‘Up’ House To Be Torn Down? Though The Movie Was Loved, The House That Inspired It Finds No Takers

The house that was made famous by the Disney movie Up might not have a happy ending. As potential buyers backed out at the last moment, the iconic house with a compelling back-story may soon encounter the crushing force of a wrecking ball.

Despite having helped inspire the 2009 Disney movie Up, the house may be earmarked for demolition soon. The house was once owned by an 85-year-old Seattle woman who refused to move despite being offered $1 million nine years ago. Though the figure was quite handsome for the time, the original owner refused to budge and ended up forcing the construction companies to build around the house.

Her resilience was applauded by the people and ever since the movie Up; they have been tying balloons to the fence. Up devotees, have been making pilgrimages to the house and tying colorful balloons to the chain link fence encircling it to show their support and admiration for the woman who steadfastly stood-up against some of the biggest and toughest construction companies who wanted the place to build a boutique supermarket and a health club in its place. When she refused, builders erected a five-story commercial project around the 115-year-old property, blocking out most sunlight to the house.

Edith Macefield, the owner who refused to give up her house, died in 2008, but had willed the house to Barry Martin, the construction superintendent on the project, who had befriended her. However, Martin sold the property a year later to a company called Reach Returns and the house eventually went into foreclosure, reported SeattlePI.

Though there were many who were interested in the iconic house, the costs involved simply made it uneconomical to those even considering buying it. The current owner owes about $186,000 on the property. Though the minimum opening bid was a nudge higher at $216,270.70, there was a huge catch. Any purchaser of the property will have to assume the first deed of trust. This would add another $300,000 on top of their winning bid. This forced the handful of potential bidders to back-off, prompting the house to return to its beneficiary.

The house, standing on a relatively tiny 1,900-square-foot lot, may be quite modest by today’s standards, but it forced the large construction company to awkwardly build around it. So far the Up house has spurred a music festival, a cocktail and multiple tattoo designs. But such gestures might not be enough to save it, unless some wealthy Disney fan steps up and saves the Up house from being torn down.

[Image Credit | Getty Images, Henry Gales/Flickr, Jessica Golden / CNBC]