West Seattle history: How Alki Point was born
The following story originally appeared in the Alki News Beacon in 2002, says writer John Sheirbon, but he asked if we’d be interested in sharing it with you – we didn’t see it first time around and maybe you didn’t either.
(another great aerial photo by Gatewood pilot Long Nguyen – Alki Point at upper right)
By John Sheirbon
Special to West Seattle Blog
Between 900 and 930 AD, the Puget Sound region was shaken by a strong earthquake (of at least magnitude 7) along what is now called the Seattle Fault. While researching this piece, I wondered what it might have been like to experience the event. Herewith, a yarn:
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What’s in a name? Potential misinterpretation, if city terminology
A couple of non-neighborhood news sources inadvertently raised a little alarm by publishing a West Seattle land-use notice verbatim without any background explanation or context, 
and since several people e-mailed us to ask about it, here’s clarification. The events venue The Sanctuary at Admiral, which became a city landmark one month ago today (WSB coverage here) in its original identity as the former Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist, has applied for the official land-use permit to allow its business to continue. As explained in a profile of the facility and owner Dahli Bennett last month (story and photos here), they didn’t have all the permits they needed before, so in addition to seeking the landmark designation, they were applying to get them. The official classification in city land-use code for an events facility like this – “the only one the city could think of,” as Sanctuary “events mistress” Jennifer confirmed when we called to doublecheck on this – is “theater and spectator sports facility.” So that’s what the land-use application says and that’s what the official city signs outside the facility (42nd and Lander, immediately east of the back end of Admiral Safeway) say, and that’s what headlines like this one in the Daily Journal of Commerce said. But no, Jennifer assured us, they’re not planning any change in what they’ve been doing – “weddings, food events, that type of thing.” They’ll probably post a letter to add to the city signs outside to explain that, too. Here’s the official land-use application notice (which includes information on how to comment on it and how to contact city planners about it).
Rescued kayaker shares the story of buying a “home with history”
Last March, we covered the rescue of a kayaker who got into trouble off southern West Seattle shores. A few weeks later, that kayaker – Dr. Scott Redfern – sent us his own account of what happened; we published it here. Now he’s sent another story, about his home-buying adventure in West Seattle this summer:
Story and photos by Dr. Scott Redfern
On April 10th, I posted the story of my kayak trip gone wrong and my rescue by the Vashon ferry.
On July 8th, I bought a home in West Seattle. The history of the home and the house next door deserve to be shared. The property came with two homes on one lot. What sets these homes apart from all others in the neighborhood is the fact that these two structures have been an enormous eyesore for decades.
The property is located at 4514 SW Willow St. (map) The stories of the house are numerous.
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The Kenney’s Seaview Building becomes an official city landmark
We’re at the Municipal Tower downtown, where the Landmarks Preservation Board has just made its decision: The century-old, cupola-topped Seaview Building at The Kenney will be designated as an official city landmark. Much discussion centered on whether the site itself (with the stipulated exclusion of four other buildings) should be included in the landmark designation, which would mean the Landmarks Board will have more of a role in decisions to be made regarding The Kenney’s redevelopment project. Board members expressed particular interest in the “west gardens” outside The Seaview. In the vote, they decided the site WILL be part of the landmark designation too. (This is the second meeting in a row at which the Landmarks Board has voted to designate a West Seattle facility as a landmark – two weeks ago, The Sanctuary at Admiral, formerly Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist, was designated.)
ADDED 5:17 PM: A few more notes: The Kenney was the work of Graham and Myers; one of the partners, John Graham Sr., is credited with designing many of Seattle’s best-known commercial buildings. The buildings excluded in the site designation were listed as Sunrise, Ballymena, Lincoln Vista and a collection of sheds; some features of the Seaview Building itself also are excluded, including its interior – which is proposed for renovation as part of The Kenney’s redevelopment – and a few other features added in the ’50s and ’60s, including an enclosed exterior staircase.
Early reminder: Landmark vote tomorrow for The Kenney
Publishing the reminder today, in case you want to attend tomorrow afternoon’s hearing: The city Landmarks Preservation Board is scheduled to decide at 3:30 pm tomorrow whether The Kenney‘s century-old Seaview Building (left) should be designated an official city landmark (here’s the nomination document). Last month, board members voted to accept the nomination for consideration (WSB coverage here); tomorrow, they will see another presentation, ask questions, take public comment, and vote. At an early stage of The Kenney’s planning for major redevelopment, the building was proposed for demolition, but the latest plan calls for saving Seaview. The Landmarks Board meets on the 40th floor of the Seattle Municipal Tower (700 5th; map) downtown; if you can’t be there in person, you can send comments here.
