NEW ULM — The New Ulm City Council approved a purchase agreement to sell the property and home at 1007 N. Minnesota Street to Cassandra Cano and Dylan G. Schapekahm.

The house and property previously belonged to the city. The house was originally located at 320 N. Broadway and was rented by Cano and Schapekahm.

In July, the city agreed to move the house to a different lot. Three lots, including 320 N. Broadway, were purchased by a company planning to redevelop the site into a commercial/residential space. The house would have been demolished as part of the redevelopment. The city decided to relocate the house to 1007 N. Minnesota Street and place it on an empty lot that was acquired through tax forfeiture.

The house was successfully moved on Sept. 30. Once relocated, Cano and Schapekahm agreed to purchase the home they were renting from the city.

City Planner John Knisley said the installation of new infrastructure at the 1007 N. Minnesota location is nearly complete. All expenses related to the house relocation were included in the purchase agreement of $158,226.

“I commend the work that went into putting this together and actually making it happen,” Councilor Eric Warmka said, offering the resolution to authorize the purchase agreement to sell the home, with a second from Councilor David Christian.

“I am just glad to see it is under budget,” Councilor Larry Mack said. The original cost estimate for moving the house was $160,000.

“[W]e are repurposing a property while making room for more development,” Council President Andrea Boettger said. “And we’re filling in an empty property. There are a lot of boxes we checked off with this.”

The resolution was unanimously approved by the council.