In 2018, there was a sudden rush to demolish a 114-year-old Capitol Hill landmark building. The lot where the Galbraith House stood has been empty except for wildflowers and weeds ever since but new development set to fill this corner of 17th Ave at E Howell is finally ready to move forward.
It will involve some math. Plans for a trio of paired fourplexes will create eight new townhouses each — for a total of 24 new homes across the three-parcel lot — in a project from developer Legacy Group Capital designed by Julian Weber Architects and with landscape planning by Root of Design. Projects for two of the three sections in the development are on the schedule this month for the city’s Streamlined Design Review, expedited through the process without the need for more expensive, more time intensive public review meetings due to the smaller scale of the planned buildings.
You can still have your say:
Project: 3039631-EG — SDCI will accept written comments to assist in the preparation of the early design guidance through November 23, 2022. You are invited to offer comments regarding important site planning and design issues you believe should be addressed in the design of this project. Please note that the proposed design will likely evolve through the review process. These changes will be reflected in the Design Proposal documents included with other project documents found at Seattle Services Portal or Permits Search.
But you can’t save the Galbraith House. It is long gone. CHS reported in January 2018 on the sudden demolition of the 1904-built protected landmark after the preservation board voted to allow owner Sound Mental Health to lift controls on the property.
The empty lot
Officials at Sound Mental Health told CHS at the time the decision to demolish the landmarked Capitol Hill mansion came in the midst of planning about how the organization could best serve the more than 20,000 people it helps each year struggling with addiction and mental health. Then the pandemic hit and the lot stayed mostly empty for years.
Seattle’s landmarks review board voted 7-1 in December 2017 to lift controls on the historic home of Seattle merchant James E. Galbraith which had been designated for protections twelve years earlier.
(Image from the Architecture of Thompson and Thompson)
According to the memo on the request from Sound, the organization began raising development options with the board in 2009 with one plan including “moving the Galbraith House to the northeast corner of the combined site, and building new structures to the west and south to serve its internal operations.” By 2015, according to the landmarks board document, Sound notified representatives that it no longer intended to preserve the building due to financial issues. “Taking into consideration the current upward volatility of the local real estate and construction markets that is changing rapidly over the course of a few months, it was difficult to conclude the Galbraith property could generate a rate of return necessary to attract capital for investment,” the landmarks board memo on the decision read.
Now with development plans moving forward, the developer says the new project should be an improvement over the empty lot. “In response to community outreach, ensuring this project fits into the neighborhood character was a high priority of the local community,” the developer’s design proposal reads. “The precedents gathered integrate green space into the street scape while providing opportunities for community members to engage with the landscape. These design moves are demonstrated in the entry series of the proposed design to better integrate with the character of the neighborhood.”
It’s no Capitol Hill mansion but it will make 24 new Capitol Hill homes.
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Somewhat related – has anyone else noticed what a disaster the housing that Sound Mental Health runs right around the corner from this at 18th and E Olive St has become? There are constantly fights happening outside – I’ve personally seen furniture and other heavy things thrown out of third story windows, multiple neighbors have had rocks thrown at them from people living there. The buildings were built as apodments but were bought or leased by Sound Mental Health when they first opened, and they have just let them degrade so badly over the years. Crazy to think a healthcare facility would be ok with their own patients living in such squalor.
So what’s your solution?
a solution would be better oversight and supervision by Sound, rather than just ignoring the problems and looking the other way. It’s not only the neighborhood that suffers, but also the residents that live in the towers that are not causing trouble whom are subjected to the constant turmoil on that corner. If Sound holds the lease, they need to be responsible to all affected by the problems, rather than acting as just another slum lord.
Totally agree! I used to walk by there on my way home but after getting stuff thrown at me a few times decided to take a longer route. Sound Mental Health really needs to get their act together. I dont think this situation is beneficial to anyone – neighbors or residents.
Send the mayor over there to remove the hooligans. Duh.
Calling attention to the problem is part of the solution.
James – The solution would be for Sound Mental Health to provide more services and oversight of the building. They need to take responsibility for the facility that they run, just like the rest of us take responsibility for our own little piece of the neighborhood and city. That’s how we create a functioning society!
Understaffing and underfunding of mental health I am sure plays a role. So many needs and this more open, community based service model doesn’t seem to be working for many people with mental health issues.
Very disturbing today as lower windows of basement level and first floor covered with plywood as if someone has knocked the glass out. Such horrible destruction. Very sad. How could Sound Mental even manage more housing developments if this it what happens to the people who live there and the surrounding neighborhood. I expected this housing to be well monitored by mental health workers and law enforcement when needed.
yes, Greed won – sad,, Picture of Galbraith during demo.
UGLY!!!