West Seattle’s newest city landmark: The Sanctuary at Admiral
We’re at the Municipal Tower downtown, where the city Landmarks Preservation Board has just voted unanimously to designate the former Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist — 
now known as the events venue The Sanctuary at Admiral — as an official Seattle city landmark. Its site, exterior (described as “Art Deco”), and 1st-floor-foyer interior are the features specifically landmarked, which means any change proposed to any of those features would require approval from this board. Just before the vote, board chair Stephen Lee called it “an amazing little gem of a building that certainly deserves to be a Seattle landmark.” It was used as a church for more than half a century before the congregation merged with counterparts in Fauntleroy after the turn of the millennium; Dahli Bennett has owned it since 2003. Her restoration of the building – including, as we reported in this story yesterday, reuse of materials from some of its elements including pews — won praise from the board today as well; board member Marie Strong cited Bennett’s “sensitivity” in the reuses. After the vote was complete, Bennett and her “venue mistress” Jennifer applauded briefly and thanked the board. P.S. Here’s the list of West Seattle-area sites/buildings that already have city-landmark status. And we should note, for those who watch these proceedings closely, the board agreed with staff that The Sanctuary met designation criteria D, E and F. At the board’s next meeting August 19, they’ll decide whether to give landmark status to The Kenney‘s Seaview Building.
Today/tonight: Sanctuary; North Delridge; “Frog and Toad”
LANDMARKS BOARD HEARING FOR THE SANCTUARY AT ADMIRAL: As previewed here yesterday, the city Landmarks Preservation Board will consider today whether to designate the former Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist, at 42nd/Lander — now The Sanctuary at Admiral — as a city landmark. The hearing will include a chance for public comment; it’s during the board’s 3:30 pm meeting on the 40th floor of the Municipal Tower downtown.
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: The regular NDNC monthly meeting is at 6:30 tonight, Delridge Library, with agenda items including officer elections, the next Adopt-A-Street cleanup, and traffic-circle maintenance.
“A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD”: The kids’ edition of this musical opens its run at ArtsWest tonight, with two different troupes from the ArtsWest summer camps alternating in the performances. Shows are at 7:30 tonight through Saturday, with 3 pm matinees Saturday and Sunday; buy tickets online here.
From church, to events venue, to landmark? Hearing tomorrow
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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Update: Kenney’s Seaview wins vote for landmark consideration
ORIGINAL 3:44 PM REPORT: We’re back in the city Landmarks Preservation Board‘s hearing room on the 40th floor of the Municipal Tower downtown as The Kenney presents its landmark nomination for part of the property, including the iconic Seaview Building (2008 photo above). See the photo-laden nomination document here. This is part of the process for its redevelopment plan, which at one time included a proposal to demolish The Seaview; that proposal has been scrapped and the plan now calls for saving it. Those on hand for the hearing include The Kenney’s CEO Kevin McFeely and Ron Richardson from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. We will update this item when the board decides whether to accept the nomination for consideration, which would then lead to a later public hearing and vote; landmark status brings some financial incentives (such as tax breaks) but also means restrictions on what can be done to the landmark in the future. 5:08 PM UPDATE: The Landmarks Board has just voted unanimously to consider the Seaview Building for landmark status. A hearing, at which the final vote will likely be taken, is set for the board’s 3:30 pm meeting on August 19th. No one spoke today against the proposal; those speaking for it also included SWSHS director Andrea Mercado and a representative from Historic Seattle.
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.)
Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza: Time-capsule, brick-search updates
This morning, we have a photo and update from David Hutchinson with the Seattle (Alki) Statue of Liberty Project, as “Phase 2” of brick installation winds up and they look ahead to installation of the new time capsule:
We stopped by the Log House Museum today and Andrea Mercado gave us a look at the lid that will seal the Time Capsule for the next 50 years. The bronze plaque that will be mounted in the landing at the top of the steps has also arrived at the Museum. Installation specs have be sent to Seattle Parks & Recreation and planning is moving ahead for the burial of the Capsule at the site.
All bricks have been installed and the few that had engraving errors are being completed by Kenadar and should arrive at the Parks Project Manager’s office on Monday, June 29th. They will then be placed in the Plaza. We have had a number of e-mails and calls from donors requesting help in finding their bricks. An index of the new bricks has been completed and will be posted on the Sealady website shortly – www.sealady.org . If you’re looking for your brick it’s helpful to know that over half of the 852 new bricks were installed in the landing at the top of the steps. Approximately 100 were installed in each of the two paths to the sides of the main Plaza and only about 200 were used in the floor of Plaza itself to fill out the original spiral design. Be sure to check the upper landing and paths and if you still can’t locate you brick, contact Eilene at sslpp@msn.com or 206-933-8352, and we will give you an approximate location.
