In Seattle, there is often tension between preservationists and developers; a conflict between saving existing buildings and serving the needs of the community, specifically with places for more people to work and live. Queen Anne Exchange reconciles two divergent goals: through the adaptive reuse of a landmarked neighborhood building, it transforms a structure used as a storage facility for over five decades into 25 apartments in highly desirable Queen Anne.

A true renaissance man, Dr. James W. Washington Jr.’s many talents and interests (painting, sculpting, writing, community activism, among others!) left an impact on Seattle and the nation. Many artifacts from his remarkable life remain in the house he and his wife, Mrs. Janie Rogella Washington, purchased in Seattle’s Central District in 1949. The Dr. James W. Washington Jr. & Mrs. Janie Rogella Washington Foundation, established in 1997, has maintained and upgraded the house, studio, and gardens, and continues a legacy that preserves and interprets Dr. Washington’s works and encourages others “by providing a setting where they can grow beyond the book, spiritually and artistically, and share their talents with a larger audience.” The Dr. James & Janie Washington Culture Center also receives a $3,000 Community Advocacy prize to fund their ongoing work.

The Soul Pole honors 400 years of African American history and the struggle for justice in the United States. It has stood tall outside the Douglass-Truth Branch of the Seattle Public Library for 50 years. It was gifted to the library in 1972 by the Seattle Rotary Boys Club and carved by six young community artists in the late 1960s. The Soul Pole became a safety concern in recent years due to its deteriorating condition, prompting a partnership between the Black Heritage Society of Washington State and the Seattle Public Library to repair and protect the 21-foot wood sculpture.

Built at the base of the original Skid Road (Yesler Way) in 1908, The Frye Hotel, originally advertised as Seattle’s “First Fire-Proof Hotel,” was Pioneer Square’s first luxury hotel to have ensuite bathrooms. The building was converted to 234 apartments in the 1970s. In the late 1990s, the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) purchased the building. LIHI recently completed an extensive renovation including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems overhauls– all while honoring the building’s historic features and minimizing the impact on its tenants!