Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012

New option emerges for Mordecai park center

An adjacent house could accommodate the long-planned visitors center

The city may have found a solution to a long-simmering dilemma over plans for an interpretive center at Mordecai Historic Park.

When Arthur Danielson died last April at 81, the longtime Raleigh bachelor left behind a large two-story house distinctive for its white columns, high ceilings and grand foyer.

But perhaps the most important feature is this: The home sits on Wake Forest Road next to the Mordecai grounds, just steps from the chapel used for weddings at the park.

Now, Raleigh officials are in talks to buy the property and convert it into an interpretive center, which would include meeting space for visitors, display areas for artifacts, a gift shop and catering area. The purchase could end years of wrangling pitting the city against neighbors and some historic preservation advocates.

An earlier proposal involved using part of the park’s main lawn for a contemporary, window-lined building to house the center. Opponents banded together to fight the proposal, saying the building would clash with the historic charm of the park, home to Raleigh’s most significant antebellum plantation.

“We heard it loud and clear: Nobody wanted to put more buildings on the property,” said Mark Turner, chairman of the city parks board. “This solves that problem.”

In 2007, Raleigh voters approved $1.56 million as part of a parks and recreation bond to build amenities long needed to serve Mordecai visitors, site managers say. Nearly 10,000 children visit the park each school year.

Under a tentative agreement, Raleigh would pay $600,000 to purchase the house from Danielson’s estate, about $30,000 less than its appraised value, Turner said.

“There will be some renovations, but it will be minimal compared to building a new center,” said City Councilman Thomas Crowder.

Councilman John Odom opposed putting public money toward the Danielson house.

“A half-acre of land for half-a-million dollars,” Odom said. “That’s unbelievable. It’s just a lot of money to spend on one thing.”

Park planners looked at seven locations around the Mordecai property and approached several neighbors about selling. They even talked to a funeral home next door, but the owner wasn’t interested.

Now, the focus has moved to the Danielson property. At 5,000 square feet, it would be nearly twice the size of the facility proposed on the lawn.

For many years, Danielson ran an antiques business on the ground floor and accumulated a vast inventory of furniture and accessories.

He also worked at the state Department of Health and Human Services.

Danielson was a supporter of the park, said Thom Swindell, the executor of the estate. Swindell was at the mostly empty house on Friday, sorting through the long process of moving out Danielson’s various antique items.

“He would’ve been happy with it being used by Mordecai,” Swindell said. “It’s going to be maintained. It’s going to be well taken care of. And preserved.”