(Image: CHS)
The Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board voted 9-0 last week to deny the designation of a more than 100-year-old E Madison Victorian built by Capt. William Renton as an official city landmark.
CHS wrote earlier about the “Renton House” now used as offices that has stood on E Madison since the 1890s. The board had decided previously to advance the property into the designation process when the first session in August left questions unanswered about the history and potential architectural value of the old house.
More on the Mad Flats project here
The nomination process was part of the standard permitting procedure around potentially historical properties. The decision clears the way for the Mad Flats project that will demolish the house and create 55 “efficiency dwelling units” in its place.
One starts to wonder who the board really works for.
Why wonder, when they tell us over and over again with their decisions?
It’s important to remember that the Landmarks Preservation Board only reviews the historical integrity of a project – what will be built in its place is not a factor in the decision making process. If you are upset about more over-priced boxes that squeeze every last dollar from the lower end of the income scale while billing themselves as affordable, all the while creating an ugly bland streetscape (as I sure as hell am), take your concerns up with City Council and the East Design Review Board.
Unfortunately, it would be useless to take up your concerns with the Design Review Board. As the law now stands, the apodments do not have to undergo design review, as the unscrupulous developers are getting them approved as “6-unit boarding houses” (when, in fact, they contains 48 or more apartments), and only new buildings with 8 or more units must submit to design review.
Supposedly, the City Council is working on tightening the regulations on this issue….can’t happen soon enough!
FYI, Mad Flats does, indeed, qualify for review
http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2013/08/what-the-development-at-12th-and-pike-will-look-like-plus-e-madisons-mad-lofts/
No, I’m upset about historical landmarks being demolished.
This is great! We need more 200 sqft cubicles to warehouse people in. Let’s charge them $8 per sqft and bill these units as affordable housing, also.
Psh, I live in a more-than-100-year-old victorian and it sho ain’t no historical landmark.
(disclaimer: this is not an endorsement of further mid-rise corrugated steel clad condo construction)
Well any building could end up being 100 years old at some point so no buildings should ever be torn down. And 100 year old people shouldn’t die. I sometimes find it laughable for real though because some houses are so much older and actually deserving. 100 years is a lot to a person, not much to a house. And hopefully, the Mad Flats will be torn down in 101 years to make way for a Victorian.
Please tell me that Mud Flats is not just another apodment….but it sounds like it is. The infestation of our neighborhood with these atrocities is getting downright depressing!
Good seattle has way too much space designated as single family. The number of 2,500 square foot lots inhabited by one crotchety old recluse in Seattle is discusting.
Wes, remember, every era has a changing american dream, every generation does. I personally don’t care for cramming humans into every square inch of unused square foot of this city. I moved to Seattle years ago as it was small, little traffic and an absolute joy to live on Capitol Hill. Now I can’t stand the hill, and my (disgusting according to you) dream of Seattle is now over and yours takes precedence? I’ll enjoy my 2500+ square feet as long as I can and as old and crotchety as I get. For the record – I think density is gross,yet density is the battle cry of the hoods we used to cherish. We all have to figure out how to get along. Enjoy your 200 sqft pod.
I currently live in an 850 square foot apartment. I have in the past lived in a 300 square foot apartment and to be honest it was my favorite apartment I ever had. You have every right to stay in your house. If someone tried to force you out I’d be pissed. However, the developers that are buying these properties have every right to develop them. Telling them they can’t would be just as wrong as if someone tried to force you to move. You might think seattle is worse now, but I actually like it a lot more now. There’s more grocery, more restaurants and more transit, and this is all because of density. What’s not to like?
Meanwhile, in Laurelhurst, a group called Friends of Battelle/Talaris (aka Laurelhurst community members) [1] has convinced the Landmarks Preservation Board to nominate 18 acres first developed in the late 1960s as a historical landmark [2]. Historic Seattle [3] describes the site as “an outstanding example of Northwest Modernist landscape and architecture.”
This is to prevent both 1) a request by the owner to rezone for multifamily retirement apartments, and 2) to redevelop the site as regular sized single-family lots, as its zoning now allows. Also, to the benefit of the surrounding neighborhood it would coincidentally preserve the site as a park-like environment without the need to be a tax-supported park.
Folks around the city concerned about high density development in their neighborhoods ought to be concerned when other neighborhoods seek to reject even normal density development in the guise of landmark significance.
[1]
http://preservetalaris.com
[2]
http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/08/13/landmarks-preservation-board-to-consider-nomination-for-the-battelle-memorial-institute-seattle-research-centertalaris-conference-center/
[3]
http://main2seattle.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/please-support-the-seattle-landmark-nomination-of-an-important-modernist-site/
Mad Lib for Mad Flats
Mad Flats is a ______ name for a ______ and _____ building which will house ______ people who will take up all of my free parking spots.
[…] project from developer Johnson Carr and architects Janette also went unimpeded by the Landmarks Preservation Board as the body could find no good reason to protect the more than 100-year-old E Madison Victorian […]