Couple to turn Disney's Chicago home into museum

[Phoenixblue]

interesting. . .


http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/couple-turn-disneys-chicago-home-museum-2D11702885

Couple to turn Disney's Chicago home into museum
The Associated Press

California has Disneyland and Florida has Disney World. But Chicago has Disney Home.

Now a California couple who bought the house where Walt Disney was born 112 years ago plans to turn it into a historical site and museum. According to a news release, they hope it will serve as a "community resource with a mission of enhancing and exploring childhood creativity."

A spokesman for new owners Dina Benadon and Brent Young said restoration is scheduled to start next month, with the hope that the project can be completed by what would have been Disney's 113th birthday, on Dec. 5, 2014.

The couple announced on their website that they hope to raise $500,000 for the renovations, with donors receiving prizes, ranging from having their names listed in a book in the house to a one-night stay there.

The two-flat home is located in the Hermosa neighborhood on Chicago's northwest side. It's said to have been designed by Disney's mother, Flora, and built by his carpenter father, Elias. Walt and his brother, Roy, were born there and lived there until Walt was 4 years old.

On Benadon and Young's website, Roy Patrick Disney, Roy Disney's grandson, said the family was pleased that the house was "being restored to its humble origins."

 

[jcarter29]

There's a good interview on WEDway Now. The project sounds very interesting.
Kim

 

[Disneybridein2k3]

Brent Young (who is purchasing the home) also has a podcast called The Season Pass which talks theme parks (primarily) - their last podcast discussed this in great detail.

 

[Revan]

Here's a link to their Kickstarter page if you care to donate.

Kickstarter Link WFS

I'm not sure if they are going to be successful (though I did back it), they are currently at $44K of $500k. It's a great idea and they have some very neat awards for backers.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

I'm still trying to figure out what my thoughts are about this. Yes I get it was where Walt was born but he left when he was four and he always made more of a deal about the farm in Marceline Missouri. Well I think it's nice to preserve the home he was born in I just don't see it in the same way as the family farm which meant a lot more to Walt, he gave them the midget autopia when they removed it from Disneyland and made several return visits there. Well his Chicago home doesn't really get as much talk expect by some Disney fans who know about it.

 

[JimmyV]

I'm still trying to figure out what my thoughts are about this. Yes I get it was where Walt was born but he left when he was four and he always made more of a deal about the farm in Marceline Missouri. Well I think it's nice to preserve the home he was born in I just don't see it in the same way as the family farm which meant a lot more to Walt, he gave them the midget autopia when they removed it from Disneyland and made several return visits there. Well his Chicago home doesn't really get as much talk expect by some Disney fans who know about it.

I share your skepticism. The house doesn't have much historical importance and the whole renovation seems to be more of a vanity project for the new owners. The house itself is tiny, and it is hard to imagine that it would requrie half a million dollars to renovate. And it is certainly too small to serve as a "community resource with a mission of enhancing and exploring childhood creativity", whatever the heck that is. Sounds to me as if this couple is looking for other people to fund a project just so that they can put their name on it. If they want to do something charitable, that's fine. But looking for Kickstart donations to fund their charity seems specious. Most likely, reputable lenders said: "Uhhh......No."

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

I share your skepticism. The house doesn't have much historical importance and the whole renovation seems to be more of a vanity project for the new owners. The house itself is tiny, and it is hard to imagine that it would requrie half a million dollars to renovate. And it is certainly too small to serve as a "community resource with a mission of enhancing and exploring childhood creativity", whatever the heck that is. Sounds to me as if this couple is looking for other people to fund a project just so that they can put their name on it. If they want to do something charitable, that's fine. But looking for Kickstart donations to fund their charity seems specious. Most likely, reputable lenders said: "Uhhh......No."

It's not just the whole kickstarter thing, it's more that The Disney Family never did anything with the house where as they have done more with the town of Marceline which from what Walt has talked about that was his home when he was a boy. Very few people remember a place they lived there first four years. Stuff like this just makes me ask what's next his home at carolwood? and do you rebuild the railroad in the backyard?

 

[JimmyV]

It's not just the whole kickstarter thing, it's more that The Disney Family never did anything with the house where as they have done more with the town of Marceline which from what Walt has talked about that was his home when he was a boy.

This, in a nutshell, says it all. If one assumes that the renovation/restoration project is to cost $500,000, and one also assumes that the Disney Family thought that it was an important venture to complete, they would underwrite the entire project with the swipe of a pen. The fact that the Disney Family is leaving this project to an unaffiliated couple speaks volumes. Also, perhaps the most troubling thing in all of this, is that the website makes it quite clear that once the renovation is completed, the house will once again be used as a private residence. And in the FAQ section, the couple heading up the project makes it perfectly clear that they are not the ones who are going to live there. So who will? Renters? Is this project really just a front for a real estate investment where the owners will get the place fixed up at the public's expense so that they can rent it out to tenants who will pay far more than market price to say that they now live in Walt's childhood home? While I have no quarrel with entrepeneurs fixing up and renovating an old home with some historical significance so that they can use it as investment property and make money, having the renovation funded by donations without the donors sharing in the profits seems dubious. If the structure were going to be a museum or research center, that would be one thing. But to ask Disney fans to contribute so that they can turn the property into rental income is something else entirely. No thanks.