Second Section of the Barn is Being Moved to its New Location
Barry Swenson Builder and Kelly Brothers House Movers are nearly finished relocating the historic Hihn Apple Barn to its new location in the heart of the future Aptos Village. Concrete for the building’s foundation is expected to begin later this month.
The first section of the L-shaped building was moved in late September and early October using a roller system, a laborious and slow process. Relocating the second section of the barn, which is smaller than the first, has been faster because crews were able to use a dolly system for the move.
The 181-foot-long barn was been divided into two sections for the move. The division was made at the location where the first addition to the barn was made about 100 years ago. The pad where the barn will be placed was trenched for the foundation before the move began. Crews have been framing in molds for the future foundation.
Relocating and rehabilitating the barn is a key element of the Aptos Village Project. Although the exact date the Hihn Apple Barn was constructed is not known, the barn is historically significant. Part of the building appears to have been constructed c.1891-1899, with substantial additions in 1915 and c.1920, with the last bay (88 feet long by 36 feet wide) added in c.1929-1930. The barn will become a New Leaf Community Market with doors that open into the Village Green common area, a new civic heart for Aptos.
Additionally, Soquel Creek Water District has started work on an unrelated project on the property of the future Aptos Village. The District is developing a new well near Granite Way and Trout Gulch Road. This is part of the District’s Well Master Plan.
The Aptos Village Project was approved in 2012 after a decade of planning and community input. The redevelopment project features broad sidewalks, vibrant shops, affordable homes and generous civic space to promote a healthy community.
Located at the entrance to the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, this is an innovative and resource-efficient project that re-establishes Aptos Village as the civic heart of Aptos. The project is registered and in process for LEED ND certification, a distinction provided by the U.S. Green Building Council to projects that “successfully protect and enhance the overall health, natural environment and quality of life in our communities.”
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For more information about the project visit www.theaptosvillage.com and sign up for email newsletter updates, or follow the project on Facebook: www.facebook.com/friendsofaptosvillage.
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For over 35 years, Barry Swenson Builder has been a dynamic partner in building the Monterey Bay Area. Learn more at www.barryswensonbuilder.com. Learn more about Barry Swenson Builder’s work in the community in this short video: http://tinyurl.com/bsbsantacruz.