The Fond du Lac city council has cleared the way for a vacant historic building to be converted into a bed and breakfast inn. The council has voted in favor of a special use permit request to allow Kelly Hansburg of West Allis to renovate the Boyle Home on North Park Avenue. Hansburg says she stumbled across the Boyle Home while perusing commercial properties online and immediately fell in love with it. Hansburg says she hopes to start renovation work as soon as possible, but says it will probably take a couple of years to complete all of the projects. “Its going to be a monumental undertaking for everyone in my family,” Hansburg told WFDL news. “We’re going to be selling our current businesses and we’re hopeful the city will welcome us with open arms because we just fell in love with it the first time we visited and we would really like to become a staple in the community.” In addition to seven bedroom suites on the second floor, Hansburg says the first floor and chapel will be perfect for weddings and receptions. Hansburg says she hopes the fact that the bed and breakfast will be unique to Wisconsin will draw people to Fond du lac so they have a story to tell afterward. Fond du Lac Planner JoEllyn Dahlin says the building has stood empty for several years and says the proposal is a viable re-use of the property. The over 22,000 square foot building was constructed in 1902 through the philanthropic efforts of Fond du Lac businessman Henry Boyle. The property was then deeded to the Sisters of St. Agnes. The congregation of St. Agnes used the building as a nursing home and convent until 2000.
