City wants to designate more buildings as 'historic'

[thelakelander]

Sorry this is Seattle, not Jax.  Nevertheless, the opposite attitude towards the preservation of older building stock is worth exposing locally.

City wants to designate more buildings as 'historic'

Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) - 10:56 AM PDT Thursday, July 12, 2007

The city of Seattle would like to designate up to 38 downtown buildings as "historic landmarks," in an effort one City Council member said would prevent the city from being able to "erase its past."

According to the city, the Department of Neighborhoods conducted a $200,000 "exhaustive survey" to determine which buildings could qualify. The survey was spurred by the city's decision to allow taller buildings downtown -- new buildings that city officials worried demolish older "cherished landmarks."

"This is the largest preservation effort undertaken in Seattle since the Pike Place Market was saved," said City Council Member Peter Steinbrueck, chair of the urban planning and development committee.

Included in the 38 buildings are several along the waterfront, such as the Pier 54 building that houses Ivar's restaurant, built in 1900. Also included on the city's list are newer buildings, such as the Norton Building at 801 Second Ave., which was built in 1958 and is also the home of the Puget Sound Business Journal.

"Often older buildings are nominated (for historic landmark status) at the eleventh hour when a demolition is imminent. By designating these buildings the city is taking proactive steps to preserve cultural heritage," city officials said in a statement.

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2007/07/09/daily28.html

[Jason]

The thing is that those buildings that Seattle developers demolish would almost definitely be replaced with something new.  Versus leveling it for a parking lot.

[jbm32206]

It would be nice if Jacksonville would take a more proactive stance on this kind of action, and do more to help in similar situations.

[Jason]

I agree.  We don't have much left and have plenty of vacant space for new projects.  There is no need to tear anything else down.

[Steve]

I agree.  We don't have much left and have plenty of vacant space for new projects.  There is no need to tear anything else down.

KBJ Respectfully Disagrees