The house currently sits at 320 North Broadway Street, on property owned by the EDA. The EDA is currently in the process of selling the land to a developer. City Planner John Knisley said the developer’s plan is to build a residential/commercial building.

“The developer would like to demolish any buildings on that site prior to moving in and developing that site further,” he said. “We all are well aware of the shortage of single-family homes in New Ulm that are in the price range for first-time homebuyers.”

The city currently has a lot available at 1007 North Minnesota. An abandoned property there was forfeited to the city in 2023. Rather than have the developer bulldoze a house in good condition, Knisley said moving the house was proposed instead.

“It’s a win-win,” he said. “Demolishing the house would cost the developer a certain sum of money. Since the house is in really good condition and fits nicely on one of our grid lots in the community, [it makes sense].”

This lot at 1007 North Minnesota Street will soon be host to a new home. The city approved land acquisition funds to move a house from 320 North Broadway there, instead of it being demolished.

Knisley said all costs of moving the house would initially be handled by the city. When the house is for sale, those costs will be accounted for in the home’s final sale cost. The people who currently rent the home would seek to buy it after it is moved. Knisley said their lender is comfortable with this process.

To have the city involved in a process like this is rare for Knisley.

“It’s pretty unusual,” he said. “A lot of times it’s private property owners working with private property owners; we may not have the opportunity to get involved. In this case, the EDA owns the property. This allows us to think outside the box, save a single-family home, and have it available to a first-time homebuyer.”

Councilor Larry Mack asked if there was an estimate for how much the moving process would cost. Knisley said with all the different contractors brought in, it would cost around $156,000.

Councilor Eric Warmka made the motion to authorize land acquisition funds be used to move the house, which Councilor Dave Christian seconded. The board approved the authorization unanimously.