Well, the three-story building that stood as part of 322-40 Race St., along the 4th St. side, has finally made its move. After standing near the corner of 4th & Race near Old First Church for about 260 years, this structure has been standing lonely for a while now, after its facsimile neighbor was razed shortly after our recent visit. All of this was to make way for the new Old First House, a 33-unit housing facility for the formerly homeless, along with office space and commercial space. Let’s revisit some of the recent history here before we get to where we are now.

The big news is that this little building has successfully shifted south, now abutting the existing historic structure down the street. This has been a long process, with demo, building prep, foundation prep, and site prep, along with the delicate move itself taking a couple months to where we are today. The streetscape from every angle looks quite different now, making space for the design from O Z Collaborative.

Our first thought?

Whewwwww.

Even the most dedicated and detailed crew could experience difficulties moving an entire building. To see it on its new foundation gives us hope that it will remain there for the next quarter millennium or so. And knowing that the rest of the site will serve an important purpose is just the icing on the cake here. Kudos to all of the experts and tradespeople who turn renderings into reality across the city every single day. We literally wouldn’t be the same place without you.