The Brutalist, buzzing Seattle City Light facility along 23rd Ave at E Pine moved forward in the city’s landmarks process last week as the board voted 7-0 to consider the 1967-built substation for architectural protections.

CHS reported here on the East Pine Substation’s history as a public facility created in an era that marked the beginning of cities like Seattle recognizing “the value of design and a growing desired to better integrate facilities with their surrounding neighborhoods.” That ethos led to the substation’s great brick walls including a “Children’s Viewing Tower” that eventually had to be closed off because of “vandalism, unsupervised activity, and unauthorized access into the switchyard.”

The landmarks review comes as the substation is being lined up for a major expansion project  to make room for future equipment upgrades and build-outs including gate access and security as well as “seismic integrity” of the facility.

The unanimous vote means the property will be brought back to the board for a final session on possible designation for landmark protections. That meeting is currently scheduled for May 2, 2018.