The house developers built around when the owner refused to sell
Edith Macefield turned down $1 million and stayed put while developers built a multi-story mall around her tiny Seattle home.
Edith Macefield owned a small house that developers desperately wanted. They offered her $1 million for the property, planning to use the land for a shopping center.
The offer that couldn't change her mind
The money didn't sway Macefield. She refused to sell, no matter the price.
Building around the holdout
Developers moved forward with their plans anyway. They constructed a multi-story mall that rose up around Edith's tiny home, leaving it standing in the middle of the commercial development.
A Seattle landmark is born
Her refusal to budge turned the Edith Macefield House into a Seattle icon. The small residence surrounded by towering retail space became a symbol of one person's determination to stay in their home.
