Whole building relocation of Greek Revival House

403 Coddington Road, Ithaca, NY 14850

The house, originally located at 341 Coddington Road, was once a vibrant circa 1840s Greek Revival residence. By the early 2000s, the then-vacant historic house had deteriorated. In 2016, the property was offered for free with the condition it would be relocated to a different site. A plan was devised by the house’s then-owner, Orlando Iacovelli, in coordination with Historic Ithaca. This challenge was taken on by Bill and Susan Lessler, and Dexheimer Building Movers and Riggers of Guilford, one of the most experienced building movers in New York State, executed the relocation. The most labor-intensive part of the process involved laying down plywood to create a track for the wheels of the truck bed carrying the house to the paved road. The house was eventually moved to a new location at 403 Coddington Road. Whole-building relocation allows for buildings to be repurposed with all or most of their original materials intact. Additionally, moving structures short distances, as with 341 Coddington, reduces the energy costs associated with transportation.