Weather, time and finances permitting, work on the exterior of the Burton Fox Inn will begin this summer.
Weather, time and finances permitting, work on the exterior of the Burton Fox Inn will begin this summer.
Ross Hornak, who purchased the dilapidated landmark a year ago at auction, said he has received the OK from the Burton Village Historic District Architectural Review Board to make repairs.
Initially, he plans to shingle the roof, replace the windows and install new siding, he said.
Hornak owns TRI Excavating and Construction and renovated another building on Burton Square, now called LuLu Tru Holistic Beauty and Wellness Spa and Salon.
After he bought the 1.28-acre parcel on the south end of Burton Square, Hornak cleared away the scrub trees and weeds from the property last summer and protected the leaking roof, so now he can go to work on the exterior.
“We want to get it cleaned up on the outside. We’ll do it piece by piece as we can afford it,” Hornak said April 15. “It’s a work in progress.”
Burton Village Council member Ruth Spanos said Hornak’s permit was quickly approved as his work will improve the safety and appearance of the historic building. Spanos is council’s representative to the review board.
“The board decided (Hornak’s plan) was fine. They love the house,” she said. “The board is happy someone wants to take care of it.”
The meeting on Hornak’s application was called last week because the businessman had heard the cost of building materials is due to go up by 10 to 15 percent soon and the builder wanted to order what he needs before prices increase, Spanos said.
Burton Fox Inn was built by James Pfeiffer in 1834 and originally stood on 5 acres. Over the years, it has also served as the village post office as well as a rooming house for travelers, according to local history sources.
Owned by Charles Imars for the last seven years, the building has been slowly deteriorating and back taxes were owed, leading to the auction. The property was purchased by R & D Madison Properties LLC, which is owned by Ross and Dawn Hornak, for $140,400.
Spanos said she doesn’t believe zoning will be involved in the project as the intention is just to renovate the existing structure, but the review board will want to see Hornak’s plans for landscaping the acreage.
The community is looking forward to the Burton Fox Inn’s rebirth.
“It’ll look so much better,” Spanos said.
