Modernist Site Up for Landmark Designation – Nov 6

• November 05, 2013
• No Comment
• Advocacy Update

Tomorrow, November 6, 2013, the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board (LPB) will hold a landmark designation hearing for the former Battelle Memorial Institute Seattle Research Center. This exemplary example of Northwest Regional Modernism is located at 4000 NE 41^st St. in the Laurelhurst neighborhood.

Public comments will be taken at the meeting which begins at 3:30 PM in the Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5^th Avenue, 40^th Floor in Room 4060. An agenda is posted on the Seattle Historic Preservation website.

On September 18, 2013, the LPB unanimously nominated the property, an 18-acre site owned by 4000 Property LLC. The property is currently used as the Talaris Conference Center. Presented by the Friends of Battelle/Talaris, the nomination is the work of a grassroots group of Laurelhurst neighbors who have come together as advocates for the preservation of the property. Historic Seattle has been providing technical assistance and advice on landmark nomination preparation, research and advocacy strategy for the Friends of Battelle/Talaris.

We hope the LPB will unanimously designate the property tomorrow, thereby formally recognizing a unique and important modern resource. Looking to the future, we hope the City and the Owner will negotiate Controls and Incentives that protect/preserve the site and buildings, and be flexible enough to allow for new construction for a sustainable and economically viable project.

For more info on this advocacy effort, read MAin2’s previous post.