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January 5, 2012
Baldwin Memorial Home to be Preserved Through Perpetual Preservation Easement Donated to Historic Hawaii
The owner of the century-old Fred C. Baldwin Memorial Home in Makawao has donated a perpetual easement for the preservation of the exteriors of five connected historic buildings and the associated land. Mr. Xorin Balbes of SoulSpace Ranch has completed a rehabilitation project for the historic property, which will be adaptively reused as a gathering place, educational and lodging facility known as Lumeria Maui.
The Fred Baldwin Memorial Home, also known as the “Baldwin Home” or the “Old Men’s Home,” was a local institution for elderly men that was built in Makawao, Maui in 1910-11 by Henry P. Baldwin in memory of his son, Fred. Designed by H.L. Kerr, the home consists of five original buildings constructed by the Kahului Railroad Company construction crew. The dominant style of the complex is Craftsman with an eclectic mix of Neo-classical and vernacular Japanese details. It is the oldest institutional complex on Maui constructed of wood. It is designated on the Hawai‘i State Register of Historic Places.
The senior home operated from 1911-1958 with a brief period in WWII when it was used as a military facility. After 1958, it was leased to Mauanaolu Seminary as a dormitory. In 1982, it was sold to Maui Land and Pineapple, which used it as a barracks for summer workers until the late 1990s. The complex was sold to SoulSpace Ranch, LLC in 2009 after a decade of being left vacant and neglected.
“Renovating the Fred C. Baldwin Memorial Home has been one of the most challenging and most rewarding projects of my life,” said Balbes. “My partner found the property at a point in time when he was trying to get me to move to Maui. He figured that if I had a little project, it might make a move more appealing. Well…what a ‘little’ project it turned out to be! I was enchanted with the property from the start. It held so much beauty and potential. I wanted to restore it and share it with others.”
Before
Balbes said that he wanted to keep as much of the original structures as possible in the renovation of the buildings. “I left a lot of the ‘bones’ as I could: the structural beams, flooring, walls and roof, as well as the original moldings, glass, and hardware,” Balbes explained. “I was so attracted to the history of these buildings as well as their physical structures, which is why I wanted to conduct the renovation and restoration with as much respect as I could, physically and regarding the energy and intention we were putting into the work.” The project restored the façades to their period of significance, following the Secretary of Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and utilizing the federal rehabilitation tax credit for rehabilitation of historic income-producing properties.
Preservation easements are a tool to ensure that a historic building, site and features will be preserved in perpetuity. Similar to conservation easements, the owner severs certain property rights, including the right to demolish or develop the site, and grants those property rights to a qualified organization. The preservation easement is recorded against the deed and gives Historic Hawai‘i Foundation the right and responsibility to ensure that the historic characteristics are preserved and maintained in perpetuity.
The easement does not affect other ownership rights, such as controlling access, development on other parcels, use and enjoyment, and economic returns. The owner also retains responsibility for maintenance and compliance with codes. Federal tax credits are available when easements are donated to preserve a historic property. The value of the easement is calculated based on the difference between the property at highest and best use, and the decreased value based on surrendering these rights. The easement runs with the land, and is binding on all future owners and heirs.
Balbes said that the renovation and restoration took over a year. “The desire to share the beauty of this property with others planted the seed of an idea to open a retreat center here,” he said. “The buildings are complete and the landscaping has gone in. Plants are growing and blooming and swathing the property in gorgeous shades of green, red, pink and yellow. The views are stunning, and we are blessed with daily rainbows.”
“The name of the space has changed many, times, but we are happy to announce that we are soon opening our doors to visitors as Lumeria Maui,” Balbes said. The renovated property will now serve as an educational retreat center. Balbes said that Lumeria Maui will “connect people with the sacred ‘āina and the mystery of Maui through our horticulture, watersports, yoga, metaphysical studies, well-being, and Hawaiian cultural classes and programs. We welcome all to come and experience the beauty and charm of this space that we have so lovingly restored.” More information about the center may be found at www.lumeriamaui.com
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