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Gov. Tim Walz is soon to be on the move again.

Moving boxes and trucks were spotted Thursday at the temporary residence for the Walz family, signaling an approaching end to the relocation that took place while the traditional governor’s mansion was undergoing renovations.

The first family has been living at Eastcliff, a University of Minnesota-owned property along the Mississippi River, since summer of 2023.

The Department of Administration said that residence furnishings were beginning to be moved but a spokesman did not know when the Walz family would officially depart Eastcliff, which is usually occupied by university presidents.

Previously, the state agency said the move would take place this month and also involve retrieving items that had been placed in storage during the inside-and-out restoration of the governor’s residence.

The Summit Avenue mansion had undergone upgrades to improve security features and to update electrical, plumbing and foundation systems. The project was due to cost about $13 million.

The historic home was initially completed in 1912 and was donated to the state in 1965 by the family of its original owner Horace Hills Irvine. It has been home to 10 governors and their families over the years.

While the Walz family lived at Eastcliff, the neighborhood got a taste of what having a high-profile politician could be like. It was the site of protests and also heavy security during his run for vice president, when barriers went up and Secret Service were a constant presence.

Had Walz won that race, the family would have instead been on the move to Washington D.C. and the Naval Observatory house that has been occupied by vice presidents for decades.

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After a nearly two-year renovation of the governor’s residence, the Summit Avenue mansion is ready to serve as the first family’s living quarters again.

Walz family starts to make a move — back to Summit Avenue residence

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