On Fri, 8 Feb 2002, Ilene R. Tyler wrote:

> I'm buying an 1843 Greek Revival house here in Ann Arbor, and it's
> consuming all my time and energy.  I'm wondering why, with our kids
> finally leaving home, our house fully paid for, healthy parents, and
> good jobs we need this challenge.  It's in good shape, ready to move
> into (scheduled May 15 +/-), and really an icon for downtown living.

When I finally heard which house this is, I said, Wow.

The house is not just "an icon for downtown living."  It's an icon for Ann
Arbor, or for the Midwestern Greek Revival, in a beautiful state of
preservation.  Images of this kind of place make appearances on the covers
of magazines and books about architecture.  This particular house has even
been caricatured into the face of an Old Man -- that's how familiar it is
here.

A University of Michigan web page about the house has this to say:

     This home has been quoted as Ann Arbor's most famous house. It has
     been compared to the original Temple of the Wingless Victory at
     Athens. The four front columns are frequently praised for their grace
     and perfect proportions.

The particular house (and its Queen Anne partner next door on the same
property) have been in the same family for more than a century.  For the
last few decades, it was the home of Ann Arbor's leading political
curmudgeon.  His apparently considerable influence didn't seem to require
his actual presence: though I have been active in Ann Arbor Democratic
politics for ten years, served as vice-chair of the party, etc., I never
got to meet him or speak with him.  Well, too late now.

The property has been on the market a little while, for an asking price
that seemed beyond the reach of anyone but Fortune 500 CEOs.  There was
some talk of splitting up both houses into several condos each, and
building more in the backyard.

Preservationists in this town are surely breathing sighs of relief at the
news that the Tylers will be the new owners of this fabulously important
landmark.  Yet another huge debt that this community owes to Ilene and
Norm.

                                  Larry

---
Lawrence Kestenbaum, [log in to unmask]
Washtenaw County Commissioner, 4th District
The Political Graveyard, http://politicalgraveyard.com
Mailing address: P.O. Box 2563, Ann Arbor MI 48106

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