The c. 1905 L. G. & Ida Rogers House, once located in Raleigh’s historic 4th Ward, now sits on its new site at 432 S. Bloodworth Street thanks to the cooperative efforts of preservationists in Raleigh. Demolition and development once again threatened an historic house that had been neglected and vacant for many years. In fact, some familiar partners that were responsible for moving and saving the Arthur & Annie Gorham House were able to relocate the Rogers House just a two lots to the south on Bloodworth Street in May 2018.
Much like the Gorham House, the house was meticulously rehabilitated, refinishing and restoring all the original wood windows, siding, floors, and trim. Nicole Alvarez and Matt Tomasula affectionately call the L.G. & Ida Rogers House the “Rogers Cottage” and often refer to the property as the “quirky uncle to the Guest House.” Where Guest House’s ethos is calm and minimal, the owners let loose with a moodier vibe and funky decor at Rogers. It is the couple’s more independent offering, a downtown cottage only two doors down from Guest House, with its own living and dining space, a kitchenette, a king bedroom, and an open loft with spiral stair up to a queen bed.
A more modest Victorian cottage, the effort put into the restoration of the house was no less daunting than the team’s work with the Gorham House and the finished result is no less spectacular. The Rogers Cottage will soon be open for the enjoyment of all guests with an official public launch coming soon, once again breathing life into a vestige of the African-American heritage of Raleigh.
The Board of Directors of Capital Area Preservation, Inc. is pleased to present a 2019 Anthemion Award to Nicole Alvarez; Matt Tomasulo; Tightlines Designs, PA; The Northgate Group for the Relocation, Rehabilitation & Adaptive Reuse of the L. G. & Ida Rogers House, 432 South Bloodworth Street, Raleigh.