By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Tomorrow afternoon, the city Landmarks Preservation Board will consider whether to designate the building now known as The Sanctuary at Admiral – officially known in its nomination as the former Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist — as a city-designated Seattle landmark.
After a presentation last month (WSB coverage here; see the presentation document here), the board agreed to consider the nomination, but there’s a high hurdle to leap (see the criteria here) to get from that point to official designation.
Board members were scheduled to make a site visit last week as part of the process, according to Sanctuary owner Dahli Bennett, who invited us to visit recently for a closer look at the building that served as a Christian Science church for almost three-quarters of a century, before its congregation merged with the one on SW Barton by Fauntleroy Park and then sold the building (Bennett bought it in 2003).
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The building is at 42nd/Lander, across from the north side of Hiawatha (its south side is in the Google Street View image above). Its landmark application is part of a process to keep the building open as an events venue, Bennett acknowledges, while saying that’s not her only motivation – she believes it’s worthy of preservation: “We’re crossing our fingers. There are a lot of developers who want to buy it. … When I bought this building, it wasn’t my intention to change this. It kind of looks like it’s always been here, will always be here … I love this building and I want it to be here forever.”
She bought the building in 2003, and moved in with her daughters, but doesn’t live there any more. She did live there long enough, she says, for one thing to kick in: “If you live in a building for a year, it messes up the zoning – nobody told me that.” Records show the city believes it’s been used in a means that diverges from its current zoning: The city’s page for The Sanctuary’s address has a long list of entries, from a complaint made a year ago, to violations, and other actions.
So now, Bennett says, she is pursuing the permits required to use the building as an events venue, with an application to be made this week. If it’s designated as a landmark, she says, that will open the door to other permissions “so it will be economically viable” for her to keep, “as a steward … It’s an expensive building to maintain and keep it going” – a task that is led by Bennett and “venue mistress” Jennifer (at right, with The Sanctuary’s owner, in this photo):
Landmark status brings restrictions, as well – such as a requirement for Landmarks Board approval before changes can be made to the protected portion of a building, even something as simple as an awning.
Right now, Bennett says, The Sanctuary averages about four event bookings a month, and most of the marketing is word-of-mouth: “All the parties we have here, lead to other parties.” She talks about a recent visit from participants in the Hedgebrook women writers’ retreat, including women’s-rights-advocacy legend Gloria Steinem, with “food, culture, and music” – the facility’s kitchen has developed a following:
Food also was at centerstage earlier this year when the International Food Bloggers’ Conference scheduled part of its agenda at The Sanctuary (which has wi-fi). But weddings are the most common bookings, not surprising for a former church. They’d like to have more events, Bennett says, but they turn down some requests – she mentions “Halloween raves.” She also says they’ve capped attendance far below the building’s capacity, 150, compared to the potential 350. And venue mistress Jennifer says they have a “strict curfew, 11 pm.” The two offer a tour of the building, which is more expansive than it looks from the street, even when you take into account its classic brick facade:
Looking down toward the stage, where church leaders once delivered their weekly messages, you see the open (between events) floor, where the pews once held court – and congregants:
Wood from the pews has been recycled elsewhere in the facility – made into railings, for example – but a few of the pews remain, like this one – also note the fir floor, an original feature to the building, uncovered and restored:
The bar is made from what was the speaker’s podium:
Upstairs, what was once Bennett’s living area now serves as small getaway zones during events – where brides prepare for the ceremony, for example. Some decorations and artifacts nod at the building’s history – note what’s in the table:
Elsewhere in the building, some more-whimsical touches have nothing to do with the building’s past. Case in point: Baby Tusko:
Bennett says he was rescued from the former White Center Chubby and Tubby store. Now, he is in the lobby, where we pass Tusko on the way to the stairs into the church’s basement, which retains more of its original touches, even the coat room:
Some of the touches are subtle, like the terrazzo stone stairs – original – to and from the basement. Or paintings by local artist Steve Klinkel, commissioned by Bennett; she also points to glass art in and around the kitchen, made by local artisans. (Other photos of The Sanctuary can be seen in this Vintage Seattle report.) And the building has areas not open to the public, such as the roof, where Bennett is cultivating an edible garden:
From the roof, you can glimpse downtown – where a key decision that’s about to be made will have a major effect on the future of this West Seattle building with a storied past.
The Landmarks Preservation Board will consider The Sanctuary at Admiral’s landmark nomination during its meeting tomorrow (Wednesday), 3:30 pm, 40th floor of the Municipal Tower downtown, and there will be an opportunity for public comment. One other West Seattle item on the board’s agenda tomorrow: The only current West Seattle church on the city’s list of landmarks, Fauntleroy Church, is seeking board approval for some interior and exterior improvements – once you have landmark status, you need board approval to change protected portions of the property.
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