In true Godfather fashion, one Hollywood couple has basically said, “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”
Andrew and Christine Raitt of Hollywood just sold the 6,500-square-foot piece of property their home was situated on, but part of the deal was they get to keep their home — which they are moving down the street to neighboring Los Feliz.
The Raitts purchased their home and property in 2013 — a 1921 California bungalow (a one level home popularized in the 1900s) — and immediately renovated. The couple opened up the floor plan and included a chef’s kitchen and modern aesthetic updates.
They said that since the home was built, various renovations had made the floor plan too closed off. They also added an additional 200 square feet and a master suite.
This house will be rolling down the street on Wednesday.
There have only been five houses moved in Los Angeles in the past five years, according to Andrew.
“You have to be committed to the process,” he said. “There is a tremendous amount of regulations and financial bonds… but from an economic perspective, I think people can see the value.”
Andrew, a real estate developer with Verono, has been in the business since 2003. He started Verono in 2012 and has been flipping and restoring homes ever since. He received attention in 2013 when he took part in the renovation of the Historic Dodson House in San Pedro.
Last year, the Raitts sold the 6,500 square foot property to a developer. Not wanting to leave the home they just renovated, the Raitts made sure to include the home relocation as part of the deal, and were given one year to prepare and move the home.
The remodeled kitchen in the Raitt’s home.
They have been documenting their progress on their blog.
Christine said that starting at 1 a.m. on Wednesday, June 8, they will post 10-minute videos of the process on Facebook Live in 30-minute increments.
“We really do love this home, and we’re moving to a better area,” Andrew said. He added that the new area is also better for their young daughter and her soon-to-be sibling. “It has a better schools… we’re excited they will be able to go K through 12.”
One of the difficulties in the move, however, is navigating the home through the streets, so the Raitts hired American Heavy Moving & Rigging. A representative from the company said the biggest thing to take into consideration is navigating the width of the house through the streets and under obstacles like power lines.
It will cost just under $100,000 to move the house 2.2 miles.
