LINESVILLE -

Tensions run high at on Tuesday night at a special Linesville borough council meeting, with residents and council members hotly debating the future of a historic downtown building.


Either demolition, or restoration will be the future of the historic Woodard building in downtown Linesville. The structure's address is 201 to 219 W. Erie Street and spans the entire block, but has stood vacant for the past two decades and is now in severe disrepair.


"My main concern all this time is to keep the building standing," said David Pachuk, the building's property owner. "I would rather have a revitalized building in town than a hole in the ground," he said.


After years of controversy between Pachuk and the Borough Council, the property was condemned in 2012, and finally a judge ordered the borough to demolish the building.


Those demolition plans were set for Thursday.


But just last week, Ethan P. Jackman, a New York businessman who specializes in non-profit work to save historical buildings, heard about the demolition from Linesville resident Peg Knicker Bocker. He offered to restore the Woodard building instead.


Jackman attended Allegheny College and is currently working on restoring another historical home in the area - Huide Koper, a mansion in Meadville.


He joined Monday's council meeting via phone call, saying their goal after making the building safe, would be to restore it under historical codes and ultimately rent or lease the property to be used by a business.


"It's a major building on a major route in town," Jackman said over speakerphone. "We'll restore it so it may once again contribute to the local economy and be a building Linesville can be proud of," he said.


But with demolition just days away after months of planning and about $20,000 of borough funds already spent on tests and engineering fees, many council members were reluctant to drop the scheduled demolition.


Councilmen Rodney Koivisto and Tom Deighton cited concerns such as finding a way to validate that Jackman would follow through on project plans, saying it was difficult to find information on the previous 20 homes Jackman claims to have restored.


However, the Crawford County Historical Society expressed strong praise for Jackman's work on the Huide Koper mansion.


"We wanted to take the project but we couldn't afford the estimated $3 million it would cost to restore it," said Beth Rekan, a Crawford County Historical Society board member. "If Mr. Jackman didn't stabilize the structure, I doubt it would've lasted through this winter," she said to the board.


Concerns of other council members included doubts that Pachuk, the property owner, would cooperate in signing over the deeds to Jackman.


But Pachuk announced at the meeting and said in an interview that he'd gladly sign any paperwork necessary.


"The guy's willing to fix it but he can't fix a hole in the ground. We've talked and there's no problem with me signing it over. I'll sign over the three parcels for him to do whatever he feels is fit to make it run," Pachuk said.


Residents packed the meeting in support for the restoration plan.


"I'm really excited about the gentleman coming in and trying to save the building. New structures are not built the same way as old structures," said Patti Roemer, a Linesville business owner and resident. "So I think to take that corner away would devalue our town," she said.


Graffiti on the property that reads "Vengeance and spite, your tax dollars use," also protests knocking down the building. About a month ago, the council passed a four mill tax increase to fund the demolition, which will cost about $120,000 in total.


"I'd much rather see something happen with the building than pay taxes years into the future for the loans they'd have to take to demolish the building," said Barb Hogan, owner of Rebecca's Restaurant in downtown Linesville.


The heated meeting lasted about three and a half hours and included more than a few shouting matches.


"I thought our council members would be more compassionate, more civil. I'm surprised because I know all these individuals personally and their harshness is just uncalled for," Roemer said.


Knicker Bocker said during the meeting, "He (Jackman) has a track record that is excellent.  We have to stop saying Mr. Pachuk is a problem, we have to say Mr. Jackman is a savior for us, he is going to bring this town back."


The council reached no decision on Tuesday, but will hold another special meeting on Wednesday at 6pm. They plan to vote on postponing Thursday's demolition.