From left, Edward Signorile and Douglas John in front of the Sheldon House. Submitted photo

Patience has paid off for Edward Signorile, the new owner of the Sheldon House.

In November 2015 when Jamestown Community College first put the house on the market, Signorile saw the listing online. However, before Signorile, a New York City native, could show interest in possibly buying the property, it was taken off the market.

“Originally it was on the market and then it was gone just like that,” Signorile said. “I wanted to be here to see it, but before I knew it, it was off the market.”

In January 2016, the JCC board approved a $240,000 purchase offer from Lynn Development, who wanted to buy the facility to be their corporate headquarters. Because the Should House is in a residential neighborhood, Lynn Development needed a use variance to be approved by the city Zoning Board of Appeals in order to use the building for office space.

In May 2016, the city Zoning Board approved the use variance, but because three residential neighbors opposed the use of the Sheldon House as a corporate facility, Paul Leone, along with his wife, Dr. Ann Servoss, who live on Lakeview Avenue, and Timothy Mills, who lives on Falconer Street, the zoning change was appealed to the state Supreme Court in Mayville.

Despite the state Supreme Court upholding the city’s Zoning Board decision, the residential neighbors didn’t give up the fight and appealed the decision to the Appellate Division Fourth Judicial Department of the state Supreme Court in Rochester.

In June, the Appellate Court ruled in favor of the residents and annulled the city Zoning Board variance to allow for office space at the Sheldon House.

During the court process, Signorile said he didn’t stop thinking about wanting to purchase the Sheldon House.

“I kept thinking about (the Sheldon) House. I couldn’t even see it, but I kept thinking about it,” Signorile said.

“So about a year and half ago I called a Realtor at (Century 21 Turner Brokers). I talked to Lindsay Laury and told her about how I was interested in the house. She took my information and said if it goes back on the market she would call. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have this house. I wouldn’t have known.”

Meanwhile during the court proceedings, Signorile had purchased the former Christian & Missionary Alliance Church in Salamanca to renovate into a home. However, he said now he will probably sell the former church seeing that he was able to purchase the original property he was interested in owning.

“I had started to rehab (the church), I was cleaning it up and was up on a ladder working on the gutters when I got the call that the (Sheldon House) was back on the market,” Signorile said. “I said, ‘Oh well really’ and she asked me when I wanted to see it and I said, ‘Tomorrow.”’

Signorile said since purchasing the property about three weeks ago he has discovered a lot about the Sheldon House. He said JCC officials did do quality repairs on the structure, but hadn’t done much maintenance during the past two years, although they did keep the house heated during the legal battle. He added that plumbers, roofers and electricians have already started work in the house.

“I’m working on it slowly every day. I’ve discovered it needs a lot of work,” Signorile said about the renovation project, which is his fifth rehabilitation project. “The bills are starting to add up because it is a lot of house. I still find it charming.”

Because he purchased the house with furnishings, Signorile said it is fun discovering “little treasures” around the house. He said that JCC officials also gave him information on the history of the house so looking through reports about previous renovations and the history of the house has been interesting. He added that he wants to keep the facility as authentic as he can while renovating the structure.

“I’m trying to keep as much originalness to it as possible. It is a well-made house,” he said. “I don’t want the house to fall into disrepair. I want to maintain it.”

Signorile said he estimates that it will take about a year to renovate the 5,400-square-foot main house. If you include the exterior buildings, he said the property is about 9,400 square feet.

Signorile said even though he is from New York City and owns a business in Manhattan that sells customized clothing, he wants to live in Jamestown, at least during the warmer months.

“The price I paid for this house, which is public record, is $240,000. In Manhattan I cannot get a studio apartment for that much,” he said. “I like it more and more (here in Jamestown). Because of the construction, it is a real struggle to live in Manhattan nowadays. It is much more peaceful here.”

Signorile said he first discovered the Jamestown area about 20 years ago because his partner, Douglas John, is from the area. He said John manages OJ’s Smokeshop in Steamburg and his mother lives in Sinclairville where they also own a home.

“I love this little town. I like all the old architecture. I thought it had a lot of pluses,” he said.