Turnahalle building repairs may force Free State Glass out of business

LAWRENCE — Problems fixing a leaking roof on a historic Lawrence building might force a glass studio with a national reputation out of business, the co-owner of the business said.

The city has declared part of the 1869 Turnhalle building that houses Free State Glass as unfit for habitation because the roof damage caused a serious mold problem, the Lawrence Journal-World reported (http://bit.ly/19mgiXl ).

Free State Glass co-owner Dick Rector claims the Lawrence Preservation Alliance, which bought the building last fall, failed at fixing the roof, putting the future of his company in doubt.

“I know they are all good people, but right now it seems like a willful disregard for our business, our people, our health and our rights as tenants by the officials of LPA,” Rector said.

Dennis Brown, president of the Lawrence Preservation Alliance, responded that the nonprofit organization had acted responsibly but the building’s deterioration made timely repairs impossible.

“It is unfortunate that this has happened at this particular time,” Brown said. “I sure wish the building could have hung in there a little longer. I feel for them in that sense. But it is not due to any negligence on LPA’s part.”

Roofing specialists determined earlier this year that no feasible short-term fix for the roof could be done because the building needed significant structural repairs, Brown said. LPA will use a $125,000 grant from Douglas County to repair the roof, but Brown said the earliest that work could be started is in November.

“If we had put a roof on right away, we would have been tearing it off right now and doing it right,” Brown said.

Rector said the city’s order makes it difficult for the company to even get its equipment out of the building and Free State Glass doesn’t have a new space lined up, at a time when it usually is busy with holiday orders.

“I have clients who are expecting glass, and they aren’t going to get any this year,” Rector said. “I’m depressed about it and pretty worried. I don’t see how to come out of this without starting over, and I don’t know if I have that in me,” said Rector, 54.

A city official said inspectors had no choice but to declare the basement of the structure unfit for habitation because of the large amounts of mold.

“It is a damp, wet space that is really good for mold growth,” said Brian Jimenez, the city’s codes enforcement manager. “I know the tenants would like to stay. I know the owners would like to do repairs, but their start date isn’t until this fall. But today, it is just not a sanitary condition.”

Brown said the roof project, which will include other improvements to make the building watertight, could be done by March. After that, the LPA will aggressively try to find a buyer willing to completely restore the building and return it to use.