The City of Dillingham is looking for recommendations of what to do with the Carlson House.
The property was owned by a prominent Dillingham family, who donated it to the City. City manager Rose Loera says the house has mostly been boarded up for the past decade:
"There’s a lot of mold and foundation issues in the house itself, and so, once that was determined, then nothing ever happened with it."
The house may be costly to renovate. Loera says there is some money donated by the Carlsons that could be used for restoration.
For now, the City is seeking public input on what should be done with the property.
"I’m sure we’re going to get a full gamut of recommendations, from demolishing it, to fixing it up and turning it into a museum, but we want hear from the community and get their ideas. You know, there may be something out there we haven’t even thought of."
Loera says some of the Carlsons’ journals and antiques were put into the Sam Fox museum years ago, but there are a few more items to be inventoried.
The City’s Carlson House Advisory Committee will consider suggestions from the community through June 30.
Contact the author at hannah@kdlg.org.