38 properties eyed as historic

As a building boom sweeps through downtown, Seattle will consider designating 38 properties as historic landmarks, including the century-old Central Building near Pioneer Square, several waterfront piers and the 1960s Cinerama movie theater.

The status would make it more difficult to tear down the buildings.

City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck said more protection is needed, especially since the city has changed downtown zoning to allow developers to build taller high-rises.

"This is a way to preserve our authenticity," said Steinbrueck, who chairs the council's urban-development committee.

A consulting firm, hired by the city for $200,000, compiled a list of 100 properties and narrowed it to the 38 finalists. The list includes buildings large and small, from 44 to 107 years old, such as: the Italian-Renaissance-style Mayflower Hotel, the Spanish-Mediterranean-style Brasa restaurant building, the modern El Gaucho restaurant, turn-of-the century Piers 54 to 59, the art-deco Washington Athletic Club and the Beaux Arts American-Renaissance YWCA.

The city's Landmark Preservation Board now will work with property owners to designate which features to protect — whether it's the façade, the interior or landscaping elements.

Then, the City Council would need to vote on landmark status for each property.

Owners would need to negotiate with the preservation board before making changes to the building.

Without the protection, historic elements are not considered when the city grants demolition or construction permits.

The Samis Land company, which owns the Brasa restaurant building, found out Wednesday that the property was being considered for landmark status. The company has renovated several buildings in Pioneer Square, a historic district.

"We've done a lot of historic preservation but we're not sure it's such a good idea outside a historic district," said William Justen, managing director for Samis. "It does add a lot of extra process if it's a landmark building and if you want to paint your building or put in a new storefront."

He also said that status could reduce the property's value.

"If it's a small building, like ours is a two-story building, and the zoning would allow a 12-story building there, it certainly reduces the property value," he said.

Steinbrueck said properties are frequently nominated at the 11th hour when buildings are threatened, and hiring the consultants to put together a list was a way to pre-empt last-minute protests.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com

Information in the headline of this story, originally published on July 12, 2007, was corrected on July 12, 2007. The headline stated that 38 buildings are being considered for historic-landmark status in Seattle. The 38 properties include buildings and several waterfront piers.