Orlando’s Lubbe House, a nearly 100-year-old Mediterranean-style home perched on the southwest corner of Lake Eola, just lost its bid for local-landmark status. In a 6-1 vote yesterday, city commissioners rejected the designation, stripping away what preservationists saw as the home’s clearest legal shield, even as city leaders insist the bulldozers are not lining up tomorrow.
Council vote bucks preservation board
The City Commission turned down the landmark application on a 6-1 vote, with Commissioner Patty Sheehan casting the only vote in favor, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The decision ran counter to the city’s Historic Preservation Board, which earlier this month had recommended landmark status for the property, as reported by ClickOrlando.
Mayor: No rush to demolish, but wary of the price tag
Mayor Buddy Dyer told commissioners he does not plan to tear the house down, but he opposed the landmark label, arguing it could drive up restoration costs. Fox35 recorded the mayor saying he did not support the designation for that reason. Other commissioners pointed to the broader Lake Eola Gateway planning effort and said the city needs flexibility as it decides how this high-profile corner fits into long-term park improvements.
Preservationists say funding follows landmark status
Local advocates, including the Orange Preservation Trust, pressed hard for landmark status, arguing it is the only real barrier to demolition and a key that could unlock preservation dollars. Supporters said the designation would allow the city to seek grants to help pay for rehabilitation, a point highlighted by the Orlando Sentinel, which cited preservationists pointing to sizable grants used on other historic community buildings.
Built in 1927, the Lubbe House is roughly 3,500 square feet and still features its original porches and a balcony. Backers describe it as a rare surviving lakeside home and say its architecture and location make it too important to lose.
City owns the house, but its future is murky
The city bought the property last year as part of the Lake Eola Gateway planning effort and says it will study the building’s condition and gather community input on possible reuse, rather than clearing it right away, according to reporting by WFTV. Preservationists warn that without the legal protection that comes with landmark status, the Lubbe House’s fate will ultimately track with budget choices and design decisions as the gateway project moves forward…