February 15, 2017

Landmark meeting set for the Row House Cafe

Photo by Row House Cafe [enlarge]

The Craftsman-style bungalows were built in 1911.

Seattle's Landmarks Preservation Board on March 1 will consider nominating as a city landmark several 1911 Craftsman-style bungalows at 1170 Republican St. that are home to Row House Cafe.

The meeting is at 3:30 p.m. in Room L2-80 of Seattle City Hall at 600 Fourth Ave.

Chinese developer Plus Investments plans an eight-story apartment project on the South Lake Union property. The 91 apartments would have underground parking for 50 vehicles.

If the plan goes forward, the cafe building and an adjacent glass studio will be demolished.

MZA Architects is the architect for the Plus project, and Geyer Coburn Hutchins is the landscape architect.

The Craftsman-style bungalows were built in 1911, according to the landmarks nomination application prepared by The Johnson Partnership. The bungalows were originally separate structures that were combined in 1980 and altered, the application notes.

In Seattle, the landmark nomination process is required in certain circumstances as part of getting a land use permit if a site has a building that could meet the landmark criteria.

A city landmark cannot be significantly altered without a permit from the board. It may be demolished only if the owner can demonstrate there is no reasonable economic use.

The nomination application is at http://tiny.cc/x824iy under “Current Nominations.”

Written comments are due by Feb. 28 at Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, P.O. Box 94649, Seattle, WA 98124-4649.