Maybe you’ve noticed some activity happening at over at 135 W. Chatham Street lately.
We snapped a few pictures for our Instagram from the Ivey-Ellington house last week.
So, what’s up?
The Downtown Cary landmark is on the move. That’s right, a crew is physically moving the historic building from her current home to the Old Library Site, now a park on Academy Street.
We caught up with Gillian White, the Historic Preservation Program Manager for the Town of Cary for a quick Q&A about the big move.
Q: When should folks expect to see some things “happening” around the move, and what will that look like?
A: The removal of non-historic additions began this week (right around January 9th), and citizens will notice a construction fence around the house. A construction fence has been placed at the new location on the former library site and foundation work will likely be beginning next week. The foundation work will continue for the next few weeks. A relocation schedule with additional details can be found at the project website.
Q: When is the building actually being moved, and how long will it take?
A: The move date is February 20th, beginning at 8am. We do not foresee the move taking longer than a few hours, but Academy Street and sidewalks will be closed until the house relocation is completed.
Q: Will the activities like the Farmers Market that call IE home be moving as well?
A: The Farmers Market was relocated to the parking lot of A Perfect Piece a couple months ago. They will remain there until their permanent space at the downtown park is available.
Q: Why do this now?
A: In 2019, the Town entered into a development agreement which requires the relocation of the Ivey-Ellington House. The relocation has been scheduled to coincide with the new development timeline.
Q: What has you and the town excited about with moving IE to the old library site?
A: This is a perfect example of integrating our past history while respecting the ongoing evolution of downtown Cary. The relocation of the house will give it a more central location and it will be in close proximity to the Downtown Park. This is exciting as it will likely result in more foot traffic and more eyes on the historic house in general. With the prominence of the new location, we are looking forward to the historic character the house adds to Academy Street and the educational opportunities it will create.
Q: Can people go inside after the move?
A: Following the relocation and rehabilitation of the house, it will initially be used as office space for Downtown Park staff. Future use possibilities include a welcome and/or history center.