"Largely abandoned since Mrs. Thelma O’Brien Keaton grew ill many years ago, the house that stands out like a dingy gray ghost among a neat row of homes was nearly demolished by the city after a petition by neighbors in 2009.

Yet beyond the exterior’s peeling paint, exposed wood and sinking front steps, Benjamin Briggs of Preservation Greensboro sees an architectural gem.

'I like old houses to look like old houses, so I’d probably do very little,' beyond what’s necessary to bring it up to code, he said.

The 1917 house — white in its original state — is among the offerings of Preservation Greensboro’s inaugural Tour of Homes for the Fisher Park and Aycock neighborhoods, including homes that have undergone comprehensive restoration work.

But this house, which once belonged to the eldest son of UNCG founder Charles McIver, is in need of a buyer. Preservation Greensboro, which is keeping the house from being destroyed by the city, is cleaning out the property and fielding offers."

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Greensboro News & Record (5/1/2011)