Fountain Hill Planning Commission members heard a proposal from Don Seiple, vice president of operations at St. Luke's Hospital, and attorney Erich Schock, asking for a special exemption to demolish a residential building located at 748 Ostrum St. within Fountain Hill's historic district.

"Since we've had the building we've done very little to it," said Seiple. He said the house would need a new roof and windows, costing $200,000, just to remain in its present condition.

"We are doing minimal maintenance every year," said Schock, adding the hospital does not want to continue paying for an empty building.

Schock told the commission renovations on the property making it useable for the hospital would cost $1 million without the price of equipment and parking and the building would only be worth $500,000 after the renovation.

Planning Commission member Stephen Repasch questioned St. Luke's economic hardship, adding that the pictures provided showed no signs of the home being "dilapidated".

"We need to look to the future," said Commission member Fred Capuano. He said the commission should try to preserve homes that are actually historic, asking should St. Luke's be in the "business of restoring homes or the hospital business?"

The house, built in 1880, is the former residence of Dr. Frederick J. Pearson, a past chief of obstetrics and gynecology at St. Luke's Hospital, who died in 1989. Pearson's widow, Martha Pearson, gave the house to St. Luke's for $1 after her passing in 2006 according to Borough Councilwoman Helen Halleman, who attended the Oct. 14 meeting. She proposed getting an historic designation for the building, citing a lack of historic buildings in the borough.

Halleman called the proposed demolition "disgraceful," saying that Dr. and Mrs. Pearsons' decades of work at the hospital had "helped put St. Luke's on the map." Turning toward Seiple, Halleman asked, "Have you no respect for that?"

Borough resident Mike Reed of North Clewell Street agreed with Halleman, saying he understands there is a hospital to run, but "demolishing the building seems like throwing the baby out with the bathwater."

Commission member Parmita Perna-Rios made a motion to recommend to the Zoning Hearing Board to deny the demolition. The motion was seconded by Brian DeAngelis and passed in a 5-1 vote, with Capuano opposed.

The Zoning Hearing Board will make a final determination at its Oct. 21 meeting.