Next appearance set for West Seattle’s Rosie the Riveter group
(February 2009 photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Back in February, WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli reported on an unforgettable group of West Seattle women, the Rosie the Riveter group, after they presented a program at The Mount. If you missed these trailblazing women then – here’s your next chance to see them. The news comes from organizer Georgie Bright Kunkel:
The West Seattle Rosie the Riveter group will present a program at Bridge Park Retirement Residence on 35th Avenue SW [in High Point; map] on July 16th at 3:00 p.m. The public is invited.
We will sing along to tunes popular during WWII, hear from the Rosies that worked during WWII and view a display of original Saturday Evening Post covers, advertisements and illustrations from WWII years. The original Rosie the Riveter cover is in this display.
Georgie Bright Kunkel, organizer of the Rosie the Riveter Group, invites any woman who worked during WWII to call 206-935-8663 in order to join with other Rosie the Riveters. You don’t have to have been an actual riveter to be a Rosie. We want to hear your story about it all.
Georgie also reminds us that she’ll be featured on KING5 TV’s Evening Magazine in the not-too-distant future (we don’t have the date yet) for one of her other claims to fame: Being the oldest open-mike standup comic in Seattle.
West Seattle 4th of July: Your invitation to a picnic
Celebrate Liberty on the Fourth of July – by visiting the old Alki Statue of Liberty (and then if you want, later, the nearby plaza’s new one) at the Log House Museum‘s gift shop. But that would be just one side attraction at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s annual membership picnic. Even if you’re not a member yet, you’re invited to come join at the picnic, which will offer free hamburgers, hot dogs, coffee, tea and lemonade – just bring a side dish to share – and help launch “Telling Our Westside Stories,” which the Historical Society explains as: We’ll collect your memories of the land, water, beaches, and hills of the Duwamish peninsula.” (The LHM is at 61st/Stevens in Alki; here’s a map.)
Date set for city Landmarks Board hearing on The Sanctuary
As reported here last month, the 80-year-old former 6th Church of Christ, Scientist, now known as The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd and Lander; map), is nominated for city landmark status. And now, a date is set for the Landmarks Board to consider the nomination: 3:30 pm July 1st, on the 40th floor of the Seattle Municipal Tower downtown (here’s the official notice, which also includes information on how to comment in writing). Part of the info packet includes this note:
The owner is nominating this property for City of Seattle Landmark status as part of an application for a Conditional Use Permit to establish a non-conforming adaptive reuse of this historic West Seattle community church.
And this interesting bit of history from the church’s past (its congregation merged with the Fauntleroy Christian Science church before the building was sold in 2002):
The church’s first service was held on January 1, 1930. The total cost of construction was under $37,000. However, because Christian Science churches are not dedicated until they are free from debt, the Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist was not dedicated until February 8, 1942. There were initially fourteen charter members of the church.
You can see the entire nomination document, with tons of details about the building and its history (that’s where we found the 1937 photo at the top of this story), here.
Details: Court of Appeals hears Satterlee House arguments
While Satterlee House owner William Conner is pursuing his development-rights appeal on five main points, only one of those points was spotlighted in oral arguments this morning before the state’s second-highest court: “Whether the city’s landmarks ordinance is unconstitutionally vague,” as Conner’s lawyer Richard Hill described it. The arguments went quickly – as we noted in the morning preview from the Court of Appeals-Division 1 courtroom at One Union Square downtown, each side gets 10 minutes, and a digital clock tracks the time in glaring red illumination – starting just after 10 am, and concluding, with some questions from the judges along the way, just before 10:30. Read on for details (and backstory if you haven’t followed this case before):Read More
Today/tonight: Landmark fight; tunnel talk; candidates; HPIC
Highlights from the WSB Events calendar:
LANDMARK COURT FIGHT: This morning in the Court of Appeals, 1st Division, both sides in the Satterlee House court fight get 10 minutes each for oral arguments in the two-year fight over proposed homebuilding on the landmark Beach Drive home’s lawn.
TUNNEL TALK: 6-8 pm tonight at Madison Middle School, it’s your next chance to comment on the future of the Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct corridor. Specifically, the city, state and federal governments want to hear what you think should be included in the “environmental” studies before the deep-bore tunnel can be built – but that doesn’t just mean ecological impacts. The open-house format meeting also will include displays of the latest information on the project and people who can answer whatever question you have about what’s on the drawing board and how it’ll affect the way you get around.
