I am writing to bring attention to a new twist in a development on Capitol Hill that I am not seeing anyone else address: the historic Davis Hoffman building on the corner of 10th and Union was demolished a few weeks ago.  The developers of the giant “Broadstone Capitol Hill” project (between 10th and 11th on Union)  “sold” the neighborhood and the City on this project by promising to keep the Davis Hoffman building as part of their street front design (see attached image). This  building “preservation” was also designed to enable them to build a higher, bigger building. The bulk of this development has long been controversial (see http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2013/08/13/city-moves-to-rein-in-big-apartment.html?page=all).

Long story short – they’ve torn down the entire building, and claim to have held onto some of the facade bricks somewhere.  Am attaching a historic photo and a picture I took yesterday of the hole that once was the Davis Hoffman Building.

I am concerned that the City is showing a lack of oversight and enforcement, as the building of this project seems to be flying right along despite the destruction of the Davis Hoffman. As a citizen and neighborhood resident, I hope the press might be the one’s (again) to hold public officials accountable for making sure the development that gets thru the permitting process actually gets built as promised. This Broadstone project appears to have a brazen disregard for the City and the neighborhood.

I am also concerned that the Broadstone developers will be building yet another grotesque box, as they have between 11th and 12th/Union and Madison, which is doing nothing for the livability or long term aesthetics of our neighborhood. Increased density is one thing, razing the neighborhood and destroying the fabric of Seattle’s historic Capitol Hill is quite another. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.

At minimum, I feel the neighborhood deserves a really good explanation of why they demolished the Davis Hoffman and that the City should revisit their permitting for a bigger taller development on that site.