A Mansion on the Move
During a recent walk at Langus Riverfront Park, I spotted something along the Snohomish River that definitely didn't belong there:
A large, expensive-looking mansion.
Love the house, but the neighborhood's a little weird // Christopher Bragg
I knew right away that Nickel Bros. were at it again. They're a structural moving company based in Marysville that seems to always be working on something cool in Everett. I first learned about them when their sign went up at one of my favorite homes, the Lion House at the East entrance of Howarth Park.
The Lion House where it was built in 1950 // Christopher Bragg
The house sat on four lots with an amazing view of the sound. When it was purchased for just over $1 million in June 2015, the new owner wanted to clear the land, and listed the house itself with Nickel Bros. for $175,000. You can find lots of great houses for sale on their site, and those prices include delivery and installation.
I spoke with owner Dan Cawdrey shortly after he moved the Lion House to its new location overlooking Howarth Park's west entrance about his experience.
Landscaping begins at the Lion House's new location // Christopher Bragg
The original plan was to buy the Lion House and flip it, but Cawdrey and his wife fell in love with it and decided to move in. Touring the house, it was easy to see why. I couldn't take photos at the time due to the remodel in progress, but was enchanted by all the unique details bathed in rainbows thrown by the antique leaded glass windows, none of which were damaged in the move.
Cawdrey says moving an older home is a rewarding and affordable option, but it requires lots of patience and a trustworthy contractor you can work with for a long time. In his case, himself.
Cawdrey had to wait a bit once the papers were signed because the equipment was in use moving an Everett landmark, the original Weyerhaeuser headquarters. This third—and shortest—move was from the southeast corner of the marina to Boxcar Park, where it now waits empty, likely to become the future home of several yacht clubs as they become displaced by waterfront redevelopment. (I've heard some rumors about inadequate space, though.)
The Weyerhaeuser Muse, Everett's newest old waterfront landmark // Christopher Bragg
If you already own your home, Nickel Bros. can help you add value in several ways. They raise homes in place so new basements or ground floors can be added, or existing ones can be made taller. If your property is large enough to divide and you want to sell part of it, but your house is in the wrong spot, they can move it.
And if you're in the market for a mansion, this one's available for $790,000.
Impressive even when out of context // Christopher Bragg
That's a great price for a 7,000-square-foot house, so give Nickel Bros. a call if you know a good place to put it and are up for a house moving adventure.
And please let me come see it when it gets there.
Christopher Bragg works from home in Everett and loves walking, swimming, and cats. You can find him all over town, but only if you keep weird hours and avoid crowds like he does.
