LONGMEADOW – At 734 Longmeadow St. stands the Brewer-Young mansion, a historic landmark in the town, built in 1885, which holds memories of glamorous galas, garden parties and fundraisers during its early years.  Today, the mansion still stands, though it shows significant signs of deterioration and dilapidation since its glory days.

Longmeadow residents Chris Orszulak and Andrew Lam, along with Henry Clement, formed the group “The Longmeadow Historic Preservation Partners,” with their main interest and concern in purchasing, repairing and restoring the 11,000 square foot Brewer-Young Mansion.

Lam is a Longmeadow eye surgeon and author, Clement, a general contractor of Innovative Building and Design and Orszulak, a managing director at financial firm Keefe, Bruyette and Woods.

Lam, an abutter of the Brewer-Young mansion property, has a vested interest in the properties success.  Additionally, he is a long-time member of Longmeadow’s Historical Commission and Historic District Commission.

“I worked with my colleagues on these commissions for years trying to find an alternative solution for the mansion when it became obvious it was too large and too costly to ever be a residence again.  We approached every historical preservation organization we could find and reached out to institutions like Bay Path and the town of Longmeadow, but no one was willing to rescue the mansion because the costs were just too high,” Lam said.

Lam noted that after seven years trying to find a way to save the mansion on his own, Orszulak, who also wanted to preserve the mansion, approached him.

“Chris has a background in finance and he showed me that the only possible way for this structure to survive was an income-producing property,” Lam added. “He thought professional offices would be the best and possibly only option that could both generate enough funds to restore and maintain the structure, and also have minimal impact on the appearance of the green and abutters’ properties.”

Real estate agents who represented the Brewer-Young mansion from 2010 until Sept. 7 claimed that since the property was first put on the market, there has not been one party interested in the house as a residence.  On Sept. 7 of this year, Lam, Orszulak and Clement acquired the property and began the first steps of saving the mansion.

Initially, Lam, as many townspeople have suggested on the “Save the Young Mansion” Facebook page, thought that the property could be used as a bed and breakfast (B&B).  However following his conversation with Orszulak, Lam realized this is not a feasible idea.

“We have analyzed every possible use and there is just no way a B&B would ever generate enough to restore and maintain the mansion.  We have fully assessed the property and know it will cost more than $2 million to restore the mansion.  Unfortunately, Longmeadow is not a tourist destination that can command exorbitant B&B rates nor keep such luxury accommodations consistently filled throughout the year,” Lam said.  “Our plan may not be glamorous, but it is the only one that has a prayer of saving the mansion and putting it on a stable and secure path for the future.”

The Longmeadow Historic Preservation Partners have set forth a plan to utilize the Brewer-Young mansion property, while simultaneously turning enough profit to afford the upkeep on the mansion.  According to Lam, the previous property owners informed him that the mansion upkeep cost roughly $100,000 per year, which includes taxes, insurance, heat, electric, yard maintenance and routine repairs.  Additionally, the group has obtained estimates for remodeling costs, which includes $100,000 toward repainting the building and removing lead paint, as well as the repair of rotting trim.  Replacing the mansions 128 exterior windows will cost more than $150,000.  An HVAC system, electrical re-wiring, asbestos removal, a new roof and the repair of the collapsing porte-cochere will cost upwards of $500,000.

Through thorough research, Lam and his counterparts have landed on the notion that no family is going to purchase the property to live in it, even if the property was sold to them for a dollar, due to the steep price of repairs and maintenance.  With a high yearly upkeep cost as well as over $2 million worth of repairs, the Longmeadow Historic Preservation Partners were left with the decision to create a commercial property out of the mansion.

“I respect everyone’s opinion on this issue because I know we all sincerely want what is best for Longmeadow.  Improving this mansion and restoring it to make it grand and beautiful once again would improve Longmeadow’s historic appeal.  For the last seven years it has been a terrible eyesore and embarrassment that has diminished Longmeadow’s charm,” Longmeadow explained. “We will be able to preserve the historic exterior, much of the beautiful interior and the parking will be invisible from the street.  By saving this mansion the historic district will be enhanced, not diminished.”

The Longmeadow Historic Preservation Partners plan to dedicate two thirds of the mansion to accommodating Dr. Glen Brooks, a surgeon whose current office is in the historic district four buildings away from the property.  Brooks would be able to expand his practice by moving to the property.  While the group does not yet have a tenant lined up to take up the other third of the mansion, Lam suggests a physician or another type of professional including but not limited to a lawyer, financial advisor or an accountant.

“We truly believe our plan is the mansion’s last chance for survival.  Not long ago the columns supporting the front portico collapsed.  The bank was forced to replace the columns and deck for safety reasons, at a cost of $120,000, so that currently looks new but this is quite literally a façade,” Lam said.

In order for Lam and his partners to move forward with their plans, the property will need to be re-zoned, which can only be done with a two thirds vote at a special town meeting.

“First of all, it is important to note that we are going for the most restrictive possible zoning, professional, not commercial, so that this property cannot one day be retail, restaurant, or industrial.  It can only be offices,” Lam noted.

In a letter Lam wrote to the town and published in The Longmeadow News, he noted the exterior of the property would remain “unchanged, with minimal impact on traffic, modest signage and no evening activity.”

Should the town vote to not allow the partners to re-zone the property, Lam says this will determine the future of the mansion.  He notes that should the town vote against the partners, the mansion will have to remain a residence though there is no market for it as a residence and he’s confident that no other business idea will generate enough funds to save the mansion.

“We won’t come back with a new business plan if this one fails.  The carrying costs of the mansion are substantial.  We are local guys with families who are dedicated to serving our community, but no person has unlimited funds, and we cannot maintain this mansion indefinitely if there is no foreseeable future outcome that allows it to be self-sustaining,” Lam said. “As much as we would love to have the opportunity to restore the mansion, only a fool would continue to sink money into this property when all realistic avenues to save it have been closed.”

The partners noted that it is up to the town to re-zone the mansion so it can live up to its potential, or to simply let the property go.  Lam commented that he lives next to the property, and he doesn’t want to live next to a parking lot.  If there was another option, he said, such as turning the mansion into condominiums, he would prefer it, but it simply isn’t viable.

“In the end, saving this historic landmark is not up to me, my partners or my neighbors.  It’s up to the town of Longmeadow.  We hope everyone will come out to the special town meeting, which will most likely occur in January, and make their voices heard,” he said.

To voice your opinion, ask questions, engage in discussion or learn more about The Longmeadow Historic Preservation Partners plan regarding the Brewer-Young mansion, go to the “Save the Young Mansion” Facebook page.  Furthermore, this is where the group will be posting updates for the public, including the date of their first public open house.  Go to http://www.facebook.com/SaveYoungMansion/