FULLERTON : Houses in Need of 3 New Homes

Three vintage homes, a Victorian and two Craftsman bungalow-style, are in need of someone to rescue them.

Officials of the city’s redevelopment agency say they would love to see three houses adopted before bulldozers start rolling. The two 1920s-built bungalows, at 141 W. Amerige and 140 W. Wilshire avenues must be gone by December so the city can continue its parking lot construction in the downtown area.

The 1895-built Victorian home at 233 E. Amerige must be gone by early next year to make room for an affordable-housing complex the city plans to build.

City officials would like to make sure that these slices of Fullerton’s past are spared. In fact, if certain prerequisites are met, the city will gladly give the houses away. However, some strings are attached.

The buyer must agree to pay for the move, which can cost from $10,000 to $12,000, and must have an available lot in Fullerton. The buyer must also agree to restore the house and meet city building codes, which can cost from $25,000 to $60,000.

Terry Galvin, manager for Fullerton’s redevelopment agency, said the cost of the move and repairs are not the main stumbling blocks. Rather, he said, the scarcity of land is.

“There’s just not that much vacant land anymore in Fullerton,” Galvin said. “Especially in regard to the Victorian home. That house is huge.”

The Victorian home, which according to city records is known as the Stanton Home, is two stories, about 3,000 square feet, with five bedrooms and two baths. Galvin said a large lot would be necessary to accommodate the 48-by-41-foot home.

If land can’t be found in Fullerton, Galvin said, officials said, an exception might be made.

“The underlining objective of this program is to preserve the home,” Calvin said. “If that means it can’t remain in Fullerton, then so be it.”

Galvin said prospective buyers would be eligible for a low-interest loan under the city’s Community Development Block Grant program, which helps buyers pay restoration costs if the homes are used as affordable housing.

The business of moving vintage homes out of harm’s way is nothing new.

Since Fullerton began the program to save vintage homes seven years ago, takers have been found in most cases. But there have been times when the city was forced to tear homes down.

“It’s unfortunate, but we have to make room for the ongoing projects,” Galvin said. “If we can’t find some buyers, we’ll have no other choice but to destroy them.”