Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm Police Commander Dean Barstad, right, walks near the 10th N. St. and Minnesota St. intersection as a house is moved from the 320 N. Broadway to 1007 North Minnesota St.

NEW ULM — Monday was a moving experience for Dylan Schapekahm and Cassie Cano.

The house they lived in at 320 North Broadway was moved to 1007 N. Minnesota St.

“It’s pretty wild. It’s exciting for us. I grew up in the neighborhood the house was moved to. My parents still live there. My aunt lives nearby,” said Schapekahm as he watched the house being moved north on Minnesota Street to its new location.

The house the couple rented on North Broadway was on property owned by the New Ulm Economic Development Authority, which is in the process of selling the land to a developer.

New Ulm City Planner John Knisley said the developer plans to build a residential/commercial building on the property.

The City of New Ulm had an available lot at 1007 N. Minnesota St. An abandoned property there was forfeited to the city in 2023. Rather than a developer bulldozing a house in good condition, moving the house was proposed.

“It’s a win-win,” Knisley said. “Demolishing the house would cost the developer money. Since the house was in really good condition and fits nicely on our lot, it makes sense. It’s pretty unusual. With the EDA owning the property, it allowed us to think outside the box, save a single-family home, and have it available for a first-time home buyer.”

The city approved land acquisition funds to move the house.

Knisley said when the house is offered for sale, the costs will be part the home’s final sale price. Schapkahm and Cano want to buy the house after it is moved. Their lender was comfortable with the process.

New Ulm Police Commander Dean Barstad said it was a wonderful day to move the house. Goldschmidt House Movers of St. James began pulling the house on a large trailer with a large truck at about 8:30 a.m. Monday.

“It worked out pretty well. New Ulm Street Department workers removed tree branches to allow the house to go down the street,” said Barstad.

Police stopped traffic a block in front of and behind the house moving procession.

New Ulm Police Chief Dave Borchert said move went well.

“It drew lots of attention. There was some traffic at 7th N. St. but it got through pretty quickly. It was a wonderful day to move a house,” he said.