Battle over landmark estate raises big questions about Winter Park’s historic preservation

Battle over landmark estate raises big questions about Winter Park’s historic preservation

In the final week of June, the City of Winter Park is poised to set a major precedent for both lakefront development and historic preservation — or the lack of it. City commissioners will decide whether to give a local developer the green light to demolish the notorious Merrywood Estate.Merrywood, known for its Spanish-style design, is a creation of renowned architect James Gamble Rogers II, whose work helped shape Winter Park’s distinctive char…