The Revitalist

Phoenix house scheduled to be relocated and the man who saved it.

Phoenix is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, which has put enormous pressure on its historic structures to either "move it or lose it". Over the past few years the number of historic buildings being moved to a new location to prevent demolition has risen dramatically. In the photo above, Dan Klocke stands in front a house that he just couldn't watch being torn down. The owner, sitting square in the path of condo expansion related to Arizona State University growing campus, wanted to demo and sell. Klocke stepped in to buy the structure and relocate it to an empty lot in downtown: "It's definitely a decision of the heart rather than the wallet." The article notes that the costs of such a move "can be staggering," but the all-in estimate for acquisition, moving, and rehab are estimated at $500,000, and the city is stepping in with $250,000 in preservation funds to defray the expense. From here, that seems like a good investment. It encouraging to see that the City of Phoenix realizes that its historic structures are an asset to the city and are willing to utilize their resources to encourage positive action.