"Wilmington probably is not on the verge of losing its oldest remaining structure, but the for-sale status of it and two other historic homes illustrates the importance of solid preservation ordinances.

The circa-1738 Mitchell-Anderson House is one of only three or four remaining 18th-century buildings in the city, says George Edwards, director of the Historic Wilmington Foundation.

Together with the other two buildings it is a significant symbol of Wilmington's heritage. No law or ordinance protects it from being torn down should a buyer decide to redevelop the appealing location at Front and Orange streets.

Demolition can be delayed for a year, and the city has just added a new layer of protections that may prove valuable in saving old buildings like the Mitchell-Anderson House and the two nearby 19th-century buildings that are also on the market. Under a new ordinance the city council adopted this year, a developer who tears down a building deemed historically significant – and there is no question about the significance of these three structures – may not build to the full height allowed in that part of the Historic District."

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Star News (9/7/2011)