Historic Preservation

Ruth Nelson, who moved to Ballard after World War II and lived in her Sunset Hill home for six decades, lived a life of adventure that took her all over the globe. But at the end of the day, she found there is simply no place like Ballard.

Nelson grew up in a family of Kansas farmers. She said life there was far different than one in Ballard.

"We have no trees in Kansas," she said. "But, it has its beauty."

Nelson was a teacher during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. She said she remembers sweeping dirt and snakes out of the classroom every morning before the students arrived.

During World War II, Nelson worked in a Denver factory making bullets. President Roosevelt personally visited the factory one day to thank the workers for their help, she said.

"They brought him in on a big flatbed," Nelson said. "There sat Roosevelt with his hat on and his cloak with his cigarette in his hand and his little dog."

After the war, Nelson headed west for adventure, settling in Ballard, she said.

When she arrived in Ballard, it was almost entirely Scandinavian, she said.

"It was a delightful village," Nelson said. "I called it a village."

By Sally Clark, Seattle City Council

This column originally appeared in the December issue of Sally Clark's newsletter "City View."

At the end of my first two years chairing the Seattle City Council’'s Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee, I feel a little like I'’m renovating a house with a limited set of plans. I mostly pick up a hammer and try to use common sense.

I hear from plenty of people who tell me they have the best house plan and that I should use their instructions.

For some people, no change is the right change. For others, the change can'’t be grand enough.

Re-zone, upzone, incentivize, landmark, retain, bulk up, slim down, reward, charge, bonus, demolish, protect…. Everyone has a position and a stake in what happens across the street and across town.

As 2009 comes to a close, I can say I am proud of the work we’'ve done over the past two years with neighborhoods, developers, affordability advocates, historic preservation advocates, greeners, smart city staffers and others to make at least a few smart decisions.

– Backyard cottages are a good and modest step for housing variety and affordability.

Experts and other observers converged on the Alki Homestead Inn Friday, Dec. 4, for an inspection to evaluate both the fire damage, and aging condition, of the historic landmark structure’s interior and exterior. An electrical fire struck the 1906 structure Jan. 16.

The Landmarks Preservation Board, an entity of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, is the only entity with jurisdiction over the property and is very close to determining its future, whether the log structure should be repaired, or, if the damage is too extensive, torn down. Members of the Board, including volunteers of its Architectural Revue Board Sub-committee, wanted a closer look at the Inn after studying its structural engineering and contractor reports, and over 200 photographs.

Stella Chow, director, Department of Neighborhoods, was on hand simply to observe, she said. Beth Chave, coordinator, Landmarks Preservation Board, attended with colleague, Elaine Wine, the former chairman of the Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board. They joined about a dozen other interested parties at the site for the tour, guided by Mark Fritch, a log home designer and carpenter who drove up from Sandy, Oregon.

With the disbanding of the Seattle Statue of Liberty Plaza Project the responsibility for the area was turned over to Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR).
SPR has recently concluded an agreement with the Alki Community Council (ACC) allowing the Council to sponsor the sale of additional engraved bricks and Tribute Plaques. The ACC will also be the organization working with the community to coordinate the future maintenance of the Plaza with Parks.

The news release from the Alki Community Council reads:

The Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board will review controls and incentives for the historic 80-year-old Sanctuary at Admiral, located at 2656 42nd Ave. S.W., on Nov. 4.

Now used as a reception hall, the building was originally the Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist. Built in 1929, the church held its first service on Jan. 1, 1930 and was dedicated on Feb. 8, 1942.

See related story here.

Architect Gerald C. Field designed a building that is considered Art Deco style, with formal geometry and diverse brickwork patterns. It was built by Niel McDonald and construction costs totaled $37,000.

The Church of Christian Scientist was started in 1875 with the publication of “Science and Health with a Key to the Scriptures,” by church founder Mary Baker Eddy. According to the building’s landmark nomination, the Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist came to West Seattle as a need for religious services grew along with the population grew.

