Lebanon commissioners debate Dana House’s future after daycare denial, mold finding and ownership constraints

The conversation around the Dana House dominated the July 22 Heritage Commission meeting as commissioners grappled with ownership questions, hazardous building conditions and stalled land-swap plans.

Commissioners said a related daycare proposal on the adjacent parcel was not approved by the school board, a development that has complicated a previously discussed land swap between the city and the SAU. Several members said the land swap had been intended to allow city control of the lot the Dana House sits on; staff noted an RFP drafted to seek a leaseholder or rehabilitation partner cannot be circulated while the city does not own the land.

Staff reported a recent mold test that returned positive for 'toxic black mold' after a dehumidifier was removed; commissioners noted long-standing problems including asbestos, lead and general deterioration. One figure mentioned at the meeting — from prior consultations — was about $240,000 to properly remove lead and asbestos using appropriate (regulated) methods, though speakers stressed that remediation cost estimates vary and depend on ownership and procurement approach.

Several commissioners argued for preserving the building if feasible; others questioned the cost-benefit given limited city maintenance budget (staff reported the Dana House maintenance budget is $0) and potential long-term liabilities. Options discussed included pursuing the land swap to make rehabilitation possible, soliciting a nonprofit 'friends' group to accept funds and manage remediation, seeking private buyers who might assume the costs, dismantling and preserving architectural elements, or—raised only as a rhetorical suggestion—controlled demolition; none of these options was resolved.

Chair said she would bring the land-swap item back to the next city–school board task-force meeting; commissioners asked staff to circulate finalized survey and RFP materials as appropriate. No formal motions or votes were taken on the Dana House itself at the July 22 meeting.