The Edith Macefield “Up” house may be coming down after reports of looming construction were made earlier this month.

The Puget Sound Business Journal reported King County's website states "new construction coming."

The property was sold for $450,000 in August of last year to PEFB Ballard at 46 LLC, an affiliate of the Ballard Blocks.

According to Seattle real estate broker Paul Thomas (The No B.S. Broker), who brokered the sale of the property, the house is in its final days and is so run down that it’s not worth saving. Thomas compared the house to the Kalakala, the Puget Sound ferry that couldn’t be saved after it partially sunk.

“At this point it’s not an economic perspective, and it’s time to get it recycled into something else,” said Thomas.

Thomas reported that the roof of the structure is not sound and that there is major water damage inside the house.

“The building is just worn out and soaking wet inside and has mold and mildew problems, and I just think the land could be used in a more productive way. … I’m hard-pressed to say it’s unsalvageable at this point and certainly not in any financial sense.”

Thomas also mentioned that the structure itself has undergone so many changes that very few structural elements from Macefield’s original home remain.

“Its not really Edith’s house as it is besides the roof structure and rafters and the subfloor and parts of the foundation.”

Despite the condition of the structure, OPAL Community Land Trust (Orcas Island) made an attempt to move the house to Orcas Island last August in order to preserve it. They started a Kickstarter campaign to raise over $200,000 needed to make the trek. Approximately $20,000 was raised, and they were forced to abandon the effort.

“There was a huge amount of effort to save it, and it wasn’t for a lack of trying.”

Thomas could not speak for the present owners but mentioned talk of plans for a commercial space or parking.

The Ballard News-Tribune reached out to the current owners but did not hear back before this report. Looks to the Westside Weekly as this story develops.