In an effort to get fire-affected residents back into homes quicker, Morgan Sykes Jaybush, Creative Director at Los Angeles based architecture and interiors firm Omgivning, has launched a new initiative to move existing houses from greater Los Angeles to Altadena.

Developed in consultation with preservationist and advisor Brad Chambers and with assistance from City of Los Angeles Council District 13, the County of Los Angeles, Santa Monica Conservancy, Los Angeles Conservancy, Before the 101, Esotouric, and a variety of additional partners, the Historic House Relocation Project seeks to help families with fire-damaged lots circumvent a costly and lengthy rebuilding process.

The idea came to Jaybush during a Santa Monica Conservancy board meeting, as the group reviewed the demolition permits they regularly receive from the City. Given the rich history of house-moving in Los Angeles – notably from Bunker Hill to Highland Park during the development of Downtown, from Hollywood to Los Feliz with the construction of the 101 Freeway, from the foothills to the beach and back again – why couldn’t the many not-quite-historic homes slated for demolition be moved for those that need them?

Simultaneously, artist Evan Chambers and educator Caitlin Chambers had the same idea independently, after spotting a beautiful Hollywood home slated for razing on the Instagram account Before the 101, run by author Kathleen Perricone. Through mutual friends from jAdis Prop Shop & Curiosity Cabinet and the Santa Monica Conservancy, Jaybush and the Chambers were connected within two days and the idea snowballed from there.

Serving as project manager for the house relocation efforts, the work brings together Jaybush’s experience in historic rehabilitation, navigating complex municipal codes, and deep knowledge of Los Angeles history as a fourth-generation Angeleno. He explains,“Relocating houses used to be much more common in Los Angeles, but it’s rarely done nowadays. It’s the most sustainable way to rebuild, by not throwing an entire house into the landfill. It’s also a great way to bring some historic character back to these neighborhoods which have suffered so much loss. And in addition to being a quicker solution, it’s a more affordable option; we estimate that these moves are half to two thirds of the cost of a new build.”

Now underway, the first house to be relocated and reconstructed will be the 1911 Craftsman-style, 2,400 square-foot, four bedroom home and garage now standing at 1853 Taft Avenue in Hollywood. Originally proposed for demolition to make way for a new affordable housing project, Jaybush arranged for the home to be acquired by the Chambers family and moved to the site of their previous residence – lost in the Eaton Canyon fire – at 55 Mountain View St. in Altadena.

ABOVE: The Taft Residence

Taft Residence House Moving Map

*ABOVE: Map illustrating the relocation route of the house

To accomplish this, the new Chambers residence will use a method tried and proven by preservationist and project advisor Brad Chambers (no relation) as a way to save money on the complicated house-moving logistics that would typically involve altering street lights, cutting trees, and relocating power lines. The house will be cut into approximately five pieces and moved individually on flatbed trucks from Hollywood to Altadena by Dinuba House Movers Inc., tracing an epic 26-mile journey avoiding bridges, underpasses, railroad tracks, freeways, and powerlines – but not without a few tight traffic light intersections. The haul route will run down Western Ave., across Olympic and Wilshire Blvds, through Downtown and past City Hall, from Main Street to Huntington Blvd., and up Fair Oaks Blvd., passing through the heart of Los Angeles, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Alhambra, South Pasadena, Old Town Pasadena, and finally to Altadena.

Following Chapter 14 (Relocated or Moved Buildings) of the California Existing Building Code and in compliance with all local zoning ordinances, the house will then be reassembled on box cribs, so that a new foundation (designed by structural engineer Nous Engineering) can be built and inspected underneath. It will then be lowered onto the foundation and all plumbing, gas, and electrical connected and inspected. The garage will be dismantled and reassembled directly on a new slab on grade.

Also in the next few weeks, a second home acquired by interior designer Gwen Sukeena and mechanical engineer Jacques Laramee will be moved from 2919 Saint George St. in Los Feliz to 1008 E. Poppyfields Dr. in Altadena. In the grand tradition of house relocation in Los Angeles, the 1910 Craftsman-style, 3,600 square-foot, five bedroom house has actually been moved before. In 1948, Alice Blackburn’s East Hollywood rental home was condemned by the City as it sat in the path of the soon-to-be constructed 101 Freeway. The enterprising single mother – and first woman to own a Nash car dealership – took it upon herself to purchase the home at auction as well as a vacant lot a few miles away. As detailed in LIFE Magazine (and archived by Before the 101, who brought the house to Jaybush’s attention), she then invited 150 of her closest friends to usher the two-story Craftsman the two miles to its new address. A raucous party was held inside the house while it was moved to Los Feliz.

ABOVE: The Alice Blackburn Residence to relocated to Altadena, CA

The Alice Blackburn Residence House Moving Map

Above: Map illustrating the relocation route of the house

Though the upcoming moves might not be as fabulous as that, they will be just as monumental. Meanwhile, Jaybush has identified around 80 other houses to be relocated and nearly fifty families lined up to take one.

Jaybush continues, “I’m hoping we can find a way to continue this effort beyond these first few houses, saving more houses from the wrecking ball and helping more people find a different – and potentially quicker and less expensive – way to rebuild.”

Get Involved

Are you a homeowner interested in receiving a relocated historic home? Fill out our questionnaire here, and a member of our team will be in touch.

Do you know of a historic house at risk of demolition — or do you own a home slated for demolition that deserves a second life? Fill out our questionnaire here, and we’ll connect with you.

Questions? Contact us at HouseRelocation@Omgivning.com____text in bold or (213)596-5602.