Edith Macefield’s iconic house is set to move to Orcas Island with nonprofit OPAL Community Land Trust, if $205,000 can be raised by September 15th. Once on the island, the house will be inhabited by a family in need of an affordable home, in the midst of trees and “a little room to breathe,” according to OPAL.
Last week the announcement came that Edith Macefield’s house was set to be saved. However, we were told that in order to save it from demolition, the only choice is to move it from its current location– the location where Edith famously refused a $1 million offer in order for her and her house to stand on their ground.
“It’s not economically feasible to continue to use this house in its current location,” says broker for the Macefield house Paul Thomas. The fundamental problem lies in the house having been vacant since Edith’s death in 2008, putting it far past two years of vacancy. This means the structure on NW 46th St. would be required to comply with Seattle’s 2012 building code.
Unfortunately, upgrading a one-hundred year old home in a way to conform with current codes equates to outrageous costs and a task with “too many hurdles” for commercial or residential purposes, according to Thomas. He tells us that instead the seller opted to donate the house with the preference of finding a nonprofit willing to move the house.
There is bad news for those wanting to see the house kept anywhere nearby. Of the five total relocation proposals submitted, the closest destination for Edith’s house would have been West Seattle.
The accepted proposal comes from OPAL Community Land Trust, a non-profit organization that has provided permanent affordable housing solutions for 26 years. The organization plans to lift Edith’s house and float it to Orcas Island.
“As much as we wanted to use only a huge bundle of balloons to float the house up and away, the help of a barge is needed,” says OPAL.
OPAL has an applicant pool of about 20 families in need of housing, one of which will most likely end up in Edith’s home. OPAL says they’ve planned to choose a suitable location on the island to ensure enough privacy from tourism for the house and its future inhabitants.
The nonprofit’s proposal has been been accepted, but it won’t happen without donations.
For the process to begin, OPAL must raise $205,000 by 5 p.m. on September 15th in order to help cover the costs of lifting the “Up” house, moving it on a barge through the Salish Sea, purchasing the land on which it will rest and restoring it for a family in need.
OPAL has set up a Kickstarter project to help in fundraising. If the funds cannot be raised in time, the structure will again face demolition.
To support or view progress for the fundraiser, view Kicktarter at opalclt.org/uphouse.
