Seven Ann Arbor homes over a century old are basically in the way - however the developer of City Place wants to preserve their history.  In an effort to do so, Alex De Parry is selling each home for only a dollar if the buyer is willing to relocate the structure.  In their place is a propsosed four-story apartment building called City Place.  This is the second proposal for the project since January.  The new plan calls for approximately 100 units with 15% of them priced by "affordable housing" guidelines.  De Parry has so far been unsuccessful in relocating the structures to new Ann Arbor locations, thus the inventive plan to "give" them away.  At least one of these homes was once preserved as a historic structure housing some of Ann Arbor's early local politicians.

So how easy is it to just move a house?  Not terribly, but it is doable.  The toughest part of the move is coordinating with the utility companies to clear the road so other wires and things like stoplights wont get destroyed in the process.  The seven homes available are:

  • 407 S. Fifth Ave.: Queen Anne/Dutch Colonial style; 2,650 square feet.
  • 411 S. Fifth Ave.: Queen Anne style; 3,134 square feet.
  • 415 S. Fifth Ave.: Greek Revival style known as the Beakes House; 3608 square feet.
  • 419 S. Fifth Ave.: Queen Anne style; 2,726 square feet.
  • 427 S. Fifth Ave.: Victorian style; 4,051 square feet.
  • 433 S. Fifth Ave.: Greek Revival style; 3,214 square feet.
  • 437 S. Fifth Ave.: Vernacular; 1,951 square feet.

Please contact Kathy Toth and Team for more information about these homes or the proposed City Place.