Owner Of Price Bros. Building Still Hopes It Can Be Saved

By Gordon HopkinsThe owner of one of Fairbury’s oldest landmarks, the Price Brother Hardware building at 325 D Street, still hopes the building can be saved, despite having been condemned back in 2021.A meeting of the Fairbury Historical Preservation Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, January 17, to discuss demolishing the building. The reason cited for the proposed demolition is “hazardous conditions.” The building has been vacant since 1997. Sometime after it’s construction, it was altered with asbestos siding, according to the National Register of Historic Places. The possibility of losing the second oldest building in Jefferson County, built in 1874, has resulted in considerable, and sometimes emotional, comment on social media. David Lange, the buildings owner, responded on Facebook, “The building had significant issues when I bought it, which I was aware of, and bought it for the historic value/significance. Within the past few years, I’ve spent several thousands on foundation, roofing, and guttering, with the intent of abatement. I was not aware of the meeting with historic preservation for a demolition permit by the city until the article (in The Fairbury Journal-News, January 3, 2024) came out. I met with city code enforcement yesterday regarding the building, and for clarification on work/concerns. I have had one party interested in the building, but it would have been for demolition. I’ve considered donating it to the city museum, but understand their funding is limited. I am open to offers/ideas. I did not purchase the building for any reason other than to see it saved. I removed the asbestos siding from the front, and after discovering the original penciling for the signage, repainted the original signage.” FJN reached out to Fairbury Mayor Spencer Brown via email, who responded, “(T)he Price Bros. building has been condemned since May of 2021. Which David was notified of. Code enforcement turned in the application for demolition to the Historical Preservation Society. David will be (or is in process) notified of the hearing in writing now that there is a hearing set. It is a shame that the building has been let go. As a side note David owns other buildings downtown which I would like to see put into productive use.”Lange told FJN, “I am working directly with the city code enforcement to resolve the issue. I will be asking for a 90 day continuance, within which any remaining items may be corrected.”

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