Green Gables group wants 8,000 people to give $100

MELBOURNE — Facing a formidable fiscal deadline, Green Gables preservationists have only 149 days to fund-raise enough cash to buy the historic house — and they hope 8,000 people will step forward and donate $100 each.

"We are coming down to the wire. The owners have given us until the end of this year, 2017, to raise the $800,000 that we need to purchase the property and save it as a part of Melbourne's heritage," said John Daly, president of Green Gables at Historic Riverview Village, Inc.

"We have less than five months. Yes, there are grants we can qualify for later down the road, but for right now we need the money to acquire the property," Daly said Friday, leaning on the fireplace mantel in the sitting room.

Last week, the nonprofit launched an "8K Club" campaign to try to generate 8,000 donors. For comparison's sake, the population of Indian Harbour Beach is 8,586 residents.

The group hopes to buy the 1.15-acre riverfront property at the corner of U.S. 1 and Riverside Drive, prevent further structural deterioration, and eventually renovate the house. Purchase price is $750,000, plus roughly $50,000 in closing costs.

However, though Green Gables has generated news headlines the past three years, Daly said an audit of his organization's books revealed that the group has only generated $32,000 to buy the house — or 4 percent of the required sum.

If the Dec. 31 deadline passes, the owners could demolish the home or sell the land to a developer.

Green Gables preservationists in race to raise $800,000

Green Gables added to National Register of Historic Places

Green Gables was constructed in 1896 by metallurgical engineer William T. Wells as a home for his wife, Nora, and their three children. The family added an octagonal porch and tower a few years later on the southeast corner. The house's moniker originates from the green shingle siding in the gables.  

Today, three of Wells' descendants own the six-bedroom, two-bath Queen Anne house, which has sat vacant since Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne struck in 2004. The two-story estate is among fewer than 25 structures built before 1900 that remain standing in Melbourne, and Daly said most of those have been modified "beyond the point of recognition."

Key events in the Green Gables saga:

June 2014: Melbourne officials issued the owners a demolition permit to knock down the house at 1501 S. Harbor City Blvd.

April 2015: Nonprofit officials struck a deal to buy the home if they could generate the cash by Dec. 31, 2017.

May 2016: Green Gables was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Green Gables was built facing the Indian River, back during the era when boats were a primary mode of transportation. Friday, though the afternoon temperature approached 90, a breeze blew from the water across the octagonal porch, rustling green foliage in the backyard. A large dragonfly lazily buzzed past the clapboard siding.

"If this isn't saved, and we don't kind of codify an appreciation for historic preservation now, it is not going to happen. And Melbourne and south Brevard will kind of forfeit their ability to do anything like this again," said Tony Colomberti, board member.

Daly said the homeowners remain "uncommitted" about the home's fate if the nonprofit fails to raise $800,000 by Dec. 31. He said an undisclosed donor may offer a bridge loan, but nothing has been finalized.

Contact Neale at 321-242-3638

or rneale@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @RickNeale1

How to donate

To give to Green Gables at Historic Riverview Village, Inc., visit savegreengables.org. The organization's mailing address is P.O. Box 1086, Melbourne, FL 32902.