I would prefer that this company bills and earns. ”

• MANSION

Continued from page 4 said. “Forty-eight years ago I moved to DeKalb, and one of the things that struck me was the beautiful green lawns here.”

Hovis said the reason he decided to buy the Ellwood-Mayo Mansion is easy to pinpoint.

“When I read in the paper that this building was going to be torn down for a strip mall, I stepped in to buy it, to block that from happening. I bought it,” Hovis said. “The two properties to the north of it had already been sold to the developer contingent on the developer buying the Elks building.”

Hovis maintains that he is not concerned for the mansion going into foreclosure or facing demolition should the expected change in ownership be completed.

“For one thing, if [Galica] ever decides to sell it, I have the first right of refusal to purchase it back from him,” Hovis said. “Part of the contract specifies how the building will be maintained. For instance, [there’s] magnificent oak woodwork on the inside of the building that’s never been painted. He’s

David Galica, Ellwood-Mayo Mansion tenant

agreed to maintain the woodwork and not paint it, keep it in the form that it is. There’s a number of the provisions in the sale agreement to him that help to protect the building for the future.”

The building is expected to change hands by March 2026 at the latest.

Hovis said he would like Galica to take over a GoFundMe fundraiser he set up to raise money for the mansion’s preservation.

Galica said he doesn’t intend to use the GoFundMe account that Hovis established.

He said he believes Hovis set up that account “to get the deal from the bank” to help with building’s preservation efforts.

“I don’t like the idea of donations,” Galica said. “I would prefer that this company bills and earns. I’m fine with actually having investors that would actually like to earn a percentage. I don’t necessarily need donations. I just need community support to use my business that come to DeKalb County Online, get sponsored there. That’s sponsored. If investors would like to work with me, this business and some of the other people that are here generate rent and revenue – that’s how we pay bills.”