What Price Facadism?

Authenticity is the theme of the current issue of ARCADE magazine (Fall 2015). With all the facadism projects popping up around the city, particularly in the Pike/Pine and South Lake Union neighborhoods, the magazine features a timely article criticizing this inauthentic approach to “preservation.” Titled, “What Price Facadism? Authenticity and Integrity in Historic Preservation,” the article, authored by Eugenia Woo, Historic Seattle’s Director of Preservation Services, sheds some light on this scar on Seattle’s landscape. The article contains many images of facadism. This issue of ARCADE also features two mind-blowing maps that track demolition applications in Seattle between 2005-2009 and 2010-2015.

Photo: Troy Laundry Block south facade (Source: Eugenia Woo)