MASON CITY – A historic Mason City home that was damaged by flood waters in 2008 will be relocated, according to a Facebook page dedicated to the structure.
“The Egloff House is getting a new home and new people,” the report stated. “After farewell visits this week from the two families that previously lived in the house, a new chapter begins. The relocation agreement will be on the Council agenda next Tuesday.”
After the 2008 flood, the City of Mason City purchased the home – located at 655 7th Street NE – and since has sought to relocate it out of the flood plain.
Over five years have passed since the 2008 flood and the City of Mason City continues to struggle to demolish damaged homes. The city has blamed red tape from the federal government for the slow-moving process of clearing the homes away.
FEMA provided the money for purchasing the houses. Because of the architectural significance of those two they were offered for $1 with the stipulation that whoever bought the houses would be responsible for the moving and rehabbing expenses. These houses will go back on the tax rolls. As far as moving all the houses there simply arent enough affordable lots to justify moving. Most of those houses were probably $60-$80,000 houses to begin with. If it costs $10,000 to move, $30,000 for a lot, $20,000 for a foundation, a new furnace, air conditioning, sidewalk,etc Plus the roof would probably need replacing with a few years too so it is cheaper to start all over than to move the house. I looked into this with a contractor friend of mine.
How much will this cost us. Tear the damn thing down if the tax-payers have to cover any of the cost.
It is very expensive to have someone move a house, especially one like this. It will be interesting to see who actually owns the house and who will actually pay for moving it. I will so though, that if someone can get a ($200,000.00?) house for little or nothing, and has the land to put it on, a few thousand? is not much to pay for moving it.
Didn’t the city buy this house from Dr.Armstrong for around $200,000??? Of taxpayer money.
I would like to see a final bill on the cost of moving the house and setting it up in its new location. Not just the estimate, but the actual final cost.
If a private party is moving it, why do you think you are entitled to those records?
Because I’m curious. Because I want to know. Because I pretty much do what I want, and if you don’t like it, that’s really your problem.
@Anonymous-didn’t you read the article. It says the city “PURCHASED” the home. That mean us taxpayers paid for it.
Sorry, I interpreted waste’s comments to mean that he/she thought the city was paying to move the house. the city bought it using FEMA (taxpayer funds). This house had water halfway up the garage door. I went to the open house they had. First floor has been gutted. It’s an interesting house. Glad it looks like it will stay in town and on the tax rolls.
The city purchased all of the flood houses.
All of these houses should have been relocated including the ones mercy destroyed. I would love to see a cost analysis between gutting them, destroying them and disposing them vs just moving them and using them for low income housing.
Because we need more low-income, HUD approves housing for more Chicago natives to move into. I would rather see them gutted and tore-down then destroyed by certain people.
That is a cool house. Looks like it should be in California. Love it.
Ridiculous. The Mayor/City Council will vote to spend more of tax dollars without the taxpayers consent to move a house that someone has a romantic notion about.
I thought the city was giving the house away if someone wanted to move it. If somebody wants to move the house and pay for it themselves, who are you to object?