April 6, 2015

Landmark nomination for building on 5th Ave.

Photo courtesy of The Johnson Partnership [enlarge]

Douglaston Development wants to put a tower on the site.

The Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board nominated as a city landmark one building a developer wants to raze to make way for a 50-story, mixed-use project.

The board voted 7-1 last week to nominate the National Cash Register Building at 1923-27 Fifth Ave. The board will consider the designation at 3:30 p.m. May 20 in Room 4060 of Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 Fifth Ave.

A designated landmark cannot be altered or significantly changed without approval from the board, and may be demolished only if the owner can demonstrate that there is no reasonable economic use.

City records show New York-based Douglaston Development wants to put a tower on the site where the National Cash Register Building and the adjacent (old) IBM Building are located, at 1929-33 Fifth Ave.

Perkins + Will is working on the project, which would have 400 apartments, a hotel, 35,000 square feet of retail/restaurant space and 325 parking spaces.

Douglaston asked the landmarks board for a ruling on the buildings, which it has under contract, according to documents prepared by The Johnson Partnership.

The board unanimously declined to nominate the IBM Building as a landmark, which means it can be razed. The building is home to the icon Grill restaurant.

The landmark applications for the buildings are at http://tiny.cc/epxpvx under “Current Nominations.”

In New York City, Douglaston's projects include OHM apartment tower and 325 Fifth Avenue, a 250-unit condo tower.