Perhaps that's because Mr. Pattison is a self-confessed "nerd" when it comes to history. While only a coffered ceiling, some moulding, a small staircase, and the ornate radiators remained when he first walked through, the plan was "to preserve the entire structure, all four walls, and try to reinstate some of the original pieces back into it." The second fire, however, destroyed most of that, and the need to gain access to the basement (no bodies or evidence of arson was found) means Graywood/Phantom had to switch gears.
So, today, the keen aficionado who finds herself walking past will notice only the north and east walls standing. After the backhoe had its way with the south wall and the rear, west-facing wall was deemed too weakened, a compromise was made with the city: Document those walls with details architectural drawings and then take them down. The curved-and columned front porch will get the same treatment, although in that case samples have been saved in order to reproduce it to exact specifications (the original roofline and dormer window will also be rebuilt.) If our aficionado looks closer, she'll note waterproof caps on exposed walls, cinder block and steel bracing added here-and-there for reinforcement, and replaced or re-pointed brick.
"What you see today, all the fire damage and all the restorations," finished Mr. Pattison, "it's about half a million dollars' worth that's been sunk into this."
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