Edith Macefield's Seattle house goes 'Up' for auction
Macefield, rallied a community to save her small home, reminiscent of tiny house in move, 'Up' from developers
Although she didn't realize it at the time, Seattle, Washington resident Edith Macefield's decision not to sell her house to desperate developers soon became the thing of legends among the city's residents.
Edith, who died in 2008, refused lucrative offers up to $ 1 million to pry her away from her tiny home.
Unable to convince her, developers were forced to build their planned concrete complex around her house which transformed her 600-square-foot property into something of a symbol against development for the city. Now, the house which still stands on the same spot as it did when Macefield lived there, faces an uncertain future.
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"She was very determined with anything and everything she did," Barry Martin told On the Coast's Stephen Quinn. "She was also a little cranky and scared most of the people away with her attitude."
Martin was the construction foreman back in 2006 for the building project, but became close friends with Edith. His friendship soon transitioned into a caretaker role for the elderly woman.
"I was feeding her three meals a day, seven days a week. I did her laundry, paid her bills, and did all the things she needed to be taken care of."
After Macefield passed away, possession of the house switched to Martin as per Edith's will. The house has transferred hands several times since and is now up for auction next week.
"A shame for it to go away"
The small home has often drawn comparisons to the one featured in the Disney Pixar animated film "Up." In recent weeks, the site has seen an influx of visitors who are concerned that a potential transfer of ownership may lead to the house's demolition.
Martin, who admits he doesn't know what the future of the home holds, says the property has come to mean something special to the community.
"A part of me would like for it to stay just because of all that it has meant to everybody. It would almost be a shame for it to go away now."