One of Lansing’s oldest homes sells for $16K

LANSING – Joe Vitale wasn’t planning on buying anything at the Ingham County land auction, at least until he walked into the historical Victorian home at 523 Cherry St.

“As I was walking through looking at the home, I saw all the original features were still there,” said Vitale, referencing the hardwood floors, stone fireplace and hand-carved wooden banister on the spiral staircase. “It has good solid bones.”

“A thing you can’t duplicate is this staircase,” he said as he ran his hand over the intricate woodwork. “You just can’t rebuild it today the way they did back then.”

Vitale was originally at the Queen Anne-style home, built in 1885, to help Ingham County Treasurer Eric Schertzing film a video on the positive outcome of buying foreclosed homes. He then decided he wanted to be the one to restore it and bought the tax-foreclosed home for $16,000 today.

It’s one of Lansing’s oldest homes.

While it has solid bones and original features, the home also comes with water-damaged ceilings, hole-filled walls and asbestos siding and floor tiles.

“There’s always surprises,” said Vitale, who estimated repairs at $35,000. “When I look at it I see it has a newer roof, windows, furnace and an electrical upgrade. At this point it will all be cosmetic work.”

The home was sold with a historic property and owner occupancy covenant, meaning Vitale must restore it to preserve its historic nature as well as live in the home. It can’t be a rental property for 20 years.

“Vitale is someone who has the track record and the ability to turn that house into what we all want it to be — a gem,” Schertzing said. “I wish it would have sold for more, but this means he has extra dollars to put into the house. It’s a good outcome for the house.”

The home had a starting bid of roughly $12,000, and Vitale was one of two bidders on the home.

Vitale plans on refinishing the floors, restoring the crown molding and installing a Queen Anne-style turret up the staircase along with a chandelier. He also plans to replace the asbestos siding, which he will have to consult with a historic architect so it meets guidelines. He will start work by the end of summer.

The Cherry Street home will be the oldest of the 21 properties Vitale owns in Lansing.

As the president of Preservation Lansing, he has an affinity for older homes and his properties range from 1885 to the 1940s. He currently lives in a Victorian on Bingham Street that was built in 1898. Vitale said he plans on living in the Cherry Street home for roughly five years before selling it to another owner.

In the meantime, Vitale will get in touch with Cherry Hill’s newly revamped neighborhood association to help revitalize the area with the help of Preservation Lansing.

“I think this neighborhood is transforming,” he said. “I think if we get 10 or 12 homes sold to owner occupiers who are committed to the neighborhood then it can transform very quickly.”

Contact Alexander Alusheff at (517) 388-5973 or aalusheff@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexalusheff.