{"id":20,"date":"2024-01-12T15:16:30","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T15:16:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.goodtimes.my\/?p=20"},"modified":"2024-05-21T01:36:09","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T01:36:09","slug":"84yo-lady-refuses-to-sell-her-property-to-developers-which-forced-them-to-build-a-mall-around-her-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.goodtimes.my\/index.php\/2024\/01\/12\/84yo-lady-refuses-to-sell-her-property-to-developers-which-forced-them-to-build-a-mall-around-her-house\/","title":{"rendered":"84yo Lady Refuses to Sell Her Property to Developers, which Forced Them to Build a Mall Around Her House"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Our priorities change once we reach a certain age. While our age advances, money and materials no longer matter as much. We prioritize family, friends, and a happy home.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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84-year-old\u00a0Edith Macefield<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0was offered $1,000,000 to transfer residence so they could demolish her house and build a mall in the area. Without hesitation, Edith said,\u00a0\u201cNo!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0She preferred to stay in her 100-year-old home, which was in Ballard, Washington. Most people who heard about Edith\u2019s decision agreed with her and called the move\u00a0\u201cpunk rock\u201d<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0\u201crebellious\u201d<\/em>. Companies can be inconsiderate of residents\u2019 feelings in their pursuit of development to increase profits.<\/p>\n

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View on Instagram. Click\u00a0HERE<\/a>.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was unknown if Edith was wary of the people\u2019s agreement with her decision. However, she still loved her life the way she saw fit and never cared what others said or thought.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0BostWiki<\/strong>\u00a0reports, at the age of 16, Edith told her mother she was going to college. However, she secretly traveled to England and joined the army. When they discovered that she lied about her age to get accepted, Edith got kicked out. Despite this, she stayed in England and took in war orphans. She also toured with the Royal Army\u2019s marching band. Edith convinced her friends that she was a spy.<\/p>\n

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In 1952, Edith moved to Ballard, Seattle, Washington.<\/p>\n

In 2007, developers reached out to Edith and offered $1,000,000 to sell her home, but she refused to move, which ended in a delay in development. Edith and the developers were caught in a deadlock.<\/p>\n

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View on Instagram. Click\u00a0HERE<\/a>.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the end, Edith got to keep her home, and the developers built a massive establishment surrounding her house. Edith\u2019s house was the only property still standing along 46th Street.<\/p>\n

The tall buildings that developed the area into a commercial establishment were a contrast from the rural neighborhood by the lake it used to be when Edith moved in. Although the Macefield house did not look similar to the animated house in the Disney Pixar movie\u00a0\u201cUp\u201d<\/strong><\/em>, local news reported that the production attached balloons to Edith\u2019s house to promote the film. Since then, Edith and her home became an icon for anti-development and the\u00a0\u201cfiercely independent spirit.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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When Edith Macefield passed away in 2008, she bequeathed her property to construction superintendent\u00a0Barry Martin<\/strong><\/em>. Although he decided to sell the house in 2009, it went into foreclosure, and the property did not acquire any bids when it was put up for auction.<\/p>\n

The Macefield Music Festival was named after Edith in 2013, in her honor of\u00a0\u201cholding onto things that are important to you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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View on Instagram. Click\u00a0HERE<\/a>.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since the property could not be sold, and nobody placed any bids, developers scheduled to have it demolished. The locals made several attempts to save the house and keep it as a landmark by tying balloons to the house\u2019s fence.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are always people rolling by here. They\u2019re very emotionally attached to it,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Steven Raymond told\u00a0Fox 13<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Seattle.\u00a0\u201cI think it speaks volumes about how fast the city is changing and how people love to hold on to a little bit of magic.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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View on Instagram. Click\u00a0HERE<\/a>.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The community made efforts to raise money to save the Macefield property but to no avail. However, a decade after Edith passed away, the developers announced that they would be keeping the house as part of their development in 2018. Now, Edith\u2019s property and the commercial establishment surrounding her home live in a mutually beneficial co-existing relationship.<\/p>\n

View on Instagram. Click\u00a0HERE<\/a>.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cHonestly, I think we\u2019re a lot alike,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0a developer once said about Macefield.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m stubborn, and so was she. We\u2019ve had some incredible arguments. She was amazingly smart. I think this illustrates Edith\u2019s character.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The Macefield house never ceases to draw the attention of visitors, as well as the locals of Ballard, where they can shop in the malls and take photos in front of Edith\u2019s house. The landmark has always brought joy and wonder to the community. The property\u2019s magic still exists and has become an icon of freedom and standing your ground.<\/p>\n

And it all began when Edith said, \u201cNo!\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n