Macdaddy, I would be very careful in giving your two cents anywhere near Goodrich. He will take $20,000.

Well said Proartist. The work on the Mercy Manor Buildings started over three years ago when the economy was robust. He still has not paid the architect for the work he completed back when the whole project started. His excuses and stories are just part of the whole tangled web of deceit he lives in. Rob Peter to pay Paul, put out fires when they become out of control, and do first and ask questions later. No matter how much perfume you spray on a turd, it still stinks.

MacDaddy: "...how do you know that even though those items have been removed from the house that they are not being stored somewhere "...Whether or not they are, there are rules for building permits on structures historic or not. Carpets on floors? Often that protects historic wood floors more than damaging them. The issue is noncompliance, evading ordinances, not working with the City when well aware of responsibilities. Plain and simple. Quite often, working with the Janesville Historic Commission provides ideas and options for less expensive and more environmentally sound restoration than originally considered. Hard economic times? Quite clearly, Goodrich's hard economic times pre-date local/national problems which relate more closely to his own culpability including his "Censure and Prohibition and Revocation" as a Securities Investment Manager. (http://www.wdfi.org/newsroom/admin_order...)

Proartist, I read the link to the Town of Fulton meeting where Goodrich went before the board for a “ Claim for Unlawful Tax “. What a joke. I especially liked the part about: his Foundation has expanded in community services to help churches reach out and give community CBRF assisted living.
http://www.townoffulton.com/printer/list......
Let’s see, he doesn’t want to follow any rules or ordinances and he doesn’t want to pay any property taxes on his personal home. The guy is not even a pastor anymore. His church ousted him years ago.
I drove by this lavish home today and it certainly is not the home of a humble, public serving man. I see his little modest Jaguar also at The Lovejoy Building. Everything about him screams: Look at me, I’m a big shot, idolize me.
But I don’t pay my bills until I’m sued and have to.

ladulce: but this does have to do with energy efficiency in some ways. Many people have complained about the windows being replaced and that they do not look the same. The old windows were horribly drafty, and very inefficient. These new windows are much more efficient. So some of this has to do with my point.
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My point is where do we draw the line? As well how do you know that even though those items have been removed from the house that they are not being stored somewhere to be preserved and attached back to the house? Again i believe that Brad has said a lot of the reason for why work has stopped is due to the economy.
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Here's another idea, if everyone in the historical society is so concerned with making it look the same. Help pay for the restorations or offer grant money for approved work. Owners might be more willing to listen and even do the more expensive work that way. Again just an idea. Cheers!

I have also been in The Lovejoy Mansion after the YWCA had the property. My wife and I rented the hall area for our reception. It was mid winter, and cold as heck out. When I first entered the office-building portion the first thing I noticed was that it was about as cold inside as outside. This must be what an earlier writer was talking about regarding energy efficiency. The next thing I noticed was the eye tearing gas smell, which I later learned was coming from the ventless gas fireplaces installed into the old sealed off openings. Apparently the whole house was being heated from these fireplaces. I don’t know how the people in there could stand working in that building all day. After about 15 minutes I already had a headache. I asked the secretary behind the counter, why don’t you open a window it’s not like you are going to let the cold in. She replied I can’t the windows don’t open. I couldn’t believe it, the windows were all just a solid pane of glass. I thought to myself, talk about inhumane working conditions.
Anyway we had a nice reception in the banquet area. It was warm back there and we could open a window if we wanted to.

Macdaddy- This has NOTHING to do with a furnace, or upgraded plumbing, electrical- those things are NOT a problem, and, are encouraged, as they lead to a safer home (less fire risk, chances for leaks, etc). What we are talking about here is MAJOR structural changes to the EXTERIOR of the home. And, yes, no one worried about scribbles in the hallway because that is easily covered with paint. What this vandal has done is remove pieces of the house that are IRREPLACEABLE. He removed items that were milled over 100 years ago and that made the home worthy of being noted as a high contributing historic home. He changed the home in a manner that it can't be changed back by paint- or pulling up carpeting. You are attempting to win people to your way of thinking by twisting the reality. Deal with the issue honestly- not by talking about global warming or anything else. This has NOTHING to do with that.

