Commission Delays Merrywood Vote as Preservation Talks Continue

Oct. 15, 2026 By Beth Kassab The fate of Merrywood remained uncertain the morning after a more than four-hour meeting devoted to determining how much, if any, of the historic property must be preserved for its new owner to get permission from the City Commission to split the lakefront lot he purchased in August for $15 million into two. As these debates often do in Winter Park, the discussion touched on more than the fate of one house. For many, it reflected a collective angst over losing the architectural diversity and history that, along with its walkability and lush tree canopy, have long earned the city acclaim as a destination for visitors and people seeking a Florida lifestyle in a New England-style village. Natalie Brethauer, one of at least 10 people who signed up to speak at the meeting, illustrated that tension between old and new. She told commissioners she grew up in Winter Park, moved away for college and lived in other vibrant cities, including Denver, Houston and the Old