New London – The local historic preservation organization New London Landmarks has begun a petition drive in an attempt to halt plans for the demolition of what they contend is an irreplaceable historic structure at 130 Bank St.

The news comes as an added irritation for building owner William Cornish, whose planned demolition of the structure is likely to be delayed for six months thanks to a vote last week by the Historic District Commission.

Demolition applications for older buildings in the city are automatically forwarded from the building department to the commission for review. By ordinance, the commission can impose a 180-day delay on demolition if the building “has historic or cultural value.”

Cornish is still working through requirements needed before a demolition permit is issued, according to Building Official Kirk Kripas. An inspection by the city determined the structure was in no imminent danger of collapse and therefore not condemned.

Cornish contends that with its wall cracks, crumbling bricks, makeshift support beams and patchwork repairs, the building is structurally unsound and not salvageable.

“The foundation is perfect and it’s beautiful and I intend to keep it. It’s the rest of the building that needs to go,” Cornish said. “It’s dangerous. I’m not going to try to fix this thing and have it collapse on me. Everything is not a monument and not everything can be made into museum.”

In the wake of the Historic District Commission decision, Cornish confronted the City Council this week carrying a visual aid – a newspaper-wrapped hunk of mortar pulled by hand from between the bricks in the building.

He vented his frustration with the committee that delayed his planned demolition and said it will only serve to prolong his plans to rebuild.

Cornish said he plans a historically accurate brick building with dormers and room for apartments and a storefront but has not yet finalized those plans.

New London Landmarks, in its petition, is urging the public to seek intervention by the state Historic Preservation Council, which has the power to intervene and block demolition of properties determined to be of historic worth.

The brick Federal-style row house is among the more than 200 buildings included in a downtown historic district recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

Exactly when 130 Bank St. was built remains an unknown but research by New London Landmarks, with aid from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, determined that people were living in the building in 1830s, according to New London Landmarks Executive Director Laura Natusch.

Natusch said while the building may not seem historically significant on its own, demolition would serve to damage the historic integrity of surrounding properties that identify the downtown as an historic seaport town and at one time a center of maritime activity.

It was also the former home of Captain John Deshon, whose family helped found St. James Episcopal Church and was prominent in the whaling industry.    

New London Landmarks is working with the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation to seek historic tax credits and ideas that would help Cornish preserve the building.

"We hope that with all the resources available for historic preservation, Mr. Cornish will decide that saving this building is both good for him and good for New London,” Natusch said. “However, if he decides to move forward with the demolition, petition signatures and letters of support can help us protect this piece of New London's history."

Cornish, who owns several downtown buildings, said he hasn’t asked for help, is not looking for help and plans to dig his heels in if New London Landmarks puts up a fight. He referred to his $1 million investment into the historic renovation of the so-called Bacon Building on State Street as an example of his observance of city historical zoning rules.

“It’s an unsafe building,” Cornish said of 130 Bank St. “People seem to be blinded by this historical stuff. I love the old stuff too. But there’s a point that comes when you can’t bring this back to life.”

A report issued by a structural engineer hired by the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation contends the building has suffered from “deferred maintenance,” but is “generally sound,” and the conditions are “fixable.”

At the request of City Councilor John Satti, who had asked about the local government’s liability in delaying demolition, city risk manager Paul Gills toured the building on Tuesday. Gills said he would rely on the building department’s decision not to condemn the structure but said, “in my personal opinion (it) would be a challenge and costly to restore it.”

g.smith@theday.com