A 104-year-old building was moved from the north side of Roosevelt and Fourth streets to the south side in a preservation effort that will turn the old house into an office building.
Kimber Lanning, who spearheaded the move, said she hopes to begin community fundraising to help offset some of the costs, beginning in the next few weeks. So far all of the financial investment has come from Lanning personally.
After three months of planning and more than $40,000 invested, the historic Wurth House was moved earlier this summer. The project manager said the long-term plans for the house are to transform it into an office space for Local First Arizona or a Roosevelt Row Welcome Center.
Lanning, creator of Local First Arizona and owner of Roosevelt Row art gallery Modified Arts, moved the building from its original foundation to prevent its demolition for apartments. She said that although she is excited about the project, the cost of everything is extensive.
“I spent a fortune moving the house, and that was before any renovations were made,” she said. “Almost all of the estimates now are double what they were when we started.”
Despite the costs, Lanning, along with the community, said she is excited for the house to be an active member of Roosevelt Row. She said the main focus for the Wurth House, which will open as soon as next year, is short-term projects that will revitalize the house.
“Right now I am working with engineers to reconstruct the basic structure of the house,” she said. “We are redoing and installing electrical, plumbing, windows and doors. We will also be resanding and refurbishing the original wood flooring of the house.”
Although they have not had any direct part in the move of the Wurth house, Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation said they support the rescue of this historic building.
“The Wurth House is a valuable part of this arts districts’ history and we are thrilled that it was able to be salvaged,” said Nicole Underwood, director of operations for the Roosevelt Row CDC, in an email. “We now support and promote Kimber’s effort to fundraise for the restoration of the building so it can be functional again, and encourage the community to get involved in the efforts.”
Underwood said the role of the Roosevelt Row CDC is to create “a dense, diverse and walkable arts district.”
“That includes advocating for the success of projects like this, to preserve historic homes in the area instead of demolishing them,” she said.
Michael Levine, local developer and preserver of historic buildings, said he is a soundboard for Lanning and supports her in her efforts to preserve the house’s future.
Contact the reporter at Jessica.Michelle.Martin@asu.edu
