Historic Woodside Slated for Demolition

The Maplewood city council authorized the city manager to demolition 2200 Bredell Avenue, known as Woodside, at a July 30, 2013 council work session. The minutes of the work session were approved at the August 13 city council meeting, according to City Manager Marty Corcoran.

There will not be another vote on authorizing the demolition.  All Maplewood councilmen were in attendance at the meeting except Ward 2 Councilman Tim Dunn who was away on business.

(Correction: This article previously stated that another vote is needed, also that the minutes of the meeting are not posted.)

Woodside is Maplewood’s oldest standing residence, built by Charles and Mary Rannells between 1848 and 1850, according to Maplewood resident and historian Doug Houser. It stands at the southeast corner of Folk and Bredell avenues.

Houser said the city of Maplewood is ready to negotiate very favorable terms with anyone who has a plan and the money to save Woodside.

Ward 3 Councilman Shawn Faulkingham said he voted to have Woodside removed because it’s “dangerous and an eyesore for the neighborhood,” and not in shape to be rehabbed.

Houser said in a blog on Patch that “the argument that Woodside is collapsing and unsound is not true.”

He said Dunn and others have recently toured the interior and report that it is dry and sound.

“Plaster has fallen and surfaces have deteriorated which is true of any building that has not been used for awhile,” Houser said. “Many people have a hard time seeing past the cosmetic deterioration. The structural repairs needed are not overwhelming.”