P-I Globe Landmark Nomination

• March 02, 2012
• No Comment
• Seattle Landmarks

The Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board will consider the nomination of the P-I Globe at its Wednesday, March 7, 2012 meeting. LPB meetings are open to the public. The Board meets at 3:30 pm in the Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Ave, 40th floor, Rm 4060. Download the agenda on the Seattle Historic Preservation Program website. The landmark nomination is also available for download on the HPP website. Concerned about the future of the Globe after the Seattle P-I ceased publication, Seattle City Councilmembers Tim Burgess, Sally Clark and Jean Godden took the bold initiative to submit a landmark nomination, seeking protection for the iconic historic sign. MAin2 is thrilled to see the nomination process go forward. The designation seems like a slam dunk to us.

Update (3/6/12): Councilmembers Burgess, Clark and Godden are holding a press conference about the P-I Globe on Wednesday, March 7, 11:30 am, City Hall, 2nd Floor. The event is open to the public. 

Downtown Landmark Eitel Building For Sale

• December 12, 2011
• No Comment
• Seattle Landmarks

Located on the northwest corner of Second Avenue and Pike Street (1501 Second Avenue) in downtown Seattle, the Eitel Building is a City Landmark built in 1904 with a 1906 one-story addition. The Classical Revival style office building was built for contractor and developer Fred Eitel and designed by architect William Doty van Siclen.

Historic Seattle has been advocating for the preservation of the building and in 2006, sponsored a landmark nomination prepared by Larry Johnson of The Johnson Partnership. Even though it was designated a landmark, the Eitel Building’s status remains threatened and we continue to monitor the property. Read more about the preservation advocacy issue on our website.

The Eitel Building is now for sale which is a good thing. The building, with its ideal downtown location near Pike Place Market and the downtown retail core, presents a wonderful opportunity for rehabilitation. Know anyone interested in a historic rehab project?

Boren Investment Company Warehouse Designated a Landmark!

• November 03, 2011
• No Comment
• Seattle Landmarks

On Wednesday, November 2, 2011, the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board (LPB) voted 6-3 to designate the Boren Investment Company Warehouse (334 Boren Ave N, South Lake Union) as a Seattle Landmark. The vote was close. This was a big victory for supporters of the designation. Representatives from preservation organizations (Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and Historic Seattle), community members and other advocates provided public testimony in favor of designation. The comments demonstrated broad and passionate support for a warehouse building that represents the significant light industrial heritage of South Lake Union.

The LPB concluded that the property met three of the six designation standards. A property just needs to meet one of the standards. The Board designated the exterior of the property under standards C, D and E. These standards are described in the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance (SMC 25.12.350). “It” refers to a building, object or site that is at least 25 years old:

C) It is associated in a significant way with a significant aspect of the cultural, political, or economic heritage of the community, City, state or nation; or

D) It embodies the distinctive visible characteristics of an architectural style, or period, or a method of construction; or

E) It is an outstanding work of a designer or builder.

(more…)

Downtown’s Lloyd Building Designated a City Landmark; YWCA Building Nominated

• August 08, 2010
• Leave a Comment (1)
• Seattle Landmarks

At its Wednesday, August 4^th meeting, the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board (LPB) designated the Lloyd Building a City Landmark by a vote of 8-3. Located at the southeast corner of 6^th Avenue and Stewart Street on the northern edge of downtown, the Lloyd Building was built in 1926 and designed by the prolific Seattle architect, Victor Voorhees. The Board designated the building based on two designation standards: 1) Criterion D – it embodies the distinctive visible characteristics of an architectural style, or period, or a method of construction; and 2) Criterion E – it is an outstanding work of a designer or builder. Download a pdf of the nomination from the Seattle Historic Preservation Program’s website. (more…)

Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board Positions Open, Deadline to Apply is August 25, 2010

• July 23, 2010
• No Comment
• Seattle Landmarks

From a news release issued by the Office of the Mayor. NOTE: This is an updated release.

New Members Sought for Landmarks Preservation Board

SEATTLE – Mayor Mike McGinn invites applicants for two openings on the Landmarks Preservation Board, one (1) Architect position, one (1) Historian position, one (1) Finance position.

The 12-member Landmarks Preservation Board makes recommendations to the City Council for landmark designation and reviews all proposed physical alterations to designated features of landmark properties.

The Board is composed of two architects, two historians, one structural engineer, one representative each from the fields of real estate and finance, one member from the City Planning Commission, a Get Engaged member, and three members at-large.  All appointments are made by the Mayor and are confirmed by City Council.

Board meetings are held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 3:30 p.m. The architect members also serve on the Board’s Architectural Review Committee.  Board responsibilities require a commitment of at least 10 to 15 hours a month. (more…)

Ode to the Bungalow: Landmarks Preservation Board Designates West Seattle Bungalow as a Landmark

• June 18, 2010
• No Comment
• Seattle Landmarks

History was made on Wednesday, June 16, 2010, when the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board voted 8-2 to designate the Bloss House, a 1915 Craftsman style bungalow in West Seattle’s Admiral district. The house’s site, exterior and the living and dining rooms were included in the designation. The Bloss House was designated under Criterion D of the Landmarks Preservation Ordinance, which states that a resource embodies the distinctive visible characteristics of an architectural style, period, or method of construction. The Bloss House embodies the Craftsman style bungalow and retains much of its original features. The Board recognized the Bloss House as a fine example of the more modestly scaled and common bungalow. These types of houses define Seattle’s residential neighborhoods. While they may be common, the Bloss House’s high integrity on both the exterior and interior make it stand out. The Board took a big step in acknowledging the significance of everyday architecture.  (more…)

Pacific Science Center Up for Landmark Nomination

• May 28, 2010
• No Comment
• Seattle Landmarks

The Pacific Science Center (originally built as the U.S. Science Pavilion for the 1962 Century 21 Exposition) will be considered for nomination by the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board at its meeting on Wednesday, June 2, 2010. The nomination report was submitted by the Pacific Science Center voluntarily. The complex of buildings, the iconic arches, and the urban landscape have been considered informal landmarks since construction. It’s great to see modern buildings and landscapes nominated and formally recognized. Other than the Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center is the most recognizable modern resource in Seattle.

You may download the nomination report prepared by David Peterson of Nicholson Kovalchick Architects on the Department of Neighborhoods’ website. The Landmarks Preservation Board meeting is open to the public. It meets on Wednesday, June 2 at 3:30 pm, Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Ave, 16th floor, Room 1650.

Bloss House: Classic Seattle Bungalow Nominated by Landmarks Preservation Board

• April 23, 2010
• No Comment
• Seattle Landmarks

On Wednesday, April 21, 2010, the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board voted unanimously to nominate the Bloss House. The Bloss House is a Craftsman style bungalow in West Seattle. Built in 1915, the house was designed by architect Elmer E. Green, who produced a bungalow plan book in 1912. His designs can be found throughout Seattle. The house in West Seattle embodies the Craftsman style, represents the more modest Craftsman homes found in Seattle neighborhoods, and possesses a high degree of physical integrity on both the exterior and interior. There were questions and discussion by the Board about whether the house represents an outstanding example of the architect’s work and whether the house embodies the Craftsman style. Discussion also centered on the significance of the interior which remains mostly unaltered. The Board members will tour the house in the next few weeks. The designation hearing is scheduled for June 2, 2010. (more…)