proartist: Brad did no worse to the building than the YWCA did to it. In fact i would say they did more damage. Letting kids graffiti a whole floor in the house???? carpet over inlaid wood floors?
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Yes Brad knew, but he has tried to restore the building, the interior looks closer to the original than it has in decades. So back off a bit. Also, the violation of what it was is not his fault (#1), the city zoned it business not residential. And again the YWCA was there, so they are the culprits as much as anything, but i don't hear anyone complaining about the years of neglect that building got before Brad inherited a huge problem.
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Also, I feel there has to be a balance between restoring a building to its original look and being energy efficient. I would hate to think that we are willing to sacrifice our environment, just to make something look like it did years ago when it was horribly inefficient. For example, i would be ticked if someone told me i can't upgrade my furnace to a high-efficiency furnace because my house did not have one originally installed. We need to balance things and put things into perspective. I think everyone needs a little perspective when it comes to this situation.
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Again just my two cents. Cheers!

The Department of the Interior's "Ten Basic Principles for Sensitive Rehabilitation" are below (http://www.preservationnation.org/resour...). Goodrich has flagrantly violated at least half. He KNEW he was purchasing and taking care of an historic property. It's right that opinions of the general public shouldn't sway what's happening but the LAW should! KNOWLEDGE and LAW should trump any argument over private property rights in such a case.
1. Make every effort to use the building for its original purpose...(violated)
2. Do not destroy distinctive original features....(violated)
3. Recognize all buildings as products of their own time....(unknown)
4. Recognize and respect changes that have taken place over time....(unknown)
5. Treat sensitively distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craft work....(violated)
6. Repair rather than replace worn architectural features when possible.  When replacement  is necessary, new material should match the old in design, composition, and color. ...(violated)
7. Clean facades using the gentlest methods possible.  Avoid sandblasting and other damaging methods........(unknown)
8. Protect and preserve affected archeological resources....(unknown)
9. Compatible contemporary alterations are acceptable if they do not destroy significant  historical or architectural fabric. ...(violated)
10. Build new additions so they can be removed without impairing the underlying structure.

yes el-c BUT nobody forced him to buy this home and he knew the rules when he signed the contract.

Once again free citizens being told what they can and can’t do with what they own. It’s not like he’s running a crack house. I live on the edge of courthouse hill and have seen the before and after of this house. I don’t see what people are getting so upset about. Just because peoples OPINION’s differ does not make them right, wrong, or ignorant. I see this as a property owner’s rights issue. He’s repairing the damn home with his money!

The difference between Jim Graft and Goodrich? They are following different courses under very different levels of the law. Jim Graft is working in active consultation with the city following the laws you, I and every other secular entity are required to follow. He makes an effort to try to do renovation conscientiously with a concern for history and the environment. Goodrich doesn't bother to concern himself with the City...and, in the end, knows he doesn't even have to obey any ordinances the City might recommend, threaten, or try to enforce due to that - once again - pesky little federal act known as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.

digriz- I figured that is another reason I mentioned it.

the theatre still looks in disrepair to me. If you look in the front door window area you can see the day light out the back and it ISNT cause there is a window there.

I would guess still part owner of fairview a sign says graft investments for a place to lease.

"So why does graft get away with not fixing the monteray"
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Hannah, Jim Graft is one of those people who owns a lot of property in Janesville that I was talking about below..... The only thing the city ever made him do that was bad for him (or was it?) was to tear down the old jail. I used to rent from him at one time...(he was a part-owner of Fairview - maybe still is..).

In the end, does it really matter? I think we all have more important things in our life to worry about than what Brad is doing with the building. My opinion, just a bunch of control freaks. Leave the guy be and see how the building turns out. I'm pretty sure no one will be disappointed when it's done.

"The city doesn't like the color of your house and makes you repaint it?".....If you live in an historically designated area and you were appraised of the ordinances prior to purchase, yes! A RESOUNDING YES! Sadly, historically correct paint colors on the exterior isn't one of the ordinances of the Janesville Historic Districts and thus you see the "painted ladies".

partican1: I have been inside the house both before Brad bought it and since he bought it. I have to say the house looked like crap before. Horrible neglect from the YWCA. Carpeting and horrible paint, everything was hideous. Now since then. Brad had all the original inlaid flooring restored. Has the fireplaces working, added & matched the original crown molding and base molding, and has gotten fixtures that look to be from that era.
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So i think the inside looks a million times better now than when he first purchased it.

