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The historic Mother Colony House, built by George Hansen, the “father of Anaheim” 140 years ago, has been moved three times since 1929.

Now, the small, wood-frame house--the city’s oldest building--may be moved again.

The city, which owns the house on N. West Street near Sycamore Street, recently lost rights to use a neighboring driveway for parking by buses that bring hundreds of schoolchildren each year to tour Orange County’s oldest museum.

“We can’t continue to exist under the current condition, we have to find a solution,” Anaheim Community Services Director Christopher K. Jarvi said.

But some residents near the Mother Colony House don’t want to see it go. Paul Kott launched a petition drive and has gathered more than 400 signatures from his neighbors.

“We all are hoping that the city staff and council will have compassion on those of us who live in this neighborhood and love our historic treasures right where they are,” said Kott, a local real estate agent who has lived in the area more than 40 years.

Moving the house, built in 1857, would not only destroy the historical flavor of the surrounding neighborhood, but it could hurt property values, Kott said.

The Mother Colony House was built at the southwest corner of what is now Anaheim Boulevard and Cypress Street. In 1929, the house was saved from demolition and moved to Sycamore and West streets. In 1949, the house moved again, to an adjacent lot to make room for another historic structure, the Stoffel house, now known as the Red Cross House. Sometime before 1965, the house was moved several feet south to allow for a wider driveway between the two buildings.

Whether the house will stay or move again has been the subject of growing debate in recent weeks.

In October, City Council members postponed a vote on relocating the house, instead asking for more information on various options.

The council is expected to consider those options in December.

“We’re deciding how to approach it as we look at the various options available to us,” Jarvi said.

One way to ensure the house remains accessible to tours and educational programs involves moving it downtown, said Jane Newell, local history curator.

Downtown sites being considered include a parcel next to Anaheim Museum on Anaheim Boulevard; at Center and Olive streets; on the northwest corner of East Street and Lincoln Avenue; and, at the George Washington Community Center site. That center’s programs will be moved to the Downtown Community Center when it is completed in the spring.

Moving the house downtown would make it more visible and accessible to the public, city officials said. It would also be closer to other historic buildings where it could be included in special event programming and be part of a walking tour of historic sites.

In addition to reviewing the potential downtown sites, city staff members are looking at ways to keep the house where it is, possibly by buying a neighboring residential lot for parking.

Jarvi said if the house stays put, the city would have to find money to buy the property next door and pay for parking and site improvements. The cost of such a plan is not yet known.

Redevelopment money, however, is available to move the house to the downtown redevelopment zone.

“We would not make the decision to move the house solely on the basis on whether there is money to do it or not,” Jarvi added. “The ultimate location of the house should be in the best interests of the preservation and interpretation of the house itself.”

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NEIGHBORHOODS: Mother Colony House/Central Anaheim

Bounded by: The recently established Anaheim Colony Historic District is bounded by North, East, South and West streets, which mark the original Anaheim township

Population: About 6,700 dwelling units with about 22,000 residents

Hot topic: Whether to relocate the historic Mother Colony House to a site downtown