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Future of Historic Merrywood in Question as Demolition Filing Triggers 90-Day Review
Preserving historic places is how a city honors its past while shaping its future. Today, Winter Park has an opportunity to truly live up to its designation as The City of Culture and Heritage by preserving the Caroline Griggs Plant House—more commonly known as Merrywood—at 1020 Palmer Avenue, one of the city’s most significant architectural treasures.
Designed in 1939 by noted architect James Gamble Rogers II, the Plant House is regarded as one of his most significant residential works. At approximately 7,000 square feet, it is the largest home Rogers ever designed. Like its cousin Casa Feliz, the house is Spanish Eclectic in style. The two-story, stucco-clad residence is distinguished by its 125-foot façade, varied rooflines, and exceptional craftsmanship. Rogers carefully sited the house so that every major room on the lakeside enjoys views of the courtyard and Lake Osceola beyond. Inside and out, it represents Rogers at the height of his residential career.
Commissioned by the heiress Caroline Griggs Plant, the house was built without compromise, engaging the finest artisans of its era. Merrywood reflects an extraordinary level of craftsmanship, from hand-worked masonry and plaster to finely crafted wood and tile—skills that are increasingly rare and nearly impossible to replicate today.
Since 1977, the house was occupied by Dr. Ray and Sarah Gilmer, now deceased. Their heirs have listed the property for sale, and it is currently under contract with prospective buyer attorney Tara Tedrow. A lifelong Winter Parker, Ms. Tedrow grew up in the house next door and admires the home’s stateliness and architectural integrity. Ms. Tedrow has made clear that while she does not wish to live in the house or attempt to resell it herself, neither does she wish to see it demolished. Instead, she has asked the City to subdivide the nearly four-acre lakefront lot—the widest such lot in the City—and help identify a buyer who would designate Merrywood as a historic resource and restore it. Our understanding is that if a lot split is allowed, Ms. Tedrow would build on the newly created lot to the west of Merrywood.
Merrywood is not currently listed on the City of Winter Park’s Register of Historic Places, which is a voluntary designation that the previous owners declined. As such, the house does not enjoy permanent protection from demolition. However, because it is listed as a historic resource in the City’s Historic Resources Survey, the property is subject to a provision in the City’s Historic Preservation Code requiring a 90-day delay before demolition may occur.
The current owners have now filed for a demolition permit. Under the City ordinance, this action triggers the 90-day delay period during which the house cannot be demolished. The purpose of this provision is to allow time for the community, preservation organizations, the City, and interested buyers to explore potential solutions that might save the structure, including purchase by a preservation-minded owner, adaptive reuse, relocation, or other creative alternatives.
As is common with large estate homes, Merrywood has suffered from deferred maintenance, and structural issues have been identified in an engineer’s report. Even so, this 90-day window offers a critical opportunity for the community to determine whether a viable preservation path can be found.
The Friends of Casa Feliz appreciates Ms. Tedrow’s willingness to collaborate in seeking a preservation solution for this significant piece of Winter Park’s architectural heritage. We share her concern that if a preservation-minded buyer does not come forward—and if the lot cannot be subdivided—the home will ultimately be demolished.
There are compelling reasons Merrywood should be preserved.
Preserving Winter Park’s Identity
Winter Park is defined not only by its lakes, canals, brick streets, and vibrant downtown, but also by its extraordinary historic architecture. The recent installation of gateway arches proclaiming “Historic Winter Park” underscores the City’s commitment to preserving that identity. The loss of Merrywood would permanently diminish it.
An Endangered Legacy
James Gamble Rogers II designed more than 200 homes in Central Florida, roughly half of them in Winter Park. Fewer than 25 of his most significant works remain in the City. In their definitive 2004 book The Architecture of James Gamble Rogers II in Winter Park, Florida, architects Patrick and Debra McClane devoted chapters to each of twelve of Rogers’ most important homes, including Merrywood. Of those twelve, two have been demolished and one—Casa Feliz—was saved only through relocation. Merrywood now faces a defining moment that will determine whether another irreplaceable Rogers masterpiece is lost.
A Permanent Loss Is Not a Solution
Once destroyed, a historic structure cannot be replaced. The craftsmanship embodied in Merrywood far exceeds what is achievable in contemporary construction, regardless of cost. While preservation may require investment and creativity, history shows that preservation is rarely regretted—demolition, by contrast, is forever.
As an organization dedicated to historic preservation, the Friends of Casa Feliz welcomes the opportunity to work with Ms. Tedrow, the City of Winter Park, the real estate community, and potential philanthropic partners to find a viable path forward. We encourage creative solutions—including meaningful preservation incentives, thoughtful zoning accommodations, and other innovative approaches—to ensure this irreplaceable home is saved during the current 90-day review period.
Our executive director, Betsy Owens, can be reached at betsy@casafeliz.us or 407-628-8200, ext. 2, with thoughts or ideas.
The preservation of Casa Feliz in 2001 was once controversial, yet nearly 25 years later it stands as one of Winter Park’s most beloved landmarks. Since becoming a historic home museum, the house has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors for celebrations, community events, and tours, evolving into a cherished center for community life—each experience enriched by its remarkable architecture and layered history. As economist John Kenneth Galbraith observed, “Historic preservationists are the only people in the world who are invariably confirmed in their wisdom after the fact.”
We urge the citizens and policymakers of Winter Park to act wisely now and help preserve Merrywood—an extraordinary and irreplaceable part of our shared heritage.
The Board of Directors of the Friends of Casa Feliz
John Bill, Chairman
Lucy Boudet
Jeff Briggs
Phil Eschbach
Rebecca Gallardo
Gloria Lindsey
Donovan Myrie
Brendan O’Mahony
Eric Ravndal
Tory Parish
Aimee Spencer
Michael Wenrich
Betsy Owens, Executive Director
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