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Westcott Center for Architecture + Design Executive Director and Curator Marta Wojcik said the flooring in the house is in high need of repair.
“It’s been 12 years since the floors were updated,” she said. “With so many people visiting, there has been a lot of wear and tear on them, so there was really no way around it.”
Since the winter months are a slower time for tours, she said closing now was the best time to take care of the issue.
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But the floors aren’t the only issue that needs to be addressed at the historic site. There are also leaks to be fixed and other updates needed on the exterior of the home, which eventually must be taken care of, Wojcik said. Since the repairs require outside work, they won’t be taken care of during the closing.
“They’ll have to wait until the weather warms up,” she said.
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But donations to the nonprofit aren’t expected to slow down while its closed. Many of the organization’s patrons are excited by the temporary closure, Wojcik said, and looking forward to seeing what’s coming in the near future.
“Everyone has been understanding so far,” she said.
More minor updates, such as new furniture and other small updates, are planned to come to the historic site, Wojcik said, but there is no date set on when those will be unveiled. The organization is also gearing up to take in more volunteers and training them in March.
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