For more than a hundred years, a modest traditional Caymanian wattle-and-daub dwelling has sat on the same patch of grass while the world around it changed. But those days are swiftly coming to an end, as work to uproot and relocate the home has begun.
The property, known as the Aldine Franklin House or Miss Cassie’s House, was acquired by the Foster’s grocery store chain, which is now moving it across island, to make way for an $2.2million expansion of its Republix supermarket.
On Wednesday, when the Compass attended the location, workmen had already begun removing the interior walls, floors, and ceilings – all that remained was an empty shell.
The Compass understands that the remainder of the building will be loaded on to a trailer and driven to Frank Sound, while the modern cement structure, which is attached to the rear of the house, will be demolished.
Built 114 years ago by Samuel Matthew Ebanks III, the home has been designated a “historic overlay zone” and is registered with the Cayman Islands Heritage Registry as WB 019.
Foster’s supermarket managing director Woody Foster said the expansion of the store will occur in phases, once the house is moved. He added that the removal of the structure is “imminent”.
Foster has previously said moving the house and selling it to someone with the “wherewithal and the mindset” is the best option to preserve the historic building.
Speaking at a Central Planning Authority meeting in December last year, he said that option will preserve the house’s “history and its heritage – the only thing it won’t do is be in its current location.”
Foster has said that the buyer in East End plans to use the building as a functioning home, and refurbish it to closely resemble its origins.
The relocation has been met with staunch criticism and a virtual petition with more than 1,300 signature calling on the supermarket chain to reconsider its position.
Despite its historic overlay designation, there is no law that prevents the home or any other traditional dwelling from being relocated or destroyed.
Foster, at the CPA meeting, said the debate over the historic house has presented an opportunity for a broader national discussion on the topic of preserving Cayman’s built heritage, and he said his company was committed to supporting that process, “which means putting money behind that and putting our name behind that… to try to push that agenda. We want to be a part of that”.
He told the Compass on Thursday, “It is a good chance for national dialogue but I don’t think anyone is seriously interested in doing anything. I met with several people and entities following my appearance at Planning but movement is excruciatingly slow. However, I have set up a meeting with the National Trust preservation committee to continue trying to push the agenda.”
The house is being moved to make way for an 11,000 square feet expansion of the supermarket and its carpark.
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