By Deb Barker

Hello fellow West Seattlites -  Tuesday Jan. 10, 2023 at 2pm, the City Council takes up the issue of HISTORIC PRESERVATION vs HOUSING. 

I'm asking you to please tell the City Council to vote in favor of AMENDMENT B on Council Bill #120312. Authored by Council Member Lisa Herbold, Amendment B strives to meet demands from Council for housing development on the site by adopting C&I for the designated landmark builidng only. At Monday's Council Briefing, Council Members Morales (who authored Amendment A which rejects C&I for the whole site) and Council Member Lewis (SFNB is in District 7) both acknowledged their support for Amendment B as a friendly amendment. Other Amendment B supporters are  CM Pedersen and CM Herbold. FIVE VOTES ARE NEEDED TO PASS.  

Please write in ASAP, comment virtually or in person and tell the City Council to vote in favor of Amendment B!!

 Historic Seattle sent this advocacy alert if you need additional information:  

https://historicseattle.org/advocacy-update-tell-city-council-to-vote-yes-on-amendment-b/

An awful lot is at stake with this vote. 

The building in question at this time is the Seattle First National Bank at 566 Denny at 6th Avenue. Designated a Seattle Landmark in 2006, currently a Walgreen drugstore, Controls and Incentives were signed by the Property owner and Landmarks staff in late 2021. City Council approval of C&I is the last stop before the landmark process is concluded.

It's about one building NOW. But if the 'council says no controls and incentives on a landmark building' gambit passes, the entire landmarks preservation ordinance is therefore undermined. There are folks who want to de-landmark the whole lot of 'em. From Smith Tower to the Admiral Theater.