Gothic future

Plans to restore a 133-year-old historic Chico home will proceed despite the City Council’s refusal to waive any of nearly $22,000 in development fees, according to a contractor in charge of the restoration.

The building, currently located on West Fifth Street, was slated to be demolished until brothers Scott and Josh Hubbard agreed to move it to their property on Humboldt Avenue. The house is the last example of Gothic revival architecture left standing in Chico.

The Hubbards found impact fees would amount to about $22,000 rather than the $4,799 they were originally quoted. They appeared before the council last week requesting all but $5,000 of the fees be waived before development (i.e., demolition of the house) begins this month, but the council balked.

Contractor Joe Card confirmed this week that the Hubbards will move forward with the restoration.