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Historic Masonic Temple building remains open during restoration project

By Howard B. Owens

Don't let the scaffolding around the historic Masonic Temple building at Main and Center streets fool you -- the shops and offices inside the structure remain open for business.

Owner Dave Howe has hired Catenary Construction out of Rochester to give the brick and mortar structure a $150,000 facelift. The masonry is being repointed and restored.

"I could have done some temporary fixes along the way, and could be doing that forever, but the right thing to do to save the building is restore the whole building," Howe said.

Catenary's most recent Batavia projects were the restoration of the St. James Episcopal Church tower and the restoration of the First Baptist Church.

Construction of the Masonic Temple Building was probably completed in 1909. Howe said he has tattered blueprints that are dated 1908.

While Howe is shouldering the majority of the expense, he has conditional approval on a state Main Street Grant for $35,000 and the Business Improvement District is providing a $7,000 facade-improvement grant.

"I couldn't have done it without the help of Don Burkel at the BID and Julie Pacatte at the BDC," Howe said.

Howe recently won a Landmark Society Award for the restoration work on his house in Alexander and the long-time business owner has nursed along the aging Masonic Temple building for a couple of decades, making various repairs and upgrades to keep the building suitable for his business, Charles Men's Shop, and his tenants.

"Besides the fact that I love older buildings and the history of older buildings, also my business is here and it's important to keep up the appearnace of the building for my business and my tenants," Howe said.

Tenants include Enchanted Florist, Travelore, The Batavian, Blue Pearl Yoga, attorney Tom Burns, A Place for Change and the BID.

All businesses and offices remain open during the project, which will take a couple of months, and pedestrian access to East Main Street remains open under the scaffolding.

Mark Potwora

What a great way to spend tax payer money...If a property owners building is in disrepair why is it that other taxpayers have to pay to help him fix it.....

"Besides the fact that I love older buildings and the history of older buildings, also my business is here and it's important to keep up the appearnace of the building for my business and my tenants," Howe said...

Then Mr.Howe why do you need money from the government to do it...

Aug 10, 2012, 1:14pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

The building is a historical structure and the community has a vital interest in seeing it preserved and maintained. We all benefit. We're fortunate that Dave is willing to put so much of his own money into the structure.

As we've seen in the history of Batavia and commenters who have defended the destruction of desirable old buildings, Dave is a unique local citizen in that he's willing to do this. He should be applauded not derided.

In an ideal world, no taxpayer financing would be necessary, but in such a world, places like Walmart wouldn't get taxpayer subsidies so they can destroy communities.

This is the world we live in. Get used to it, or elect different leaders who will totally change the way things are done.

Aug 10, 2012, 2:12pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

If a homeowner doesn't maintain their property should the government come in and help pay for repairs...I say no..You rent from Dave so im sure you agree with him using taxpayers dollars to fix his building .....Howard you claim to be a Libertarian which usually means less government.....If he the owner can't afford the up keep on his building then he should sell it to someone who can....Why should one group of tax payers have to subsidize another group of taxpayers...Doesn't seem very libertarian to me.. ...

Aug 10, 2012, 3:55pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Mark, first and foremost, I'm a localist. I favor ANYTHING that makes Batavia a better place to live and work, from PILOTS for Pepsi to grants to help preserve the Masonic Building.

In the current system, the money is going to get spent somehow somewhere and rather than beat my chest as a purist libertarian, I'll take it in Batavia before somewhere else.

You and I had a similar argument over Masse Place and I took the same position even though Tom Mancuso isn't my landlord.

Somebody owned the building before Dave Howe, and somebody else will own it someday when he doesn't. It's important to the community that the building be preserved. Dave is just the present caretaker (his word is "steward").

I've not talked specifically with Bill Farmer about this building, but when I spoke with him about masonry restoration at St. James, he said with modern technology, this sort of work should last 200 years if not centuries longer.

If this work helps the building stand another 200 years, a $35K grant from the state is a small price to pay for the sake of the community.

Aug 10, 2012, 7:04pm Permalink

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