Council pondering benefits of spending $166K for upgrades
Gilroy – An historic home that belonged to one of Gilroy’s first justices of the peace could miss out on long-awaited renovations if city leaders decide the costs outweigh the benefits. In fact, the debate could lead to the eventual sale of the circa 1857 home.
On Monday, the seven-member council voted to postpone approving a $166,610 bid for landscaping and other improvements at the Willey Cultural Center at 140 Fifth St. The upgrades are intended to polish the site’s appeal as a venue for weddings and other events that could raise money for city coffers.
Councilman Roland Velasco suggested the council delay approving the bid to determine if the site could generate enough revenue to offset the cost of improvements and upkeep.
Councilman Bob Dillon said he “would go a step further” and recommended donating or selling the building.
The suggestion met with strong opposition from Councilman Charles Morales, who said the home represented an important portion of an historic corridor in the city’s core.
The Willey (pronounced “will-e”) Cultural Center borrows its name from Judge Howard Willey, one of the city’s earliest justices of the peace, according to Gilroy Museum coordinator Lucy Solorzano. The home was originally built in 1857 for James K. Rule, who worked as a pastor next door at the Gilroy Christian Church. When he purchased the home from Rule’s daughter in 1893, Willey added bay windows and other improvements so his daughters could hold music recitals.
The property changed hands several times over the years until the city purchased it in 1988. Since then, the city has held meetings and small events at the home, though many residents and officials have complained about the site’s limited capacity due to the lack of landscaping and a patio area in the back yard.
“I’m not ready to sell, but I think council should have a discussion as to whether it should be existing at the costs of today,” Mayor Al Pinheiro said. “What is it we’re to going to do out there that is going to justify this expense?”
Council members voted unanimously to postpone the bid award to Perma-Green Hydroseeding, a Gilroy landscaping company. City staff will put together revenue projections and other relevant information on the Willey Cultural Center in time for the council’s Nov. 21 meeting.
