The third review of the plans for the restoration of the Alki Homestead by the Architectural Review Committee of the Landmarks Preservation Board took place on April 1 and the architects for the project, Alloy Design Group (ADG) brought a more comprehensive plan to the table.

Responding to the committee's requests from the previous review, architects Greg Squires and Mark Haizlip drew up a document (downloadable at the link) that outlines the challenges and details what is required to bring the historic structure back to life.

Three days prior to the meeting the firm was contacted and told that the new accessory structure (which in the current plan now sports a 15 foot overhang above the rooftop deck), part of the plan that will enable the Homestead to return to economic viability, was of less concern than the actual plans for restoring the Homestead itself. In the interim between reviews, ADG had met with two professional chefs to review their recommendations for the design and outfitting of the kitchen in the accessory building but with the ARC's emphasis on the historic aspects of the project, that component will likely fall under the Department of Planning and Developments purview.

Committee members were dismayed and said it was "shocking" how much of the plan (and building studies) indicate must be replaced. They expressed a desire to see the plan present the needs "from the foundation up" since that element determines much of what the rest of the plan outlines.

The restoration plan is a distillation of previous building and analysis reports including information from the Leavengood Report, the Perbix Bykonen Structural Evaluation and the Structural Logwork Review by log home building expert Mark Fritch.

In brief the plan addresses the various components of the building section by section:

The Roof- Must be totally replaced.

Second Floor Interior Walls- Not considered historic and would be removed with the design objective being the creation of a second floor banquet facility.

Second Floor Exterior Walls- May need to be replaced depending on structural integrity

Second floor Framing- Most likely will be replaced due to fire damage.

First Floor Interior Walls- The stacked fir logs were at one time exterior walls and are in "good condition" but the top of these walls suffered serious smoke damage. Those close to the fireplace were severely damaged by the fire. Other sections have been damaged by moisture and rot.

First Floor Exterior Walls- For several reasons these will need to be replaced.

First Floor Columns- These must be individually assessed but these 10 columns all have varying grades of decomposition due to insect and "moisture related rot."

First Floor Framing and Pony Wall- The framing itself is "good, solid, and dry," but the course of logs around the bottom contacting the concrete footing will need to be replaced.

Concrete Foundation- It must be replaced since it would not be adequate for the restored structure.

Masonry - Chimneys - The two chimneys and fireplaces, "theoretically (…) would remain in their current locations as the restoration process occurs." But they need to be examined by a masonry expert to verify this.

Historic Sign and Skylight- The sign must be removed and restored to both it's original colors, features and put in working order. The plan calls for the sign to be tied into a steel frame and glass assembly that would also restore the original skylight that once "capped the peak of the Homestead roof."

There are many questions remaining about exactly how the restoration process might proceed but it's not unlikely that given the complexity of the project, the amount of the structure that must be removed it would entail a deconstruction process with some on site component storage and some off site.

It would mean cataloging every piece of the structure as it is taken apart.

Squires told the West Seattle Herald that since many elements of the physical construction of the building are not visible, understanding and creating operational guidelines for how the building is deconstructed would have to be done as they go along, learning as they go.

The committee asked Alloy to create a catalog of the building parts with a visual component to help them understand each part, and what and how it would be dealt with, including alternatives.

Committee members expressed concern about the deconstruction methodology asking the architects to bring more details and suggesting that they needed to do some "deconstructive testing." Mark Fritch, who is traveling to Sweden will be gone for the next two weeks. He will likely attend the next meeting and provide more direct insight into the log evaluation and restoration process.

Others expressed concern about the amount of material that is being replaced.

Squires pointed out that some logs are 50 feet long and many are in non usable condition. Some logs have been replaced with alternate peeler logs in the past as well.

Other members asked about smoke damage and taking a "lighter touch" since the Alloy plan discusses it in detail. Squires suggested that this issue might even be "set aside" except that it might affect how the building smells since that odor might always be there.

Some of the newer members of the committee have not toured the building so it was suggested that a tour for them would be set up.

Eugenia Woo of Historic Seattle commented that she and the organization essentially agreed with Alloy on the idea of replacing the foundation but was not certain about the deconstruction process. But she thanked Alloy and asked them to look at other alternatives to deconstruction and asked "what guarantees are there" that the building would be put back properly.

Squires acknowledged that the restoration and deconstruction process is a "very complex issue."

"Our goal is to preserve the spirit of the Homestead," said Haizlip.