Non-profit falls short in fundraiser to move Macefield House

According to our news partners at the The Seattle Times, Seattle nonprofit OPAL (Of People and Land) Community Land Trust have unfortunately fallen short of raising their $205,000 goal to move Edith Macefield’s house to Orcas Island.

OPAL hoped to raise funds to save the famous home so that it could be used for low-income housing. They launched a Kickstarter to raise funds and also had anonymous donors standing by to offset the costs of moving, renovating the home and purchasing land on the island.

According to the Seattle Times article, the campaign raised close to 9 percent of the fundraising target. “We gave it our best shot,” Lisa Byers, OPAL’S executive director, told The Seattle Times. “We’re sorry that it can’t be possible.”

Back in August, the manager of the property Real Estate Broker Paul Thomas, confirmed that relocating the home is the best option to ensure that it is not destroyed. Thomas stated that potential buyers have not been able to afford the renovations required to keep the home in line with city building codes.

According to the article, Thomas confirmed last Friday that the land and property had been sold to the owners of the Ballard Blocks development which is managed by KG Investment Management. At this stage KG Investment Management has not heard anything from its client in relation to the future of the house.

In a statement from the OPAL team, however, they confirmed that “the current owner of the property has offered the opportunity to another interested party in an effort to ensure that the house does not face demolition. The owner is committed to finding a location where the structure can become a home for a local family.”

Although the future of Edith Macefield’s house is once again unclear, Thomas remains certain that it is not the end of the road. “I do not expect it to be coming down tomorrow, or next month, or even next year,” Thomas told The Seattle Times.

Photo courtesy of OPAL.