Atwood already has heard several ideas for the mansion, such as a pseudo-coffee house where bicyclists on the Jordan River trail "can have one of their power lemonades" or a place where outdoor enthusiasts can rent gear such as bikes and canoes.

Another idea, she said, is to turn the home into a model for sustainable living, showing how older homes can be modified to be green and energy efficient.

It's also been suggested that the mansion become the studio for SLCTV Channel 17, allowing the city's government information channel to expand its programming.

"There are so many possible uses," Atwood said.

John Spencer, property manager for the city, said the mansion is in remarkable shape for its age and past uses.

"It's a hidden jewel that needs to be polished," Spencer said.

Structurally, the mansion is in "very good" condition, he said, as is the decorative woodwork throughout the interior — a sign that previous tenants were respectful of the home.

Spencer said he doesn't know how much money will be needed to renovate the home until it's determined how it will be reused.

The 6,000-square-foot, three-story mansion was designed by Richard K.A. Kletting, the same architect who worked on the Utah State Capitol. Members of the Fisher family lived in the home until until the 1940s, when it was leased and ultimately deeded to the Salt Lake Catholic Diocese.

The Fisher Mansion was named as a Utah Historic Site in 1975, shortly after it became St. Mary's Home, a shelter for homeless men with alcohol or drug problems.

Last week, Spencer discovered a skylight in the mansion that had been shielded by an enclosed stairwell for more than 40 years. The skylight likely was covered to allow the mansion to meet fire code for a dormitory-style shelter.

---

Fisher Mansion open house

WHEN: 2 to 4 p.m. today

WHERE: 1206 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City

WHY: Public tour and information gathering about possible reuses for the property

---

E-mail: jpage@desnews.com