WILMINGTON — Once slated for demolition, an 1890s historic home is moving right next door. And soon, it’ll be turned into a restaurant in Wilmington’s northside neighborhood.
The house’s new home is just two blocks and less than a quarter-mile from where the bungalow sat for over a century.
RELATED: This 1890s home is scheduled for demolition. Historic Wilmington Foundation needs help saving it
In August, Historic Wilmington Foundation (HWF) made a bid to save the home from a scheduled demolition to make way for new apartments.
The foundation’s director, Beth Rutledge, hoped to keep the home near Bladen Street, on the eastern side of Market Street. “We’d love to keep it in its neighborhood,” she told Port City Daily when HWF was looking for partners to help move the bungalow.
Turns out, HWF’s Hail Mary worked. On Monday, HWF announced its partnership with property owners, Jennifer Concklin and Matt Walker, and Terry Espy, president of MoMentum companies. Wolfe House Movers will transport the home, currently at 310 Bladen Street, to vacant property on the corner of 4th and Swann Streets downtown.
Architect Gordon Hall and contractor Greg Uhl are slated to get the aging house in restaurant-ready condition. The home was donated by the owner of City Block Apartments, sitting on land where additional apartments will soon be built.
In announcing the historic move, Rutledge said HWF intends to show historic preservation, in action. Citing visible adaptive reuse projects on North Fourth Street, including the Brooklyn Arts Center, Edward Teach Brewery, Red Eye Bakery and Palate, Rutledge said she was thankful the home was donated, instead of destroyed.
“Old buildings are finding new life, and 310 Bladen will now be added to that list,” she said.
Check out the 1890s home’s short moving path, from Bladen Street to Swann Street below:
