Landmarks Board agrees to consider The Sanctuary at Admiral

We’re on the 40th floor of the Seattle Municipal Tower downtown (the city’s second tallest building!), where the city Landmarks Preservation Board meets twice a month and has just heard the presentation for The Sanctuary at Admiral, the former Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist, at 42nd/Lander (map), seeking city landmark status. (See the presentation here; see current photos of the facility in this Vintage Seattle report.) Owner Dahli Bennett, who originally bought the building for use as a private residence and then converted it into an events venue, attended the meeting and answered board questions. No one spoke during the public-comment period; board members primarily asked questions about changes made to the building, even Mollie Tremaine, an Admiral resident, who says she’d support its nomination under the criteria of “identifiable feature of the neighborhood” but not on significance of the building itself. Ultimately, the board voted in favor of nominating the building for consideration as a possible city landmark. Next, they will have to decide, at their August 5th meeting, whether to officially designate it as such. (Here’s the list of what’s already designated as a landmark in our area.)

7 Replies to "Landmarks Board agrees to consider The Sanctuary at Admiral"

  • paul July 1, 2009 (6:02 pm)

    Is it still a venue space? If so how does one find out about how to use it? I had no idea!

  • 4thGenWestSider July 1, 2009 (6:41 pm)

    WSB-Thanks for the link to the WS properties that are already designated. I think it is great that we have wonderful structures in our area that are recognized as a city landmarks, but I don’t see how this property is even in the same category. Can you tell us what the benefit to the owner of the property, and to the community as a whole are if it is granted designation with such worthy predecessors? Maybe I am missing something. Our family has lived here for generations and no one has ever thought it was that appealing. I think it is great what the owner has done with the property, but a landmark? Really?

  • WSB July 1, 2009 (7:07 pm)

    If you take a look at the presentation I’ve linked, you’ll see the owner’s rationales. One point that a few of the board members remarked on is the significance of the Christian Science churches, including this one, to early Seattle church life. However, one thing to keep in mind, the threshold for designation is different from the threshold for nomination – we watched this process for the Charlestown Court property.
    .
    Landmark designation carries some financial benefits like tax breaks but it also carries some restrictions, such as, if you want to alter the protected part of your property, once it’s been designated, you have to get the Landmarks Board to sign off on it. This is the process that has now led to a fight over the Satterlee House on Beach Drive going all the way to the state Court of Appeal (awaiting the ruling now).
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    TR

  • WSB July 1, 2009 (7:09 pm)

    re: venue usage – I need to link the name above which I’ve done in previous reports but didn’t do today:
    http://thesanctuaryatadmiral.com/Home/

  • fluorescent carl July 2, 2009 (12:17 am)

    Know this… This is a more impressive space inside. Over the years many WS residents will have an opportunity to attend an event there and enjoy this absolutely unique space in WS. If this falls through, my bet is this unique and irreplaceable venue will be Condo’s for real! We are seeing WS become a cardboard cutout day by day… This is a space worth saving!

  • andrea July 2, 2009 (8:47 am)

    I too am a 4th generation West Seattleite, and my great grandparents, grandparents, and father all attended church at the Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist. My dad has as many fond memories of times in this one of a kind church as he does of other local WS designated landmarks such as Madison JHS and West Seattle HS. The above link TR gave to the now Sanctuary at Admiral shows what a truly beautiful and unique place it really is. I’m so glad the space is up for being saved as well, as I would rather is be saved than have another row of townhomes in its place!

    Thanks for the updates WSB!

  • Brie July 2, 2009 (11:01 am)

    My brother held his wedding reception there and I was stunned by the interior. The outside may be unassuming, the inside is gorgeous!

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