DOVER, Del. --- A petition seeking to stave off demolition of a mansion in Dover built during the Civil War era has gained more than 350 signatures ahead of a city planning commission meeting that would give final approval on a plan to raze the building for additional hospital parking.
The petition is aimed at convincing Bayhealth Medical Center from razing the Scull Mansion on its property off South State Street, across from the healthcare system's hospital in Dover. The building dates back to the 1800s and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
"It was arguably the grandest house in Dover for almost 100 years through Mrs. Scull's residency and it's really just a beautiful building built in the Italian stucco style," said Nathan Attard, who organized the petition to save Scull Mansion. "You don't see that a lot in Dover because...Dover really bought all in on the Colonial revival style."
In a statement, Michael Metzing, Bayhealth's Vice President of Corporate Services said in a statement that the additional parking spaces were essential for the hospital's expanding organization and would benefit patients and employees alike.
"We will be working with the appropriate leaders to ensure the memory of the property is preserved," he said.
Because the mansion falls outside of the historic district where it would be afforded protections against its demolition, Monday's planning commission meeting would be critical in determining the fate of Scull Mansion.
N. Taylor Collins, who owns Parke Green Gallery on South State Street was dismayed to learn of the plans to demolish the building, which sits blocks away from her business and the site of where the state's founding fathers ratified the U.S. Constitution.
Instead of razing the structure, Collins said she wishes Bayhealth could find a new use for it that would benefit the community.
"It's such a beautiful building and to turn it into a parking lot is just sad---that's the only way to describe it," she said. "It's just sad."
