A small craftsman home, built in the 1920s located on 1493 El Camino Real had been up for demolition to make way for new housing, but was ultimately saved when Santa Clara resident, Neil Cortez bought it from SCS Development. Although the single-level structure isn’t considered a historical resource, it comes with prized memories for the descendants of John Nicolas Ivankovic, including his daughter Linda Mancini who spent her childhood within its walls.
The plan for Cortez to move the house from its El Camino Real location to his property on Monroe Street was realized on Labor Day weekend. Cortez said that the move took a half day to complete and that the house is still propped up on wood blocks called cribbing. He said he was pleased to receive many positive comments from neighbors during the move, many of whom came out to see the structure driven down the street.
“It now needs to be lowered down about six feet onto a new concrete foundation, and I still have a lot of paperwork to do with the City,” said Cortez. “It feels good to have gotten past that major step. It’s an amazing experience to be able to pick up a house and move it. It’s a magical feeling to see it here in my backyard.”
Mancini still keeps in touch with Cortez about progress getting the house back to habitability. When all the work is finished, Mancini plans to take another stroll down memory lane and tour the little white house, now on Monroe Street.