Prescott House Escapes Destruction—Again

The century-old Prescott House has once again dodged certain destruction, this time through its sale to a Manassas man who considered standing in the path of bulldozer sent to demolish it this month, according to a Washington Post report. 

The vacant and dilapidated house at 9300 Prescott Avenue that's been in the city's crosshairs for destruction for several years, was purchased in a short-sale Saturday by Hugh Ickrath, who lives two doors down from the property; Larry Linton, another Prescott Avenue resident; and David Dowd, Ickrath's father-in-law, according to the Post.

The price? $118,750— far less than what was owed on the house.

Ickarth couldn't have cut it any closer—the sale was finalized the same week the house was scheduled to be destroyed by the city, Manassas officials said. 

He's has been working in the shadows since December to save the home, pleading with the banks that owned the home to foreclose on it so it could be sold.

At one point, he left a message for Bank of America's chief executive about the Prescott House. He did receive a call back from the chief's assistant, but to no avail—the bank didn't take action, according to the Washington Post. 

Desperate and he consulted a lawyer and asked what the repercussions would be for standing in front of the bulldozer sent to destroy the house, Ickarth told the Post.

Fortunately, it didn't come to that.

Many Manassas residents, including Mayor Hal J. Parrish II are happy the house is, for now, saved from destruction.

"This city, with its beautiful homes and historic old town, will truly benefit if Prescott House is restored to its 1900’s beauty,” the mayor said.  “The city was not pleased to be put in the position of having to remove this house due to blight and safety concerns.  I applaud Mr. Ickrath’s efforts.”

Manassas City Manager John Budesky said he too supports plans to restore the house.

“I am happy that this City of Manassas home will be restored to its former glory,” Budesky said.   “The city worked with the previous owners for more than 15 years trying to bring the home up to code compliance, to no avail. I believe that through Mr. Ickrath’s efforts, the home could be a welcoming presence at the entrance to the old town area.”

The long-time owner of the house

Just before her death,

That person, known only as her late husband's associate, pulled out of the project after she died. Meanwhile, the foreclosure process continued. 

Ickrath began work immediately on the home's stately porch, which the city deemed the most urgent of many repairs.

The city is giving Ickrath 30 days to fix the porch, a back stoop and the home's chimney.  New windows must be installed in 45 days, according to Post reports.

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