Last week OPAL Community Land Trust announced they were unable to raise the $200,000 needed to move the Edith Macefield house from Ballard to Orcas Island.

OPAL, a non-profit land trust organization, was declared the recipient of the structure two months ago after the owners accepted applications from interested parties. OPAL had plans to move and refurbish the home to eventually offer it as permanent affordable housing to a needy family on the island. But first they needed to move the house.

OPAL started a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds but raised less than $20,000 from 183 backers. Two weeks ago OPAL reported that there was a backer willing to match $50,000.

“We were excited by the potential of having Edith’s home provide permanently affordable housing, but there were not enough donations to our online campaign or through personal appeals to make this happen,” said Lisa Byers, OPAL executive director. “We are sad to not be the ones who will care for this house into the future, and thereby honor Edith’s legacy of scrappy independence.”

In 2006, Edith Macefield refused to sell her 1,550-square-foot house to developers after they offered her $1 million. Macefield had lived in the home since 1952. Developers of the current Ballard Blocks built the commercial complex around Macefield’s property while she lived there. Macefield died June 15, 2008 of pancreatic cancer. She was 86. Her home has become an iconic symbol for "steadfast" opposition to development and gentrification.

OPAL reported that the current owners – an entity associated with he Ballard Blocks – has offered the structure to other interested parties.

“The owner is committed to finding a location where the structure can become a home for a local family,” OPAL wrote in a statement.

According to John Speirs with KG investment Management – a group handling the property – interested parties are “not exactly getting in line.”

Speirs said that the owners are not interested in selling the property and are not in a rush to move the structure but are open to hear inquiries for the house.

“We don’t have a set timeline in place. Obviously it wouldn’t be forever, but we would be happy to entertain any applicant if they inquire,” said Speirs.

What does a qualified recipient for the home look like?

“Until one comes along we wont know. Obviously we want the building to go to someone who would treat it right and preserve it.”

Speirs would not comment on the specifics of a qualified recipient for the Macefield house.

Paul Thomas is the former broker of the property and facilitated the hand-off of the house to OPAL. Back in August he reported receiving five applications from interested parties and that he and the owners gave non-profits priority.
Thomas said that other things they looked for in an applicant were a planned for use that seemed “worthy,” paired with the financial and organizational capability to move Macefield’s house.

“The sadness of the possibility of demolition is far outweighed by the images of the many people I met during the past five months who got great joy from seeing the house in person,” said Thomas. “Perhaps the house has finished its role in Ballard, but I can tell you for certain that it had a large impact on numerous people both young and old.”