New owner of Top-O-Rock still weighing his options: ; Doctor says he may use circular building as event center, office space, home

The doctor who bought Top-O-Rock, the circular house built by thelate Henry Elden, said he has not yet decided what he will do withthe property.

"I think there are a lot of options for it," Dr. Mitchell Rashidsaid on Wednesday. "I haven't made up my mind 100 percent. I'll putit up for lease for maybe an event center or an office space like alegal practice or an architect's office. Maybe even restore it as apersonal home. I haven't decided yet."

The house needs a lot of work. "It's an overwhelming project,"Rashid said.

That's quite a statement considering the fact Rashid and anassociate, Dr. Elie Gharib, are currently constructing a four-storymedical office near Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston.The doctors are directors of the West Virginia Heart & VascularInstitute, which has offices at Thomas Memorial and in Logan.

Rashid said Top-O-Rock is zoned residential-commercial. "That'swhat Mr. Elden had done with it," he said, referring to Elden'sarchitectural practice. "They also have had numerous weddings andevent planning up there, with the beautiful views that overlookCharleston and the Capitol."

Rashid said he believes the site has ample parking.

"I think it would be a gem of a property, to restore it back towhere it was in the '60s," he said. Right now he is "just goingthrough the due diligence of getting information about it to see ifthe structure is safe, what kind of remodeling can be done to it. Idon't know if I will put it up for lease but I probably will. Ihaven't decided."

Rashid and Kamilla L. Rashid bought the famous house on July 26from Elden's daughter, Barbara Elden Scavullo of San Francisco, for$400,000, according to a deed filed in the Kanawha CountyCourthouse.

The house had been listed for sale. Rashid said theadministrators of the Elden trust then decided to conduct a sealed-bid auction. Rashid said he doesn't know how many other bidders, ifany, there were.

Rashid said he was not surprised that his bid won "because of thescope of the project and how much renovation would be required."

Elden built Top-O-Rock in 1968. Over the years the glass housenear Porter Road in Kanawha City was featured in several nationalmagazines. Elden and his son, Ted, always encouraged both friendsand strangers to come visit the house.

Henry Elden died in 2009 at age 94.

DAILY MAIL FILE PHOTO This is an early photo of the glass house,Top-O-Rock, built by the late Henry Elden in 1968.

Contact writer George Hohmann at business@ dailymail.com or 304-348-4836.