WINTER PARK, Fla. – On a quiet, tree-lined street in Winter Park, a 100-year-old home is getting a second chance thanks to a woman with a vision and a city committed to preservation.
Tanya Glatt is an artist with a love for character and craftsmanship. She saw something in the 1925 Orwin Manor home others might have missed. The roof was leaking. The floors were ruined. But beneath the problems, she saw promise and charm.
“I’m an artist, and I like character,” Tanya said. “You just don’t get that with a new build.”
Over the past two and a half years, Tanya has renovated every inch of the home’s interior, tearing it down to the studs and building it back up to suit her modern needs. But there was one thing she couldn’t touch: The outside.
That’s because her home is part of Winter Park’s historic preservation program. It’s a city initiative designed to protect the unique architecture and feel of neighborhoods that give Winter Park its charm. In fact, the city recently updated its preservation ordinance, adding stricter consequences for anyone who demolishes or significantly alters historic structures without approval.
“Historic preservation is really important to Winter Park,” said Allison McGillis, the city’s director of Planning, Zoning, and Historic Preservation. “It sets us apart and helps us preserve our charm, our sense of place.”
And it’s not just about preserving the past for nostalgia’s sake. McGillis says it’s about protecting what makes the city visually and culturally distinctive. Without its historic homes and buildings, places like Park Avenue simply wouldn’t feel the same.
The city’s ordinance does allow for homeowners to renovate the inside of their homes while still requiring the exterior to maintain its original appearance.
“You can do whatever you like on the inside, but the outside needs to preserve the original look,” Tanya said. “That’s the whole purpose of doing one of these projects. You want to live in a historic house. And it won’t look historic if you change it.”
If homeowners violate the rules, like tearing down an exterior feature without approval, they can be required to rebuild it using authentic materials. In some cases, variances that were granted to allow renovations can be revoked.
But the city is also offering help. Homeowners like Tanya may qualify for matching grants to help offset the high cost of renovation.
“People are often surprised to learn how much support is available,” McGillis said.
Today, Tanya’s home is a blend of old and new. Step inside, and you’ll find the comforts of today. But on the outside, and you’re walking past a piece of Winter Park’s history.
“Every wall came down. Everything inside changed except what you could see from the outside,” she said. “It’s a lot of work, and it’s very expensive, but it’s worth it.”
As more homeowners like Tanya take part in preservation, the city is seeing an increase in designated historic properties and even more signs each May during Historic Home Preservation Month.
It’s clear: what’s old is still worth saving in Winter Park.