What becomes of the vacant Blair House in the city of Waukesha is still unknown and might be for some time, but local developer and contractor Eric Standarski wants to set the record straight.
Standarski claims that had the city sold him the historic home at 434 Madison St., he never had any intention of tearing it down, contrary to what the city was told or believed.
Standarski, as proposed by Taylor's Rental Property LLC, submitted an offer to the city for $110,000 last month to purchase the Blair House and the city-owned parking lot on the lower end of the property.
Standarski said he would have looked to have the property rezoned to multifamily so he could build condos at the site.
The council, however, rejected Standarski's offer after meeting in closed session last month.
'Nice and beautiful'
City Attorney Brian Running told Waukesha Now after the meeting he believed Standarski's plan was to raze the Blair House and put up some type of rental units on the property.
Standarski, however, said that was just not true.
"I wanted to keep the Blair House as it is and preserve it," Standarski told Waukesha Now on Friday, March 27. "You have something really nice and beautiful. There's no reason to tear it down."
He added that if he wanted to tear it down he would have put it in his offer. Standarski said had the city accepted his offer, he would have put two condo units in the house, which needs to be renovated, and a condo building down the hill while keeping the aesthetics of the building's exterior.
But he added "no one from the city contacted us about what our plans were."
Source of misinformation?
So why did the city have the impression that Standarski wanted to take down the building?
Running said on Friday he was told that Standarski wanted to take down the building by Eugene Johnson, an attorney who is representing the Waukesha Masonic Lodge 37, an organization that is in a legal fight with the city over the Blair House.
Johnson, however, said on Friday that he never told Running that because he didn't even know what Standarski's plans were.
"It's (Standarski's) money and his plan," Johnson said on Friday.
Standarski said he made the offer as an independent contractor and not as a representative of the Waukesha Masonic Lodge 37.
Asked if he had any communications with Johnson about his intentions for the site, Standarski said he didn't.
Outsider interests
Standarski, who buys and develops properties around the area, did say he had been asked by Johnson earlier in the process if he was interested in the property if it became available for sale.
Standarski, who is working on the Prairieville Apartments in downtown Waukesha and did exterior work on the new Carroll University dorms, added that despite being a member of the Masons, he is not involved or tied to the lawsuit against the city of Waukesha.
The Masons allege the city violated terms of the former owners' will by leasing it to outside agencies over the years. The lawsuit has halted the sale of the house to Bob and Lisa Salb, Waukesha residents who want to transform the home into a bed-and-breakfast.
The Salbs put in their offer to buy the house when the city was requesting offers last year. Standarski said he didn't put in an offer then because he wants more than just the house.
The Salbs, like Standarski would have done, will have to have the property rezoned if they eventually gain ownership of the house.