Flat Tire Delays Blount Street Move
As I post this, the 350 ton house being moved from Wilmington to Blount Street is sitting in the road, stranded by a tire blow-out that created a sound heard for blocks. A large crowd is on hand as National Geographic films the event. Workers are developing a plan to winch up that corner of the house and replace the tire, which is deemed necessary before further progress can take place.
crowd watches preparation for next shift
sliding down on to Blount Street
Goodnight, Raleigh! post
Raleigh Rambles Blount Street page
Follow Up
The picture above is this massive house while west of Blount Street. Below it is safely parked in its future lot east of Blount. The move took a couple of hours longer than planned. We were sitting inside our house on Person Street when we heard a huge sound – not the tire blowing out but the lurch/shift of the house afterward. I had been going back and forth all morning and missed being on the scene. Once they got the tire replaced and got the house safely across Blount they started moving the smaller green house to its position on Person next to the Murphy School (along with 2 other previously moved structures). The final picture of that move was taken at 3PM this Saturday afternoon. A long day for Blake House Movers of Greensboro, a long wait for the utility workers waiting to restore the lines along Blount – and a circus of a morning for Oakwood residents, assorted vendors, and the ever present representatives (with brochures) from the Blount Street Commons development.
Blount Street Commons and the Pell Street River
My Blount Street Project page is partly about my fascination with all construction sites – this one being across my street is particularly convenient. Moving houses is always fun to watch. This large imposing structure just made it’s move. But we are obviously watching for the pros and cons of this project with respect to our own interests. The Pell Street River is a big “current” concern. It was given that name by our children as they played years ago in the large rainwater flows that gush down our tiny side street after a big rain. With the new drainage system (at the front end, at least) and the large exposed areas of red clay, we knew there might be problems. I have written a story on the Blount Street page about the problem.
Pell Street River descends
Below are a few more house moving images. It sure is fun to watch. Progress is a back and forth thing!
- where it came from
(pictures click to enlarge)
raleighrambles.com
portrait by Guillermo Velasco
Raleigh Rambles 