CANDIDATES’ FORUM: 7 pm tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy, West Seattle’s biggest political group, the 34th District Democrats, will host candidates for every major job except County Executive (since they faced off last week across the street). It’s a prelude to their endorsement vote at next month’s meeting, but it’s your best chance this summer to get a look at the candidates in the crowded races that will be narrowed down to two in August.
(added 10:56 am) HIGHLAND PARK IMPROVEMENT CLUB: HPIC meets tonight at its HQ, with potluck/social hour at 6:30 pm, meeting including installation of new officers at 7 pm.
Another West Seattle centennial celebration: Villa Heidelberg
It bears saying again: With all the centennial celebrations in the past year or so, it’s clear something amazing was going on here on the peninsula in 1908-1909. Next to celebrate, Villa Heidelberg Bed and Breakfast this weekend, and you’re invited – we received this from KatieRose Oliver:
The Villa Heidelberg was built in 1909, and has been a Bed and Breakfast for several years, owned for the last 10 by Judy Burbrink. There will be an open house this Saturday, June 13, 2009 from 1-4pm. A cream tea will be served by the West Seattle Lions Club for a donation. Judy would also appreciate it if anyone with memorabilia, old photos etc., would bring them over to display.
Villa Heidelberg is at 4845 45th SW (map).
Also in court next week: Satterlee House front-lawn fight
The Cooper School closure challenge isn’t the only big West Seattle case that’ll be argued in court next week. Wednesday is the date that lawyers for the city and for homeowner William Conner will be in the Court of Appeals to make oral arguments in Conner’s appeal of a city ruling against his proposal to build three homes on the front lawn of Beach Drive’s city-landmark Satterlee House:
We have covered the case extensively here, including the Hearing Examiner proceedings that upheld the Landmarks Board‘s rule (here’s our coverage of that decision in April 2008; then the Superior Court arguments last October, and the ruling later that month which Conner is challenging in the Court of Appeals. The city contends that the landmark status of the property — which gives the Landmarks Board the right to approve or deny development proposals, remodeling proposals, and more — includes the front lawn, and Conner’s arguments say it doesn’t, among many other points. The city’s case does not say Conner can’t build anything on the lawn, however, but that this particular proposal would be detrimental to the landmark. The case is getting national attention – the National Trust for Historic Preservation has filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the city; read about it here. (Side note, since some have asked in previous coverage: Satterlee House owner William Conner founded Conner Homes, which is developing property at California/Alaska/42nd in The Junction, but it is now run by his son Charlie Conner.)
New owners for historic Fauntleroy estate
Editor’s note: We first reported in July 2007 that this historic Fauntleroy home was on the market for $5 million; thanks to Amy for the tip that it just sold for $3,850,000; thanks to Fauntleroy writer and historian Ron Richardson for tracking down the details and providing this report and photos:
By Ron Richardson
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
After being on the market for nearly two years, the Colman-Pierce home in the Laurentide section of Fauntleroy has new owners.
Dr. Jack Pierce has sold the home and 2.5-acre estate to Mr. David Jones and his wife Mary Ann of Preston. Dr. Pierce had received offers from developers but wanted to be sure that the property ended up with someone who appreciated the home, the gardens and would maintain its atmosphere and garden setting:
Fauntleroy neighbors are appreciative and relieved that Dr. Pierce found such a buyer. Mr. Jones was born in England, has been a Microsoft executive and currently lives on a ten-acre farm in Preston. According to Dr. Pierce, Mr. Jones likes the idea of having a home in the city with the serenity one finds at the Colman estate. And he likes gardens.
The home, called Laurentide, was built in 1922 by Laurence Colman and was designed by well-known Seattle architect Arthur Loveless. Seattle pioneer James Colman, an immigrant from Scotland, eventually settled Fauntleroy in 1906, along with fellow members of Seattle’s Plymouth Congregational Church. The Colman family over the years has built and maintained a spectacular garden with dozens of rhododendrons, including new species developed by the Colmans.
Dr. Pierce and his wife Leilia have moved to their other home at Horsehead Bay near Gig Harbor. Older Fauntleroy residents would remember being taken to summer camp at Horsehead Bay by Laurence Colman.
It seems a Fauntleroy and West Seattle historic property has been saved from ‘development’ and will retain its historic sense into the future, thanks to Dr. Jack Pierce and Mr. David Jones.
Read more Fauntleroy history in Ron Richardson’s HistoryLink.org essay.
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