December 22, 2024
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Mansion is gone: Nell’s Woodland coming to former location of Ferracuti mansion in Ottawa

Nonprofit plans to make area nature preserve focusing on health, environment and arts

By Michael Urbanec

The Ferracuti mansion in Ottawa was demolished to make way for Nell's Woodland. The nonprofit wants to develop the area as a nature preserve focused around health, environment and the arts. (photo4@newstrib.comhttps://www.newstrib.com/content/tncms/avatars/a/27/ae1/a27ae1cc-5407-11e6-80b6-93d989646327.11b4924614940eabec2a6e9222415718.png)

The former location of the Ferracuti Mansion at 2301 Columbus St. will be the home of learning centers to accompany the 56 acres of wooded ground.

The nonprofit Nell’s Woodland Foundation demolished the mansion to prepare the land for development.

“They’re going to dwell on health, both mental and physical, the environment, and the arts,” said Ottawa Mayor Dan Aussem. “There’ll be three separate studios for those and they’ll bring in specialists to give tutoring classes on various studies.”

Aussem said the home for unwed mothers that was originally planned never materialized.

“I think it’s a great investment from the owners with very little contribution from the city other than running water and sewer, and a short piece of road up to the facility,” Aussem said.

The city annexed the Ferracuti mansion into city limits in 2018 after Janis Ferracuti reached an agreement with philanthropist and former Ottawa resident Jim Downey.

The initial plan for the property was for it to become a home for unwed mothers to help them learn life and job skills.

A sign outside the property along Route 23 now identifies the property as Nell’s Woodland. A website, which is not complete, was established, explaining The Nell’s Woodland Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to “facilitating a meaningful and connected relationship to nature through programs that support stewardship in the areas of Ecology, Health & Wellness, and the Arts utilizing our inspirational 60-acre preserve located in Ottawa, IL.”