The Steensland House Gets Ready for Its Move

The process was not an easy one.

Madison’s Bethel Lutheran Church Vs. Historic Steensland House.  (Caffeinated Politics, 1/8/2011)

Persevering the building in its original place would be my first desire.  Failing that would be to place it in a location that allows the historic nature of this structure to continue to speak to us.  We must not allow the lack of a sense of history or recognition of the past win the day when it comes to the  Steensland House.

Historic House Hamstrings Madison Development.  (Daily Reporter, 1/12/2011)

To leave the house where it is would increase the cost of a community center by $2 million and force it to be six stories tall, said Rev. Bill White, the church’s senior pastor. The city is unlikely to approve such a tall building at that site.

“We’re gonna have to find some place to put it — we don’t have any skyhooks available,” White joked.

The church’s neighbors aren’t laughing, though.

Mansion Hill neighbors oppose plan to move landmark Steensland House. The latest historic-preservation battle.  (Isthmus, 4/11/2012)

The church wants to give the house to Apex Property Management, which has vacant land at 124 East Gorham. If the plan is approved, it would place the house next to two other Madison landmarks. Although the move would only be a few blocks, it would require that the house be cut in two and reassembled. Many neighbors in the Mansion Hill district are against the move. - See more at: http://www.isthmus.com/news/government/mansion-hill-neighbors-oppose-plan-to-move-landmark-steensland-house/#sthash.5YB3alpB.dpuf - See more at: http://www.isthmus.com/news/government/mansion-hill-neighbors-oppose-plan-to-move-landmark-steensland-house/#sthash.5YB3alpB.dpuf

The church wants to give the house to Apex Property Management, which has vacant land at 124 East Gorham. If the plan is approved, it would place the house next to two other Madison landmarks. Although the move would only be a few blocks, it would require that the house be cut in two and reassembled. 

Many neighbors in the Mansion Hill district are against the move.

Bethel Congregation approves concept for Steensland House.  (Madison Trust for Historic Preservation, 7/22/2013)

The house has been owned by Bethel Lutheran Church for several decades and operated for many years as the Bethel Parish Shop. It has sat unused in recent years. Now, the church is planning the development of the block where the house stands amidst surface parking.

The church wants to give the house to Apex Property Management, which has vacant land at 124 East Gorham. If the plan is approved, it would place the house next to two other Madison landmarks. Although the move would only be a few blocks, it would require that the house be cut in two and reassembled.
Many neighbors in the Mansion Hill district are against the move.
- See more at: http://www.isthmus.com/news/government/mansion-hill-neighbors-oppose-plan-to-move-landmark-steensland-house/#sthash.5YB3alpB.dpuf

The church wants to give the house to Apex Property Management, which has vacant land at 124 East Gorham. If the plan is approved, it would place the house next to two other Madison landmarks. Although the move would only be a few blocks, it would require that the house be cut in two and reassembled.
Many neighbors in the Mansion Hill district are against the move.
- See more at: http://www.isthmus.com/news/government/mansion-hill-neighbors-oppose-plan-to-move-landmark-steensland-house/#sthash.5YB3alpB.dpuf

Latest plan keeps historic Steensland House on same Downtown block.  (Capital Times, 8/19/2013)

Historic preservationists, while not thrilled with the idea of moving the 117-year-old structure at all, say it’s an option they can live with. A previous plan, opposed by many in the neighborhood, called for moving the house to a vacant lot on a nearby block.

The Bethel Idea Moves Forward:  Steensland House Move.  (Bethel Lutheran Church)

Steensland House to be Relocated.  (Engineered Construction, Inc., 4/9/2015)