indulge their interest in restoration. “Many cities have far too many drawbacks that prohibit restoration on a grand scale,” La Donna explained.
No such problem here. In fact, the Bobbitts have had immense success in their endeavors, purchasing and restoring five homes and six apartment buildings to date. One of their apartment buildings, located at 802 North Sheridan, has quite a history. “It was a former whiskey distiller’s home,” Charles said. “It was built in 1884 by J.B. Greenhut as his private residence. At the time of construction, the address was on High Street. The front of this building was changed to the former side facing Sheridan, and the front door became the entrance at the lower level. This change occurred between 1916-1917 by William Wolfner, the brother-in-law of J.B. Greenhut. In 1912, he sold this residence to William Wolfner, and the residence became known as the Wolfner family apartments. The building became three flats, including servant quarters for each floor and a residential elevator. In the 1930s, the three apartments were converted to 10, including a ballroom that was a carryover from the Greenhut days and the center of a reception for President William McKinley in 1899.”
He said the building, which the Bobbitts acquired in 1993 and completed a major renovation of in 2004 and 2005, has some of the best views of downtown Peoria outside of the Twin Towers—in addition to other impressive characteristics. “These are large rooms. Additionally, some have 90-year-old hardwood flooring, plus some newly installed oak hardwood flooring.”
The building fits in with the couple’s rental property philosophy, which La Donna said revolves around courting specialized tenants who appreciate the historic value of the dwelling. “Our rental properties are upscale apartments in and around the Historic District. We like to refer to it as a ‘niche’ business: close to downtown, the hospitals, and Bradley University.”
The Bobbitts’ current home, known as the Lovelace Home, is at 1605 West Moss. “Thomas and Gladys Lovelace commissioned the Peoria firm of Reeves and Ballie to construct the Cape Cod-inspired home in 1911,” La Donna said. “Mr. Lovelace was on the Bradley University board. Because of this association, a Bradley University dormitory was named in his honor, and it’s still known today as Lovelace Hall.”
The couple was drawn to the property partly because of its unique traits. “The house has an open stairway crowned at the top by a stained glass window highlighting the letter ‘L,’ for Lovelace,” he said. “Also unique are the birch floors used throughout the home, instead of the traditional oak. Only the former servant quarters has an oak floor.”
The Bobbitts began restoration on all levels of the home in March 2003, keeping the historic details while also modernizing for convenience. “The interior and exterior colors incorporate both a period and modern look. New ceramic floors have been installed on the lower level, the kitchen, and laundry room. The wine cellar on the lower level also has been remodeled to accommodate modern usage,” Charles said.
Though new construction is rampant these days, La Donna said there’s nothing like an original. “As we say in the West Bluff, if you want beige carpet, soft-core doors, and eight-foot ceilings, don’t come here. There’s great charm in houses with character and history. In new construction, you find fake Victorian, English Tutor, and early American. Only modern is a truly new construction architectural design.”
There can be drawbacks to renovating historic homes—such as relying on others to approve changes to your own house. “The real challenge in historic homes is not to lose their details. The City of Peoria established the Historic Preservation Board in the late 1970s through the urging of its concerned citizens. This board issues a ‘Certificate of Appropriateness’ to approve changes in the historic districts. Changes include colors and significant landscaping. This board reviews applications and determines if they’re appropriate for the structure,” he said.
While the Bobbitts no longer do as much of the work on their properties as they once did, they offered advice for couples who choose to undertake their own renovations. “If both parties would enjoy the project, select a smaller home to begin,” Charles advised. “Each should determine their own strengths and weakness, and each should do what he or she is best suited for. However, it’s code in Peoria to secure permits and inspections for electrical additions and changes, and a licensed plumber is a must. It’s surprising how many good contractor names can be secured from your hardware store.”
He said after surviving renovations to the first home, you may be ready to move on to a larger home or a commercial building—though he doesn’t foresee himself and his wife jumping into another historic renovation anytime soon.
If renovations are on your agenda and you’d like the help of a professional contractor, here are some tips from home improvement author George Stevens on choosing the best contractor for your project.
• Determine exactly what you want done, and write it down. This may sound a little basic, but it’s very important. What isn’t well defined is easily manipulated. If it isn’t in writing, it can be disputed. You do two things when you define your project in detail and in writing: you find any missing aspects you may have overlooked, and you have good definition and expectations for your contractor.
• Get three bids for each trade you hire. Never rely on one bid, and always meet the contractor face to face at the site where the work is to be done. If you’re uncomfortable with the contractor when he’s bidding the job, how is it going to be when the two of you have to work out the details of your project?
• Ask each contractor for references, and make sure they’re bonded and insured. Check their references, and call the Better Business Bureau to see if they have any outstanding complaints.
• Make sure he doesn’t sub-contract the work out to a contractor who isn’t insured or bonded. It’s a very common occurrence. Another danger of the contractor subbing work out is if he doesn’t pay his sub, the sub can put a mechanics lien on your house, and you’ll have to pay—even if you’ve already paid the contractor.
• Set a definite timeframe for the work to begin and for completion, and get it in writing. Nothing is worse than having a project drag on, not knowing when it’s going to be finished.
• Never pay for the entire project in advance. If you do, the contractor has no incentive to finish or even start. When you no longer have the money, you’re no longer in control. It’s customary with most contractors that you pay a portion up front. On a large project, hold back as much money as you can until the end. The incentive to finish must be motivated by the cash at the end of the project. tpw