City leaders are moving forward with steps they hope will prevent the deterioration of one of the city's oldest, most prominent and historically significant homes.

The Herndon house, at 103 N. Congress St. near downtown, was built in 1820 by Joseph Herndon, a member of one of York's founding families. It's notable for its two broad front porches and other historically significant architectural details.

But city leaders say the house - which is unoccupied and owned by a former York resident who has moved to North Carolina - has broken window panes and peeling paint, especially on its broad front porches. They say repairs are needed to prevent rot from setting in.

"I do not want the house to deteriorate to the point where it can't be fixed," City Manager Charles Helms said.

The city's Historical Commission, an independent board appointed by the City Council, has repeatedly asked the property owner to address the conditions, city planning director David Breakfield said.

The property owner, Carol Sutton, now lives in Huntersville, N.C., officials said. She not be reached for comment.

According to a memo to Helms from Breakfield, the Historical Commission sent letters in October 2008 and February and March 2009, asking that Sutton share information about the property's maintenance.

Twice since then, according to the memo, the owner has told city officials she would "take the necessary remedial actions," but no work has been done on the house.

The commission suggested that the City Council authorize city workers to make needed repairs, Breakfield said.

Councilman Harmon Merritt said the cost of repairs to the house is probably significant.

"I don't believe you could put that house into good repair for less than $50,000," he said.

Mayor Eddie Lee suggested the city make one more effort to contact the owner before it considers further action. He said the city is drafting a letter from him that will be sent this week.

"It's an important piece of property with a historical value to it, and we want it to look its best," Lee said. He said the letter will offer Sutton "the city's assistance to help her either apply for grants to restore the home or perhaps put the home on the market."

Lee said the home - surrounded by an iron fence inscribed with the name "R.J. Herndon" - includes a large, gracious entrance hall. He said the home was on the Yorkville Historical Society's Christmas home tour about a decade ago, when he was one of the docents.

"That house is gorgeous," Lee said, "and when it was on the Christmas tour 10 years ago, a lot of people went through that house."

When Union troops occupied York during the Reconstruction period, Lee said, members of the 7th Cavalry, led by Gen. George Armstrong Custer, congregated at the Herndon house.

"There are many houses that are in worse shape," Lee said. "But the problem with that house is that it's unoccupied and the owner lives out of state, it's at a historic intersection and it's a 200-year-old house."

A list of needed repairs would be considered by the Historical Commission and the City Council, Breakfield said. Under the ordinance, the city could place a lien on the property to gets its money back when the home is sold.

The home would have "tremendous potential" for the right owner, Lee said.

"That house needs tender loving care."