The City of Jefferson is going to pursue a unique venture to possibly kick-start a solution to its housing shortage.

The City Council recently gave authorization to proceed with moving an 1890s house to an empty lot that the City owns. The house in question is located at 305 West State Street and the City will be moving it to the empty lot at 407 West Lincoln Way. The Central Christian Church purchased the property and approached the City about moving the house, otherwise they want to tear it down to expand their current facility.

Building Official Nick Sorensen gave a presentation to the Council at their meeting earlier this week and went over all of the figures. City Administrator Mike Palmer says the City plans include building a new foundation, moving the house and doing some minor work to get it ready to be put on the market for a potential buyer. Just to move the house, the low estimate was $105,000 and the highest was $128,000. Those prices included all of the utility hook ups, permits, painting the exterior and trimming trees for the three block route. Palmer notes that they could take a $150,000 loan from Region XII Council of Governments.

The Council was 3-2 in favor of the project. The two that disagreed were Larry Teeples and David Sloan. Council person Matt Gordon was originally against the project, but changed his mind and is now in favor of it. He said he was against it because he was worried about the City sitting on the house for several years without it being sold. He explained why he changed his mind.

“We’ve got a lot of progressive thinking going on in Jefferson. This is a risk, it’s a calculated risk, with minimal expense. It’s an opportunity to try something. We have a housing problem in Jefferson and if we continue to do nothing, nothing is going to happen. It’s one small piece to the puzzle of our housing shortage. I think it’s the right thing to do now.”

Palmer says he’s never been involved in a project like this, but agrees that it’s worth a try.

“It is risky, but the cost of building new houses is much more than what we’re trying to do (with) this one and to preserve some historical heritage on some of these buildings. Who knows, maybe it’ll start something. We’ve got some other lots available that a house move might work.”

The next steps will be for the Council to approve an acquisition agreement to purchase the house and a contract to have it moved.