Brad has a history of doing whatever he wants & hides behind the "non-profit" idea as an excuse. In fact he did some work on his own house some years ago which did not follow the rules & tried to weasel out of that. I wouldn't trust him any farther then I could throw a telephone pole

This guy clearly violated conditions set by the national historic register of homes. The owner new his responsibilities when he made the purchase. Have any of you posting here ever been inside the building at the top of the hill? It was absolutely beautiful.
It is not the choice of the owner to do whatever he wants with the house, and he was fully disclosed of his responsibility to the historic implications of this home. It was not a home for many years; the previous tenants were the YWCA.
If the new owner can't keep up his end of the bargain, he should be made to replace what has been destroyed and restore it to the original specifications.

Everyone needs to stop and think for a second.
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This is a slippery slope. Government telling businesses, individuals, and not-for-profits what to do. What's next? The city doesn't like the color of your house and makes you repaint it?
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Be careful what you ask for! I know that I was none to happy to HAVE to put in sidewalks this past week, because 2 people asked the city to MAKE me do it. (those people live more than 1/2 mile away from my house). These are tough economic times on everyone.
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On a side note, the city needs to be careful how they treat business owners, because if they are trying to get new businesses to come in, they need to have a good reputation.

If you buy a house in a historic district or on the register, you buy it knowing 100% there will be rules to follow for upkeep, construction, etc. That's in any city w/ historic homes. What he's doing with the place looks terrible and his attitude of I can do what I want is just as bad. It's ignorant to say that it's his house, his money & he can do what he wants. That would be true to a point if you bought a house in a regular neighborhood, even then there are codes you have to follow. Some people think they're exempt from the rules!

Historic home - or business building - ownership is not simply owning a property to selfishly do whatever you wish. It should be understood it's a sacred trust for the future and todays owners are care takers of our national heritage. Janesville would be wise to strengthen the ordinances for interior, as well as exterior, preservation on these resources that benefit not just owners but the entire community.

hannah, those aren't comparable situations. The Monterey Hotel is vacant, but that's not by itself unsafe. Mercy Manor is a demolition-construction site. Don't forget how hard the city was on Grafft when he failed to complete the Jeffris Theater demolition and left it open to the elements and the public. The city acts pretty swiftly when safety is a factor.
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touchofreality, the city approved the historic district and granted the historic commission these powers by ordinance. They have not recently changed. The owner knew he was buying a prominent site in an historic district and has a responsibility to follow the law -- and the agreements he signed which are legally binding contracts.
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The commission does not have these same powers anywhere else in the city. It is only in the Courthouse Hill historic district. These were established because the importance of this neighborhood to Janesville's character, and the necessity of protecting it from owners such as Goodrich, was recognized some 30 years ago. For the most part, owners recognize that they are enhancing their property values and those of their neighbors when they comply with the district regulations.

I still wish somebody would explain WHY the 6 month wait andthen you can still do whatever the h... you wan to. WHAT is the point of that?? So you wait 6 months and do what you want to and it would be legal.

Other historic district dont have any laws on this just to follow code. I wish they would so the other gems dont turn out to be piles of junk. People need to know if you buy a historic home it will need work, upkeep and tlc. Some of these slum lords just dont give a damn. There out for the $ and WONT fix things.

touchof- You may not realize this, but when you purchase a historic home, you sign an agreement about renovations. WE all sign this- it is legally binding.

If you are not living in the Courthouse Hill District, you may not be aware of HOW he is doing this. He is taking pieces off of the house and dismantling the entire exterior. Pieces are not being put back on. It is not a couple of pieces of gingerbread. It is the ENTIRE decorative exterior. And, it has been going on for a very long time. Nothing is being replaced, remodeled, or done. It is being left as a Munster-looking bare house.

The demolition of the Mercy Manor building would only be an improvement. I still don't understand where they were going to put all of the additional parking necessary for this building.

Thanks, janesvillean. It bears repeating...."...the lack of work on Mercy Manor speaks for itself. I'm glad to see the city dealing aggressively with this VANDAL who has thumbed his nose at the rules under which he knowingly bought the property." He has literally mutilated the Lovejoy Mansion in spite of a wealth of information and assistance available. There is far more regarding Goodrich's investment schemes than most are aware in spite of his religious "front" to evade the law here and elsewhere (i.e. one such instance in the Town of Fulton - http://www.townoffulton.com/printer/list...).

