Moving Day: Historic Homes Relocated in Connecticut.
On Thursday, a remarkable event took place in a small town in Connecticut as four 19th-century homes were uprooted from their foundations and paraded through the streets. With hydraulic jacks used to lift them off the ground, these historic residences, which have stood for more than 125 years, were moved into vacant lots throughout the city of Hartford.
The spectacle drew crowds of local residents eager to witness the unfolding event as the homes were transported across town. WTNH reported that this unusual process disrupted street parking and even cut off power to some areas for the day while the three-story buildings were moved through the streets.
In a unique twist, one house had to be split in two to be transported across Lincoln Street to its new location in the Frog Hollow neighborhood, according to WFSB. The homes were being relocated as part of a larger $60 million project led by LAZ Parking for a nine-story parking garage with 900 new parking spaces at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
The move began around 9 a.m., and also included the removal of J Restaurant & Bar, a family business that has occupied one of the 19th-century buildings for 54 years. The restaurant was sold to LAZ Parking in January for $3.75 million. In an interview with WTNH, restaurant owner Jordan Dikegoros remarked, “This is kind of weird…It’s our last day of doing any kind of cooking, which is not even happening inside the restaurant.
Dikegoros is currently in negotiations with project planners to include a new version of their restaurant on the ground level of the parking garage, pending funding. Construction for the parking center is set to begin next month, according to the report.