The Seattle City Council voted July 6 to name the West Seattle Bridge to honor Jeanette Williams, the longtime city council member who worked for many years to get the bridge built.

The council unanimously approved a resolution asking the city transportation department to give the bridge a "secondary designation" as the "Jeanette Williams Memorial Bridge." That means Williams wil be honored with signs at each end of the bridge, but maps and signs on Interstate 5 will still call it the West Seattle Bridge.

Williams served on the council from 1970 to 1989. She died last year at age 94.

"It feels great to have a bridge named for a woman," said council member Jean Godden after her speech at the event to honor Williams Friday, Oct. 23. "This is very appropriate. She did persevere to get a high level bridge. At first I don't think anyone thought it was going to happen the way she wanted it too. She had a great deal of gumption."

"She was uncorruptible, determined, and had the will to do it," added council member Tom Rassmussen who had also given a speech. "There were a lot of shenanigans going on back then. The engineering department director went to jail."

Dear Editor,

When Alki was a different place

Where life walked at a slower pace

And didn’t wear designer shoes

Or live in condos that ate views

We knew as children of the beach

As soon as our small feet would reach

The porch of Alki’s old Homestead

Much more than food we’d all be fed

The place was lit by candlelight

Where every table dressed just right

Wore linen napkins, lacy cloth

And even spoons for sipping broth

The old log walls we loved so well

Were steeped in tales they’d never tell

And though despite their silent state

We’d make up stories while we ate

The food did not come all at once

Instead they’d serve us every bunch

In courses separate from the rest

Fried chicken was the very best

The Homestead’s where we always went

For any family tree event

It’s there a menu first I read

And where I saw my sister wed

Despite whatever name they find

To hide their dreary plans behind

No trendy spa or inn I know

Could match the Homestead we loved so

Residents anticipating the historic Alki Homestead restaurant's re-opening will have to wait a little longer. Alki Homestead’s owner Tom Lin unveiled plans at the Sept. 17 Alki Community Center meeting to reconstruct the historic structure following a Jan. fire.

Lin also explained how a bed and breakfast, a lounge-style bar and a spa might also come to occupy the 15,000 square foot property.

An investigation following the fire uncovered so much damage to the 100-year-old landmark—much of it related to the building’s age—that Lin presented reconstruction as the viable option over restoration.

While many of the original logs still rest in the same places as they did during the first decade of the twentieth century, many also do not. Rot and bug damage during the past 100 years displaced or rotted a majority of the timber.

Lin stressed reconstruction as the best option in lieu of restoration.

“People don’t want to lose Alki Homestead,” he said.

One of West Seattle's newest historical landmark will soon be hosting events like a Halloween Silent Horror Movie Night, Sunday concerts with coffee and pastries and prix frixe dinners with local chefs.

Sanctuary at Admiral - a former Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist church - won historical landmark status from the city in a vote on Aug. 5, making it possible for the venue to obtain a conditional use permit for hosting events as an economic incentive to upkeep the property.

"We've finished the application process and are now waiting for the city to go over everything and give the go ahead," said proprietress Dahli Bennett.

In 2003 Bennett bought the 80-year-old church to live in with her three daughters. But using it as a residence there reverted the zoning to residential status.

After hosting a friend's wedding there in 2006, other events followed and the Sanctuary at Admiral as a venue was born. But under the residential status Bennett had to obtain special permits to host events on a case-by-case basis.

The Kenney's Seaview building, as well as the site it sits on, will henceforth be a historic landmark.

On Aug. 19, the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board voted unanimously to declare the Seaview building and site a landmark, with a number of exclusions, including the Sunrise building.

According to the members of the board, the Seaview building qualified because it is associated with a significant aspect of the cultural heritage of the community, in this case the history of retirement living facilities in Seattle.

It also embodies the distinctive visible characteristics of an architectural style or period, the board said.

The Seaview building is also an easily identifiable visual feature of the neighborhood and contributes to the distinctive identity of the neighborhood, according to the board.

The Sunrise building was excluded from landmark status, as was the Ballymena and Lincoln Vista.