Alki Homestead Inn owner Tom Lin told the West Seattle Herald he supports the sentiment of the Southwest Historical Society's upcoming 4th of July event "This Place Matters." According to the Log House Museum's website describing the event:

Southwest Seattle Historical Society plans July 4 group photo in front of Fir Lodge. The people of Seattle will have a public opportunity to stand up for a century-old West Seattle city landmark at a mid-day rally on July 4, 2010. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society has organized a mass photo event to take place at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, July 4, in front of Fir Lodge, the 106-year-old log structure that many have known for decades as the Alki Homestead restaurant. The building was damaged by a January 2009 fire and since then has sat vacant.

A crowd of neighbors, joined by prominent political leaders, will gather on the sidewalk and street in front of the structure at 2717 61st Ave. S.W., just a half block from Alki Beach. Participants will hold signs saying, “This Place Matters,” a slogan promoted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The resulting photo will be used in a poster that will be disseminated throughout Seattle and distributed widely online.

Those attending include King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle City Council member Tom Rasmussen and former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, all residents of West Seattle, and other representatives of the Seattle City Council, King County Council, and Seattle City government.

"The Alki Homestead matters to me, too," said Lin. "I care so much about it I'm even shouldering the bills. I have had three inspectors, one provided by my insurance company, also Mark Fritch, of Mark Fritch Log Homes, and Todd Perbix who specializes in historic structural design. Mark's grandfather was one of the Fir Lodge's builders. They all said the same thing, that the structure is damaged beyond repair and cannot be restored."

Seattle City Councilmember, and West Seattle resident Tom Rassmussen told the West Seattle Herald he was skeptical about Lin's inspectors and asked, "Who paid for them? He did. We want to bring attention to the danger, the risk of destruction of one of the most historic buildings in Seattle."

Lin said that he would welcome an independent inspection paid by the city or Historical Society.

"If they can supply me with three names of inspectors, I will choose one of those and they are welcome to inspect the Homestead Inn. This has been a maze of bureaucracy to move forward."

Lin told the West Seattle Herald he has not decided if he will attend the event.