The Macefield Music Festival is in its fourth year in Ballard and recently announced its line-up. Meanwhile, the reason for the festivities, a tribute to Edith Macefield holding out on selling her home in the face of gentrification and development, remains in question: Edith’s house.

The structure that used to be Edith’s house at 1438 N.W. 46th Street has become a bit of an eye sore: the windows are boarded up; the grass is either overgrown or not there at all; strings tied to balloons long blown out and other remnants sag from the fence around the property.

John Speirs with KG Investments manages the property for PEFB at 46 LLC Ballard, an investment group and affiliate for Ballard Locks.

Speirs said he and his employers are working with architects to determine the best use for the space.

“We are working with architects to see what would be a good fit. There are lots of ideas, so we are kind of working through all the them to see what’s most feasible and makes the most sense,” said Speirs.

Ballard Blocks, a commercial mega-complex, was built around Edith Macefield’s 1,550-square-foot house in 2006 after she refused to sell even after developers offered her $1 million . Macefield had lived in the home since 1952.

Her home was sold for $450,000 in August of last year after changing hands multiple times. Before it sold OPAL Community Land Trust of Orcas Island tried to raise $200,000 in order to move the house to their property. Approximately $20,000 was raised, and they were forced to abandon the effort.

Since then the house has been mostly left alone, deteriorating. In fact, Paul Thomas (The No B.S. Broker), who brokered the sale of the property, told the Ballard News-Tribune last January that the house is so run down that it’s not worth saving.

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

“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.

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

The house may be going, but the spirit remains, at least to Macefield Music Festival goers and organizers. According to their website the festival aims to pay homage to Edith Macefield’s “ fiercely independent spirit” by showcasing local musicians and artists.

This year the festival is September 30 through October 2. Headliners include Zola Jesus, Psychic TV, Reigning Sound, Fly Moon Royalty, Hazel (Reunion), and Selene Vigil (from 7 Year Bitch). Venues include Tractor Tavern, The Sunset, Conor Byrne Pub, Hotel Albatross. Three-day passes are $45.

The festival continues to grow larger every year with hundreds of people turning out to stomp, weave and acknowledge a woman’s plight against the wave of gentrification that has overtaken and changed the identity of Ballard over the last decade.

About the Macefield Festival, Speirs said, “I think that’s great.”

Indeed, and Speirs recognized the controversy and history of the house and admitted that it will have at least some influence in whatever the fate of the house will be.

“We know that there is a sentimental attachment to the property. We understand that completely, probably better than anyone. We hope to respect that in whatever we do going forward.”

Visit for more info visit www.macefieldmusicfestival.com.