West Seattle rises early to watch old house move a mile

Getting up at 4 a.m. isn't bad if you've got something fun to do — like watching a house go gliding by — says 8-year-old Tate Ingraham, of West Seattle.

"This is so weird," he said. "I've never seen a house being moved on a truck before. I didn't know they could do that."

As he spoke, a cream-colored house with dark-green trim and plywood-covered windows moved slowly down the street in the first hints of daylight Sunday, nearing the end of its five-hour journey.

To be precise, it wasn't actually on a truck. The 1924-vintage house, built by the late prolific West Seattle builder Thomas Jensen, was supported by three hydraulic dollies, pulled by a truck on its one-mile journey to its new home on 46th Avenue Southwest.

Dozens of West Seattle residents gave up sleep to see at least part of the process that began about 1:30 a.m., when the 30-foot-wide house slid off its perch on 42nd Avenue Southwest, and concluded after 6 a.m. when the structure was placed on supports in its new location.

Along the route, which included a stretch on California Avenue Southwest, some residents set out folding chairs in their yards, but more stood at the corners of their blocks, greeting neighbors.

"It's almost unreal," said Audry Taylor, who grew up in the house built by her father and who lives a few doors away from the house's new perch. With her daughter, son-in-law and several grandchildren, Taylor watched the house eased down a ramp supported by heavy beams for the start of its move.

The house's new owners, Beth Koutsky and Jacques White, were also on hand, White admitting some apprehension as workmen scrambled underneath the 25-ton structure.

"It's like watching sausage being made," said White, "fascinating, but a little bit unsettling."

The house was moved because a developer plans a mixed-use project of residential and commercial space for much of the block where the home had been.

Taylor said she's delighted the new owners are saving the house, which she'll be able to see from her living room.

Her father, who died in 1983 at 96, built dozens of homes in West Seattle and some commercial buildings.

To fit under utility lines for the move, the house's roof and attic were removed and scrapped. Contractor Alex Schenkar of Schenkar Construction Design/Build will replicate the upper level with materials and style faithful to its period.

Eight to 10 houses are moved in Seattle each year, and each has its own challenges, said Dell Davis, owner of D.B. Davis Structural Moving & Raising, subcontractor for the move.

"This one was tight, with some obstacles in places," Davis said. A half-dozen street signs were temporarily removed, and many tree limbs had to be lifted out of the way. In some places, the house was tilted to get past obstructions.

Rigs from the Seattle Department of Transportation preceded and followed the house assembly, their warning lights flashing as the convoy moved about the pace a person would walk, slower at some points.

White said moving the house and finishing two floors will likely cost about $375,000. Having a new home might have been cheaper, but he and Koutsky like the environmentally friendly idea of saving an old home, keeping the material out of landfills.

In addition, the house they are getting has top-quality custom details, such as leaded-glass windows with crystal insets and hand-finished touches on window and door frames.

More than 50 neighbors had signed a petition supporting the effort, which helped White and Koutsky get city permission to split their lot to accommodate the house.

"This fits the neighborhood better than something new would," said Greg Key, who lives half a block from the house's new site and came out to watch the move. "There's a real sense of community and history that exists here."

Jack Broom: 206-464-2222 or jbroom@seattletimes.com