Saline Looks at Future of Davenport Curtiss Mansion

Sue Kelch contributed reporting assistance for this article.

The future of one of Saline’s most recognizable historic properties was the focus of a recent coffee hour at the Saline Area Senior Center.

Saline Mayor Brian Marl joined Davenport Curtiss Mansion working group chair Rebecca Schneider and working group member Terri Sibo to discuss the city-owned property’s history, preservation and possible future uses.

Marl said the city purchased the property because, despite its historic significance, the home, two outbuildings and 6.2 acres did not have legal protection.

“When the city closed on the property, there were no restrictions on the home, the two outbuildings, or the 6.2 acres, meaning that if it had gone on the open market, there’s nothing that would have prohibited that home from being demolished or altered in some significant way,” Marl said.

Marl said even the historic park sign on the property did not offer legal protection.

“I believe that this is the most iconic, unique, special property in the city of Saline,” Marl said. “And it warrants preservation.”

Marl said the Saline City Council gave the working group until February 2029 to determine how to preserve and activate the property while putting it on a sustainable path that does not become an undue financial burden for taxpayers.

Residents also asked about the city’s roughly $3 million purchase, especially as Saline faces other future expenses, including work related to Mill Pond Dam. Marl said the dam is not an immediate concern, but something the city will need to address in the next five to 10 years.

City Manager Dan Swallow said if the mansion ever became an undue financial burden, it would be up to the council to take action.

Schneider said the coffee hour was meant to cover the mansion’s history, future plans and ways residents can get involved.

That work is already underway. Eastern Michigan University students in historic preservation have studied the property through curatorial and adaptive reuse classes. As part of a semester course, students inventoried about 1,100 objects in the home and found the original linen blueprints, circa 1875.

Sibo also showed attendees a written description of how the house was to be built. The document, dated 1877, had been found earlier.

“What we came across was a regular description of how the house was to be built,” Sibo said. “I want to pass it around, like, for your viewing, because it is written in a very beautiful script and dated 1877.”

Residents asked about possible future uses, including tours, nonprofit status and a wedding venue. Speakers said the mansion is not ready for regular tours because the space is not yet compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Marl also said parking remains a major issue.

“Parking is a critical deficiency as it exists now,” Marl said.

Working group members stressed that no idea is off the table. The group plans to hold at least 24 community focus sessions at different times and on different days of the week. Subcommittees are also expected to focus on communication, finance and fundraising.

Jazz at the Mansion will be the first large event held on the Davenport Curtiss Mansion grounds since the city purchased the property. Usually called Jazz in the Park, the event had to move from its Mill Pond Park location because of sidewalk construction at the park. It will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 18, with shuttle service available.