So why does graft get away with not fixing the monteray for SOOOOOOOOOOOO long. I cannot find anybody to answer this question. It has been about 15-20 years that he has owned it.

jvlhomeowner- i think the raze or repair is for the building next door- old mercy manor

Touched- You cannot change the conditions of the purchase agreement- it is a binding contract. You have made yourself look as ignorant as El_Conquistador. Happy now?

I agree with El Conquistador. Unless the City is footing the bill they need to butt out. As long as his work is up to code and is not unsafe he can do what he wants with it, he bought it.

Yes, the raze-or-repair issue is with the vacant and deteriorating Mercy Manor structure, which will become unrepairable if it stays open to the elements.
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The zoning question is well-intentioned, but this is not realistically a property that will return to single-family residential use. Zoning it business theoretically means it would stay intact rather than being cut up into apartments. Goodrich probably looked like a good prospect for retaining the house's character and grasping its importance to the community, but one bad owner does not mean that all owners would treat it so badly. There are a number of other properties nearby, such as the Consigny law firm building, that have been converted to offices and retained their historic character.
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Goodrich probably did have good cash flow back during the economic boom, but the lack of work on Mercy Manor speaks for itself. I'm glad to see the city dealing aggressively with this vandal who has thumbed his nose at the rules under which he knowingly bought the property.

Forgive me "writing police"; I meant to word that as "structural changes".

According to the article, the "repair-or-raze order" would be for the Mercy Manor building. It doesn't state that the city is considering that for the mansion. I agree with those suggesting the house be rezoned residential if the structure changes continue.

Maybe they could let it go even further and make a remake of 'The Munsters' there. Tear it down and make the slumlord pay.

There are a few people in Janesville that own quite a bit of property. You might even call a couple of them "slum lords." They wield entirely too much power in the community, and get away with way too much that the average citizen would be held accountable for. I don't know this Goodrich guy, but I get the feeling he's one of them.
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The house should not be zoned as a business. It should go back to residential status. If the City wasn't in the pay of these guys, thats what it should have reverted back to when the YWCA moved out. I really hate it when old historic homes like this are turned into businesses because it's a cheap alternative to building.

El_Conquistador

Are you really that ignorant? Why post anything? Did you even READ the article?

El_Conquistador..."Mexican Restaurant on Sunset Blvd. has something for every taste and fancy; enchiladas, tacos, & burritos with specialty fajitas, steaks, ..." LOL

His house
His money
His choice
If you don't like it then buy it and spend your money.

If Goodrich does not address the demands, the city could consider another course, including a raze-or-repair order, Cantrell said.

So if he continues with doing what he wants to "repair" the house....the city could order it torn down?? What good is that going to do?

I have lived in this neighborhood for nearly 5 years now. When I first moved in I heard stories about this guy, and none of them were good. Goodrich does what he wants, when he wants. I’ve talked to other neighbors who indicated he thinks he does not need approval from anyone to do work on his own building. Apparently he feels his “NON PROFIT” status enables him to act above any local ordinances or rules. He will only abide by the rules if he absolutely has to. It is easier to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission is his philosophy. The city needs to make a decision and follow through. He will play this game forever.

Hannah- Goodrich is not short of money. Please see other articles on this matter. Furthermore, if he didn't have the funds to complete such projects, he should not have started tearing apart the house.

This is ridiculous. This was an incredible, beautiful home that he is turning into a house-next door. IT is a few blocks from where I live. Those of us that bought within the historic district did so knowing that we were to keep the homes in original type condition - to restore if able. It is ridiculous that this man would destroy such a treasure. If this were his home, he would not have the same disrespect. But, since it is a business building it means only $ to him.

The more the city stalls, the more destruction will occur. Goodrich has a track record and it isn't pretty. It's time for action. Most residents of the historic districts who are serious about preservation already know how critically important it is to have stricter historic zoning codes with real teeth.

where is a current photo of what you are talking about??

So if he can do what he wants after the 6 mo period what if the point of having a meeting or approval vs disapproval. Isnt he exemp from this rule cause of the kind of business that this house carries? mAYBE WHEN IT WAS FOR SALE YOU SHOULD HAVE REZONED IT (oops caps) to residential again and not kept it business for the safety of the home.

I agree he is trying to make it look better but dont agree with tearing off the porch. Is he going to redu the porch?

I though he said the stuff would be out back up( decor- trim etc) and you just havent given him a chance to get it done!!

These things take time and money in case you didnt know. I live in an old hme and have quite a list myself and the money just isnt there this time.