USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
SUMMATIONWeeklyy
This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T Vol. 26, No. 17
April 29, 2026
SummationWeekly.com
1 Section, 8 Pages
Section A, Page 1
PENSACOLA'S LIVING HISTORY
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HISTORIC PROPERTY PRESERVATION
By Dawn Gresko
P
ensacola has a remarkable past. As the first multi-year European settlement in the United States, our city contains many historically and archaeologically significant properties from all periods of its history. Because of Pensacola’s rich history, historic preservation has become a vital cause. Preservation efforts not only protect the city’s storied past and maintain its unique sense of place but also boost the local economy through tourism, increase property values and promote sustainability by reusing existing, high-quality materials. In fact, a study from University of Florida indicates economic impacts of historic preservation in Florida is $4.2 billion annually. Below we take a look at some of the more recent preservation and restoration efforts in Pensacola, specifically in downtown districts where some of our city’s oldest buildings reside. Some of the groups involved in protecting our city’s historical properties and landscapes include: The Architectural Review Board (ARB), UWF Historic Trust, Pensacola Heritage Foundation (PHF) and Pensacola Preservation Guild–a newer band of community members formed by Nannette Chandler, local builder and owner of Chandler and Company Construction, to implement effective preservation policy changes. “Historic buildings give a community identity and are the places people want to live, work and visit,” UWF Historic Trust Senior Director and Historic Preservationist Ross Pristera said. “Historic downtowns and neighborhoods have a human scale that is easier to walk and more enjoyable to explore. So much of our built world is filled with generic and cookie-cutter architecture. Older architecture is
The Gilded Lady. Photo by Ashley Livingston Photography
generally more interesting and filled with details and craftsmanship.” With the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Pensacola's preservation leaders and residents successfully lobbied for and eventually established the city's first preservation ordinance and district boundaries in 1968. Since then the City of Pensacola Architectural Review Board (ARB) has worked to evaluate all developments that affect the built environment within each of Pensacola's historic, preservation and aesthetic review districts. The Architectural Review Board and Historic Property Protections The ARB protects historic and architectural integrity, requiring certificates of appropriateness for exterior alternation, renovations or demolitions within designated historic districts. They review building materials, styles and colors to maintain community standards focusing on the historic districts like North Hill and East Hill. The ARB operates under the City Planning & Zoning Division, which also offers a CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Design Studio for pre-application guidance on developments. Permits, approvals and local guidelines that need to be met to demolish a historic property depend on the location of the property. If in a historic district, such as North Hill Preservation District, Old East Hill Preservation District, Pensacola Historic District, Palafox Historic Business District, and the Governmental Center District, the owner submits an application to the ARB. The application will include two parts: the reason for demolition (condition, financial, new development, etc.) and the replacement plans for the property. Outside of the historic districts, an applicant must submit a demolition application. If the property is 50 years or older, the application
gets flagged for further review. City of Pensacola staff will send Pristera, who is also an advisor to the ARB, the application with pictures and property appraiser information. If it is sent to the ARB, the public will have a chance to make comments and the applicant can further describe the condition or need to demolish the property. If deemed historic, the board can set a 90-day delay, with the goal that someone will try to buy the property or move the structure. The Demolition of Fairnie Hill Fairnie Hill, a historic property located at 1182 E. Lakeview Ave. in East Hill, has renewed attention on the importance of historic preservation. The current home is slated for demolition to allow the lot to be subdivided, which would eliminate the last remaining large parcel from the original 20-acre Stoddart estate. The Stoddart estate was owned by Alexander Stoddart, who came to Pensacola around 1876, purchased large tracts of land and became an early developer in what is now East Hill. His contributions to Pensacola included improving road construction methods, paying for the construction of Lakeview Avenue and donating the land that would become Bayview Park. The current house at Fairnie Hill was added as a “showpiece” home built in 1940 for E.C. Work, a 1940s-era accountant for Pensacola lumber companies. Even without the connection to the overall Fairnie Hill property, the 1940’s home is historically significant in itself due to the architectural style, connection to E.C. Work and East Hill development. Fairnie Hill does meet criteria for placement on the National Register of Historic Places: This property was important to the development of East Hill and the creation of streets in this neighborhood (criteria A). The people associated with the property were important to the history of Pensacola (criteria B). The house
has great architecture and is an example of a period when new products and technologies were being used in buildings (criteria C). However, Fairnie Hill is not on the register and there is no law protecting the home against this type of development activity. “It usually takes a surprising loss of a historic building to energize a group of people to pursue change,” Pristera said. “Maybe the demolition of Fairnie Hill will be that change for East Hill.” Although Nannette Chandler of Chandler and Company Construction requested a 60-day delay on Fairnie Hill’s demolition in order to consider options like buying the property to restore it, the asking price of $1.5 million for a reduced size of only 0.5 acres of the original 1.15-acre plot does not make a renovation feasible. Similar to how the outcry over the 2016 demolition of the John Sunday House sparked the ordinance creating a 60-day delay for community members to come forward and buy at-risk historic homes, it seems the impending demolition of the Fairnie Hill property has become another catalyst for citizens to take a firm stand about the changes they expect to see. Chandler is leading the charge for change with a new group called Pensacola Preservation Guild–an idea she had in mind long before the events of Fairnie Hall. The Pensacola Preservation Guild The Pensacola Preservation Guild was founded by Chandler to identify historic homes at risk and mobilize neighbors to take action before demolition becomes inevitable. The Guild also assists homeowners in maintaining and repairing their historic properties by connecting them with contractors experienced in the specialized work these homes require. The Preservation Guild has also partnered with The Pensacola Heritage Foundation (PHF), a non-
profit preservation entity, which has monthly guest lectures and specializes in historical education, bringing in the most active and contributing historians in the area. Residents can sign up on the PHF’s website to attend the lunch and lecture series offered monthly. “The Pensacola Preservation Guild is a great way to be involved with local preservation efforts,” Chandler said. “The Guild is also highly active to affect policy that shapes our community in a responsible way–one that considers our history, current needs and our future. Citizens can be involved by helping to locate homes that are at-risk, signing petitions to advance the preservation agenda and investing in the preservation work directly while earning monthly interest at a higher rate of return than most investments available on the market.” Chandler has successfully restored historic buildings like The Gilded Lady in North Hill and has more projects in the works for downtown Pensacola ranging from the Lola Lee House to 211 W. Cervantes St. While Chandler’s efforts show what one builder and business owner is doing to restore and protect the historic integrity of homes that might otherwise be lost, the biggest takeaway is that community involvement in preservation efforts is necessary to enact change. Any resident of Pensacola can look at the many non-profit organizations that focus on history and preservation, get involved with a neighborhood association and talk to elected officials about preservation. Preserving Pensacola’s historic and cultural sites helps safeguard not only the city’s heritage but also the economic vitality and quality of life for residents and visitors alike. More than 450 years after its founding, Pensacola remains a flourishing city with a thriving downtown and stunning natural landscape. ■
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