Seattle Public Library -Libraries for All Landmarks Preservation Board Process

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Capital Project Information New Central Library Neighborhood Libraries Information for Architects, Consultants, Contractors & Bidders Oversight & Citizen Review Financial Summaries Archive Libraries for All Capital Program Office: capital.program@spl.org 1000 Fourth Ave. Seattle, WA 98104 206-386-4624		Landmarks Preservation Board Process October 2001 Dear Seattle Public Library patrons and friends: The Seattle Public Library, under its Libraries for All program, is planning on changes to improve many of its branch libraries and the Central Library. As part of the planning process, and as required by environmental regulations, the Library has considered the historic and architectural significance of its Carnegie-era buildings. This effort is part of the library's ongoing stewardship of its properties and follows the Library's earlier consideration of its Modern-era buildings that date from the 1950s and 1960s. The historic review has resulted in landmark nomination reports for six Carnegie-era libraries that were built between 1910 and 1921 - the Douglass-Truth, Fremont, Green Lake, Queen Anne, University and West Seattle libraries. Seattle's Landmarks Preservation Board is responsible for reviewing all the nominations at public meetings. The Library and its historic consultant believe that all the buildings should be given landmark status. The landmarks board will consider whether to nominate the Fremont, Queen Anne and University libraries at a public meeting at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, in the Arctic Building, 700 Third Ave., 10th floor, room 1003. Copies of the landmark nomination reports are available at the Temporary Central Library, 800 Pike St., and the Fremont Library, 731 N. 35th St., the Queen Anne Library, 400 W. Garfield St., and the University Library, 5009 Roosevelt Way N.E. The Library remains committed to its vision for improved and expanded library facilities. Regardless of the individual building's landmark status, the Library plans to select and work with qualified architectural designers, library staff and patrons, and the residents of Seattle to assure the new building designs are respectful of the qualities of the existing buildings and sensitive to community needs. Landmark status does not preclude changes to a property. If a building is designated as a landmark, there will be design reviews with the city's landmarks board. The landmarks board manages change in a way that respects the historical significance of the original building. The city of Seattle requires that a potential landmark property be at least 25 years old and have intact original qualities. Seattle's landmark ordinance also requires that a designated property meet specific criteria. The landmarks board already has reviewed nominations for the Ballard, Central, Green Lake, Henry, Lake City, Magnolia, North East, Southwest and West Seattle library buildings. The board voted to designate the Green Lake, Lake City, Magnolia, North East and West Seattle libraries as landmarks. The landmarks board will consider whether to designate the Douglass-Truth Library building as a landmark at a public meeting at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, in the Arctic Building, 700 Third Ave., 10th floor, room 1003. If you would like to know more about the Library's building program, visit the Library's Web site at www.spl.org and select "Libraries for All capital projects." If you would like to know more about the landmarks board, contact Beth Chave, board coordinator in the city's Division of Urban Conservation, at 206-684-0380. Sincerely, Deborah L. Jacobs City Librarian Return to the Fremont Branch page Return to the Queen Anne Branch page Return to the University Branch page. Content Modified: 15 December 2006 08/24/2007 © 1999-2006 - The Seattle Public Library

Landmarks Preservation Board Process

October 2001

Dear Seattle Public Library patrons and friends:

The Seattle Public Library, under its Libraries for All program, is planning on changes to improve many of its branch libraries and the Central Library. As part of the planning process, and as required by environmental regulations, the Library has considered the historic and architectural significance of its Carnegie-era buildings. This effort is part of the library's ongoing stewardship of its properties and follows the Library's earlier consideration of its Modern-era buildings that date from the 1950s and 1960s.

The historic review has resulted in landmark nomination reports for six Carnegie-era libraries that were built between 1910 and 1921 - the Douglass-Truth, Fremont, Green Lake, Queen Anne, University and West Seattle libraries. Seattle's Landmarks Preservation Board is responsible for reviewing all the nominations at public meetings. The Library and its historic consultant believe that all the buildings should be given landmark status.

The landmarks board will consider whether to nominate the Fremont, Queen Anne and University libraries at a public meeting at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, in the Arctic Building, 700 Third Ave., 10th floor, room 1003. Copies of the landmark nomination reports are available at the Temporary Central Library, 800 Pike St., and the Fremont Library, 731 N. 35th St., the Queen Anne Library, 400 W. Garfield St., and the University Library, 5009 Roosevelt Way N.E.

The Library remains committed to its vision for improved and expanded library facilities. Regardless of the individual building's landmark status, the Library plans to select and work with qualified architectural designers, library staff and patrons, and the residents of Seattle to assure the new building designs are respectful of the qualities of the existing buildings and sensitive to community needs.

Landmark status does not preclude changes to a property. If a building is designated as a landmark, there will be design reviews with the city's landmarks board. The landmarks board manages change in a way that respects the historical significance of the original building.

The city of Seattle requires that a potential landmark property be at least 25 years old and have intact original qualities. Seattle's landmark ordinance also requires that a designated property meet specific criteria.

The landmarks board already has reviewed nominations for the Ballard, Central, Green Lake, Henry, Lake City, Magnolia, North East, Southwest and West Seattle library buildings. The board voted to designate the Green Lake, Lake City, Magnolia, North East and West Seattle libraries as landmarks. The landmarks board will consider whether to designate the Douglass-Truth Library building as a landmark at a public meeting at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, in the Arctic Building, 700 Third Ave., 10th floor, room 1003.

If you would like to know more about the Library's building program, visit the Library's Web site at www.spl.org and select "Libraries for All capital projects." If you would like to know more about the landmarks board, contact Beth Chave, board coordinator in the city's Division of Urban Conservation, at 206-684-0380.

Sincerely,

Deborah L. Jacobs

City Librarian

Return to the Fremont Branch page
Return to the Queen Anne Branch page
Return to the University Branch page.

Content Modified: 15 December 2006

08/24/2007