I’ve often wondered what the possibilities are, when it comes to moving a historic home from one site to another. What are the costs? What does a move entail? How does the move proceed? And by whom?
In a city such as Buffalo, where there are still empty lots upon which to build, I feel that infill should either fit into the existing character of the neighborhood, or stick out to add a modern contrast. Of course, what we are typically left with is something that falls right in the middle – cheap and uninspiring, cookie cutter housing.
In 1999 I happened to be in Cape Hatteras when this iconic lighthouse was moved from a location near the sea to a more secure inland spot. It turned out that the job of moving the mammoth structure was awarded to a Buffalo company — International Chimney Corp.
Moving houses and structures from one place to another is nothing new. In Buffalo, there are a couple of well-known examples, including The Coit House – Buffalo’s oldest residence (which recently sold). It’s funny to think that way back when, people were able to move a house such as this, yet today the thought is so daunting that we rarely consider such a feat.
In Chicago, a prairie-style home has been saved from demolition by a man who purchased the structure for ten dollars. He then bought a vacant lot and doled out $85,000 to move the architecturally home to its new address. The Chicago Tribune has the inspirational story.
Photo: Chris Walker, Chicago Tribune