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Facebook campaign leads to change of plans for historic Richmond home

Posted at 8:02 AM, Jun 17, 2014
and last updated 2014-06-17 08:02:36-04
The 125-year-old Marburg House at 3020 Rugby Rd. will be restored and get new neighbors as part of an agreement between the house’s new owner and developers. (PHOTO: Brandy Brubaker)

The 125-year-old Marburg House at 3020 Rugby Rd. will be restored and get new neighbors as part of an agreement between the house’s new owner and developers. (PHOTO: Brandy Brubaker)

RICHMOND, Va. – After garnering support with a Facebook campaign, a Richmond resident convinced a team of developers to change their plans for a 19th century home next to Byrd Park.

Castle Kanawha 1508 LLC, headed by Ben Partridge and J. Mark Slack, had originally planned to bulldoze the neglected 125-year-old Marburg House at 3020 Rugby Rd. and build five or six houses on the 1-acre lot.

But William Lipps made it his personal mission to save Marburg House and the developers then agreed to sell him the home and a slice of its lot for $605,000. Partridge and Slack will now build four new houses on the rest of the property.

William Lipps and his Boston terrier, Ena, enjoy the home’s formal parlor. (PHOTO: Brandy Brubaker)

William Lipps and his Boston terrier, Ena, enjoy the home’s formal parlor. (PHOTO: Brandy Brubaker)

“It had been on the market for a long time before we bought it,” Patridge said of Marburg. “Initially, we didn’t feel there was an interest in it, but then we had someone come to us and want to buy it.”

Click here to continue reading about the plan to restore the Marburg House.