Homes near Mo's will be moved, not razed, for parking lot

Plans to demolish two houses to make room for another parking lot at Mo's Irish Pub have changed.

Movers have spent the afternoon today inserting steel beams under the 1,400-square-foot ranch house across the street from the restaurant at 431 108th Place.

By the end of the day, they expect to remove the house from its foundation, but it will have to remain on the property while permits to take the structure on the road are finalized at the city and state levels. The house will be relocated to West Bend within the next two to three weeks.

Owner Johnny Vassallo started looking into moving the homes late last fall after residential neighbors of the pub voiced opposition to demolishing two houses that were in good condition to put in asphalt pavement.

Mo's staff will work with the building movers to start preparing the neighboring house for moving over the next several months.