My great-great-Uncle owned Bunn Brickworks, on Charlotte street in Asheville, NC. He built this house in the 1880s with end-of-runs; and trading masonary work for carpentry work.
My great-Aunt Bunn has lived in the house since 1950; wound up with the house; the last of her line. The house sits in the middle of her 6 small lots, one block off I-240, by Merrimon Avenue right downtown.
We moved her into an-assisted care facility this weekend; her health is good, but she’ll live with her sister/my grandmother, who is blind but healthy. Closed up the house. She’ll sell the parcel to pay for her continued care.
Highest and best use is going to be to a developer, who’ll pull the house down and build an office building. This is pic is at the bottom of the hill; her house is just visible through the trees at the top of the hill.
2.8 million – who can afford that to live in an old house, even if the house is perfect and has been well-loved?
Forrest – sad to see it go
Edited 12/11/2006 7:33 pm by McDesign
Edited 12/11/2006 7:33 pm by McDesign
Edited 12/11/2006 7:36 pm by McDesign
Replies
Forrest,
Is it eligible for an historic trust?
Chuck S
live, work, build, ...better with wood
I'll bet she can now give nice big tips to the workers and staff at the assisted living facility.
That is sad, If I were you I would find out the intent of the developer, if they're going to knock it down I would salvage what I could out of the house, the mantle, newel posts, trim, etc.
If you don't want the stuff find an architectural salvage company and put a little more money into her pocket.
Architectural salvage is definately in the future! Some great gas/electric fixtures, too.
Forrest
Achy Salvage I used to frequent when I lived there was "Preservation Hall" I think they moved out or sold the downtown warehouse, but thay have a place in Black Mtn. IIRC. Or vice versa.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I have irriatable Vowel syndrome.
Good info - thanks.
Forrest
http://www.ashevillearchitectural.com/
He moved down to McDowell County where I live but still works the area. I bought some heart pine flooring for a project from him when he was just below the civic center.
Bob
The place is changing faster than most can grasp. No one's sure if it's for the better or not.
Handsome house, btw.
Edited 12/11/2006 9:32 pm ET by CloudHidden
Unfortunately that kind of change is often appreciated by those moving in, not for those who are already there.
>>Unfortunately that kind of change is often appreciated by those moving in, not for those who are already there.
It's a mixed bag. Here there are old timers who are land rich (like Forrest's aunt) and while they hate the change they sell their parcels off slowly and are set for life no matter what happens.
The average folks... they all want to be the last off the boat. Now that I'm here, don't you change nuthin!
Forrest, that looks like a fantastic house. Are there not house moving companies that will move and resell it? Out here the nicer urban homes often get moved out when commercial and condo stuff invades a neighborhood. A company that I have dealt with has houses for sale, delivered to your lot, salvaged from all over the Puget Sound area and beyond.
You could consider contacting the National Historic Preservation Trust or a similar org and see if they can steer you towards someone that will prevent the house from being demo'd.
A beautiful home. Looks tight as the day it was built.
Maybe you guys can find a creative developer who would put up a high density residential community around the house, leaving it for a community centre, or professional office space. This approach has been done before.
This may not yield as many millions though, but might yield enough for her needs while perpetuating your family's legacy in Asheville.
Another approach is to have it moved onto a nice treed lot outside town. First sell all the parcels to a developer, and use the money to buy 10 acres for the old queen. There would still be enough money left for great-Aunt Bunn, and the new lot/old house combo would soon be worth a mil or two.
it make a great office building for a lawyer or accountant
<it make a great office building for a lawyer or accountant>
All the surviving houses on the street are now professional buildings - she's the last "homeowner" for some years now.
Neat thing though, for years she's let all the professional types have vegetable gardens in her vacant lots - lots of good "thank you" food from there.
Forrest
:-( Damn shame. It is just a beautiful house. I'd try my best to see it saved. Could you give it away to someone that could move it rather than have it razed?
was out that way not to long ago.. i live in the triad. NC is changing as a whole. new themepark by six flags in the works for the asheville area... bye bye serenity hello tourists
>new themepark by six flags in the works for the asheville areaDo you know where exactly?
my understanding is closer to hendersonville... also building a new development out in asheville called: Versant (http://www.versantasheville.com/)
Hmmm....we're driving down to Etowah for Christmas.Will it be near there???
http://www.grosshillrentals.com
wish i knew more. just hear tidbits of info.. i.e. billionaire bought 250 acres in kannapolis, nc...
so......someone will really pay $2.8 mill ?
i guess the house is doomed... even if you wait for the area to get gentrified and the city move-backs to show up..
it will never be residential again, not at that base value
<so......someone will really pay $2.8 mill ?>
Yep; offer already on the table. That lot under construction isalmost half the size; just went for $1M+. The old house there was gone instantly.
Forrest
Call the house movers. They can move that house to a better location. That also lets you put a modern foundation under it. Considering what the ground is worth, moving the house isn't all that expensive.
jt8
"When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us." -- Alexander Graham Bell
I believe the house is brick, not brick veneer. Plastered over brick inside. Only elec is on inside walls; one outlet per room and o'head fixtures with pull chains.
Forrest
I'm just making a WAG, but I'm going to guess that if there is brick plastered over on the interior, then it must have two layers of brick with an air gap between them. I suppose you folks down there don't know what cold is, so are probably more worried about warm weather. Nice solid masonry to try and keep the interior cool.
But the challenges of sneaking in some modernization doesn't change the fact that good house movers can probably move that puppy without too much concern. Experienced companies move brick/block buildings larger than that one.
If you had to pay the market value for the house, you couldn't afford to move it. But if some arrangement were made (like the property being sold and then the house sold back for $1 with a contingency that it be moved within "X" number of months) it could be very do-able.
This company has done some interesting moves:
http://www.experthousemovers.com/photo_gallery.htmljt8
"When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us." -- Alexander Graham Bell
> I suppose you folks down there don't know what cold is, so are probably more worried about warm weather.Split pretty equal be/t hot and cold, neither as extreme as in many places.
That Cape Hatteras lighthouse move was on TV... "Mega Movers" or somesuch? Quite an amazing piece of work.
Archimedes would be proud.
jt8
"When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us." -- Alexander Graham Bell
Forrest -
If you are worried about the house, contact the organization Preservation North Carolina . All they do is save houses and communities. I've been a member for years and love the organization. They have four offices in different parts of the state. If you need more info, I'll get it. Butr I think Google would bring it right up.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
I am an Asheville area green builder. The name of my company is The EcoBuilders, Inc. I am also on the Asheville/Buncombe Historic Resources Commission. I know this house, and it breaks my heart (as I'm sure it does yours) to hear of your story. I would love to discuss the property with you. I would potentially love to be involved with salvage, or timber milling/recycling from your property. Does it seem that the 2.8m deal is happening? I know several of the salvage folks in the area. Preservation Hall actually moved to Weaverville. Let me know if you would like to have a discussion. Thanks.
Hallelujah!
and welcome to BT.