The height of summer is upon us, and as you zoom around in the family wagon running errands, or driving the kiddies to that favorite local vacation spot, take a moment to look around at the local real estate scene. Notice especially the growing number of “For Sale” signs all around. Although our area hasn’t been hit as hard as California, Arizona or Nevada, the effects of the down economy are becoming more and more visible. Historic properties are frequent victims of an economic slump. Older buildings believed to cost too much to repair, or considered outdated for one reason or another, sometimes seem not worth further investment. Below is a select list of iconic historic buildings around King County that are in a state of transition. They face an uncertain future at a critical moment in time. While you are passing by them this summer, remember that these structures are more than just old bits of brick and wood, they represent the unique history and personality of our individual communities.
Alki Homestead Restaurant – A West Seattle favorite, many locals recall eating Doris Nelson’s famous country fried chicken in this historic, antique-filled log restaurant. Built in 1903 for William and Gladys Bernard, Fir Lodge was one of the few fine homes to go up in an area dominated by modest vacation bungalows. In 1960, Doris Nelson purchased the lodge-turned-restaurant and created the Homestead’s lasting legacy: an old-fashioned family style dining hall. After Nelson’s death in 2004, the Homestead Restaurant was purchased by local property developers, who continued its operation for a time. In January of this year, a fire broke out in the building, and badly damaged the roof and portions of the interior. Since the fire, the restaurant has remained closed, with the windows boarded up and tarps draping the roof. Although the future of the Alki Homestead Restaurant is very unclear, preservation of this local landmark has been actively supported by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. For more information about this story visit their website or the West Seattle Blog.
Skykomish Hotel – In the town of Skykomish, the Washington State Department of Ecology and BNSF Railway continue a massive, multi-million cleanup project to remove nearly a century’s worth of contaminated soil under the town and along its riverfront. Since work began in 2006, more than 30,000 gallons of oil have been recovered from the river and groundwater. Cleanup consists of lifting and temporary moving all of the buildings in the community’s downtown historic district to extract old oil from the soil underneath. The most recent building scheduled for moving is the old Skykomish Hotel. Boarded up for quite some time, this historic four-story hotel had already experienced visible deterioration due to roof damage, overall lack of maintenance, and vacancy. While most historic buildings in downtown Skykomish have been moved without harm to the structures, many people are concerned about the effect a move will have on this old hotel, because of its prior condition. For more information about this project and interesting photos of the cleanup, visit http://skykomishcleanup.com/.
Reard-Freed House – Located in the city of Sammamish, this two-story decorated pioneer farmhouse was built in the 1890s by Jacob D. Reard. During the first half of the 20th century, the property went through several owners and uses including an impromptu dance hall, the City’s water district headquarters and the site of the 1980 movie Act of Love, starring Ron Howard and Mickey Rourke. Although the house remained relatively unaltered since its construction over 100 years ago, the area surrounding it has grown dramatically and the house was threatened with demolition to make room for new development. After a campaign by local residents, the City of Sammamish agreed in 2004 to spend $250,000 restoring the structure, including moving it to a new location. Since the recession hit, however, plans have changed. The city has backed away from plans to move the house, and it remains threatened.
Not all properties in a state of transition face a negative outcome, however. The Seattle Church of Christ, designed by Harlan Thomas (Thomas & Grainger) in 1926, was slated for demolition as recent as 2006. The Queen Anne Historical Society worked tirelessly to successfully save this Neo-Byzantine style sanctuary (formerly the 7th Church of Christ, Scientist) and help it acquire new owners committed to its preservation. It now stands as an example of what an enormous contribution to old buildings can make to the vitality of our neighborhoods.
And while you’re out there in King County, be sure to visit the wonderful Fall City Roadhouse, a decaying 1920s roadhouse situated at a very strategic spot along the Snoqualmie River, recently restored with private funds and a lot of TLC. For more information on historic properties in transition visit the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation’s Most Endangered List
Image: Courtesy of Todd Scott, King County Historic Preservation Program
