Seattle's Own East Wing
Editor’s Note: The text below was originally published, April 20 2026, on Historic Seattle’s blog, Preservation in Progress. It appears here, courtesy of the author.
A government that is supposed be a steward of its own landmarks is actively destroying some of the city’s historic places by making an end-run around a process and a commission charged with preserving and enhancing historic and cultural resources. No, we’re not talking about the demolition of the East Wing of the White House. We’re talking about the City of Seattle and its active role in the partial demolition of Gas Works Park, a well-loved public park designed by world-renowned landscape architect Richard Haag. This designated Seattle landmark and National Register of Historic Places-listed public park is significant locally, nationally, and internationally.
It is rare for the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) to issue a hazard correction order to another City department to partially demolish a designated landmark that it owns, but this is the case with Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR), the supposed steward of Gas Works Park.
At the April 1 (no joke) Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board meeting, Historic Seattle learned that SDCI issued the hazard correction order to SPR to permanently alter the landmark by removing character-defining features (catwalks, platforms, railings, ladders, pipes, etc.), or “appurtenances,” on the iconic towers by May 15. And if the work is not completed by the deadline or SPR does not demonstrate that it is willing to comply with the order, then SPR could be sued by the City and fined $500/day for each day it is in violation of the order. It is hard to believe that the City would file a lawsuit against SPR or any other City department and fine them. It’s like suing yourself.
Demolition-by-neglect is not good stewardship. For decades, SPR has not maintained the towers at the park and has not committed to doing so in the future. SDCI claims that it only recently became aware of the “hazard” of the appurtenances. The timing of the hazard correction order is suspicious. A review of the timeline of how this all went down reveals a collaboration (we are being generous with that word) between the two departments (and maybe among other City departments) behind closed doors to plan how to get rid of a “problem” and circumvent an established process for approving changes to a landmark.
In response to the hazard correction order issued by SDCI on March 30, SPR filed an application for a permit for partial demolition on March 31. On April 1, SPR sought a Certificate of Approval for partial demolition from the Landmarks Preservation Board. The Board tabled its decision and reiterated its repeated requests for more information that SPR continues to not provide after five meetings with the Board since last September. SPR said it would be responsive to the Board’s requests and agreed to connect with the Gas Works Park Alliance (Historic Seattle is a member) which seeks to find a proactive long-term framework (such as a Preservation Master Plan) for the stewardship and management of the park without having an adverse effect on the landmark. To date, SPR has not responded to the Alliance’s recent attempts to engage with the agency.
In seemingly record time (we all know that the City rarely issues permits quickly) SDCI issued a construction permit to SPR on April 14, for “partial demolition/deconstruction of pedestrian appurtenances (ladders, catwalks and stairways, and associated supports) and removal of segment of elevated pipe connecting north and south cracking towers at Gasworks park, per plan.” The justification SDCI gave for sidestepping the Landmarks Preservation Board’s Certificate of Approval (CoA) process is for “reasons of health and safety pursuant to SMC 23.40.008B and Seattle Building Code Section 102.2.” A CoA is required before City departments can issue permits to alter a landmark. But SDCI felt it was “faced with a threat to the public health and safety that is so imminent as to preclude all deliberation” with the Landmarks Preservation Board. This imminent threat was never conveyed to the Board at its April 1 meeting by either SDCI or SPR. SMC 23.40.008B (Demolition of Landmarks) was not invoked by SDCI at the Board meeting or in the hazard correction order, but used as justification over a week later without the Board’s knowledge.
We note that these appurtenances do NOT in and of themselves pose a hazard or imminent threat. Trespassing is an illegal act. The City seems more motivated to make a lawsuit go away than to be a good steward of its landmarks. The lawsuit by the family who is suing the City is not an imminent threat. “Imminent” implies urgency. If the appurtenances are such a threat to public health and safety, why did the City not issue the hazard correction order and invoke SMC 23.40.008B last summer shortly after the tragic death of the teenager? Why spend the fall of 2025, winter and spring of 2026 seeking approval from the Board?
Historic Seattle has consulted with our legal counsel, and we believe that SDCI incorrectly applied SMC 23.40.008B to issue a construction permit to SPR, effectively circumventing the Landmarks Preservation Board and Certificate of Approval process in the name of “imminent” threat to public safety. We believe the City’s action is in violation of SMC 23.40.008B.
Advocates for the preservation of Gas Works Park have continually sought a solution which allows for BOTH thoughtful preservation AND alterations to improve safety. We have asked for a more measured approach to seeking both, never suggesting that the landmark cannot be altered. We wish to acknowledge the Landmarks Preservation Board’s thoughtful review and deliberation of a difficult proposal and for keeping true to its charge to protect landmarks and not disregard the heritage of this city.
What can be done?
The City of Seattle needs to be better stewards of its own public landmarks and should not be following what’s happening on the national stage. Proper maintenance goes a long way in making properties safer. Let’s start with revoking the construction permit and going back to the Board. This feels like a done deal. But is there anything for you to do, if you care? City leaders need to hear from you and they need to know it’s not OK to treat Gas Works Park and other public landmarks as disposable impediments. It’s also not OK to sidestep the Landmarks Preservation Board and the Certificate of Approval process. The City needs to find ways to make Gas Works Park safer AND be a good steward of the landmark.
Contact:
Samuel Steele, Interim Director, Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections
P: (206) 684-8428
E: Samuel.Steele@seattle.gov
Michele Finnegan, Interim Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation
100 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109
P: (206) 684-4075 or
E: pks_info@seattle.gov
