Historic home's status as bed-and-breakfast uncertain

Whether her house becomes a bed-and-breakfast or home to a new family, Sherry Persinger said she hopes the next owner of the building she spent years renovating and restoring truly appreciates its history.

Persinger bought the Ponder House, named after railroad executive A.R. Ponder, in June 2010 and spent the next three years renovating and saving it from condemnation. The home at 141 S. Louisiana Ave. was built in 1905 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Persinger said she worked with the city from the beginning to ensure the building was properly inspected and brought into compliance -- it was severely damaged by a fire in 2009 -- and then began turning it into a home.

While the home retains its historical exterior, the inside features a blend of old and new. The basics were taken care of, such as the plumbing and the duct work, and several amenities were included or improved. The three fireplaces were rebuilt, custom cabinets were created and new appliances were brought in. Major repairs also were made for a sun room.

"It was a long process, and a lot of effort went into making sure it was done right," Persinger said.

She's passionate about the historical home, but said she felt the three-bedroom and 3 1/2-bathroom house was too big for a single person. Persinger is searching for the right buyer who shares her passion.

She's been approached by one party who expressed interest in turning the home into a combined bed-and-breakfast, wedding chapel and restaurant, although nothing is final, Persinger said. She and Cape Girardeau city officials said they have no issue with the property becoming a bed-and-breakfast, but the city is concerned about other uses.

On Monday, the Southeast Missourian ran a story about the potential buyers and their plans for the building. However, city officials say it is far from certain a special use permit will be granted for those plans.

Molly Hood, director of Development Services, said city staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the city council deny the initial application for a special use permit submitted by Charlotte Cannon, who hopes to be one of the next owners of the Ponder House. The application was for a bed-and-breakfast, 20-seat restaurant and a wedding chapel that would seat more than 30 guests, which opened up concerns about adequate parking availability. Cannon could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Hood said the application was withdrawn and a new special use permit application was submitted, with the restaurant and chapel seating 15 each. Cannon also said the chapel would be operational in the daytime and the restaurant at night to alleviate parking concerns. City staff again recommended denial and said monitoring and enforcing such a setup would be difficult.

"Once again, we explained that it's not the bed-and-breakfast we have a problem with," Hood said. "It's the mixture of uses -- the wedding chapel and the restaurant -- that leads us to be very concerned about the parking that's available."

At this month's planning and zoning meeting, the commission decided to table Cannon's request to give her an opportunity to amend her application. She explained at the meeting her intent to lease property at 136 Louisiana Ave. and to build nine parking spaces. But Hood said the staff members remain uncomfortable with the proposal that would push a commercial presence into the single-family neighborhood.

"We know that with bed-and-breakfasts, sometimes there's the occasional wedding, that there's baby showers and bridal showers and things like that ... and we understand that goes hand in hand," said Hood. "But when [Cannon] specifically lists on her application that it's a B&B/wedding chapel/restaurant, that raises all kinds of other issues that have to be addressed. Our primary responsibility and obligation is to make sure that the proposed use doesn't adversely impact the neighborhood."

As for Persinger, she thinks back to the time when the house was little more than an empty shell and said she hopes a new owner can soon share her appreciation for how far it's come.

"I did the house right," she said. "I just really would like to have somebody that loves the house to buy it."

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

141 S. Louisiana, Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO