This disgusting act comes just as a nomination of the Carmack House had been submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Board. Since the property is within the boundary of the Providence Hospital Major Institution Master Plan, there must be considerable economic pressure on the Jewdoschenko Estate for demolishing and replacing the house. A Landmarks Preservation Board meeting to discuss the Carmack House was scheduled for February 18th (at which I was scheduled to speak in favor of the landmark nomination). With many of the significant elements now removed from the home, the chances of landmarking could be compromised. Hopfully not.
I find the timing of this “architectural theft” troubling, if not extremely suspicious. Up until a year ago, I lived right across the street from the Carmack House and I can tell you that this is a very busy intersection with a lot of foot traffic. Not only is there a constant stream of people walking by, but Providence Hospital next door has a considerable security presence. The house has been fenced up with clear “no trespassing” signs for years now. I find the idea of thieves stripping this home, at this intersection, at any time of day or night, and not being noticed, to be hard to swallow. Click on the images for higher resolution copies. [see also: Smashing History]
Mark from Historic Seattle stopped by the comments to remind us: “The loss of interior architectural features won’t help, but landmark designation depends primarily on exterior integrity and, in this case, historic/social significance of the house, which are intact. There is still a very strong case for historic designation and everyone who cares about the Carmack House and neighborhood preservation in Seattle should support the nomination and let the Landmarks Preservation Board know it. The hearing is scheduled for April 1st at Seattle Municipal Tower, 40th Floor.” Well said. Thanks Mark.
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| Carmack House theft, police report. Page 1. 1/28/09 |
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| Carmack House theft, police report. Page 2. 1/28/09 |
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| Photos of Carmack House theft. Page 1. |
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| Photos of Carmack House theft. Page 2. |
This is just… heartbreaking. I don’t know what else to say.
And I agree, it is suspicious.
I hope the hospital lot security cameras might have some footage.
This literally made me cry a little. And to be found by Nickels Brothers showing it to a potential buyer! It was so close to being moved and saved.
This is awful. And infuriating.
I really hope those people get what’s coming to them. Absolutely nauseating behavior. What is wrong with people anymore? I could even understand stealing the copper, but why destroy the house?
It would seem to me that there aren’t that many architectural salvage yards (I can only think of three in Seattle, and two in Portland) and that with a bit of police foot work, I would think that this stuff would show up in bulk at one of this outfits and would be easy to track down the perps.
Typically, aren’t these companies hired to do work like this? Maybe someone hired one of them (and they unwittingly did it). It just seems such a thorough job with pros who knew what to look for and how to take it. In addition, if one of their trucks and crew was there all day doing this, who would think twice about it? You’d just walk by, feel a twinge of sadness, and think, “Ah that old house is finally getting knocked down for a parking garage.” You’d never think, “Yikes! Thieves!”
I don’t know what to say. I remember when the house was profiled and seeing the photos and discussing the story behind it. It is so sad especially for a house that was on its way to finally beiong saved. Why would someone do something so despicable?
I’ve been bugging the few people I know at the local papers to see if the story could get more press. I think some gentle pressure on SPD to investigate might help out quite a bit.
As the police report mentions, this obviously took quite a lot of time and needed a large truck. SOMEONE saw SOMETHING, now we just have to hope the police stay interested… if in fact it wasn’t a coincidence, that might be a little harder since there is traditionally a brotherhood between hospitals, police, fire etc. Throwing them off the scent might not be as difficult.
Not to be more of a debbie downer, but the fact is that relatively few people care about the historical value of things. The thieves care about it monetarily, but they won’t be able to install that stuff in a way that celebrates it’s real history- it will just be generic “circa” stuff. And of course, I completely agree with Knox above.
This is just like when Paul Allen’s Company (I think) trashed that historic apartment building on Capitol Hill to prevent it from being historically designated. This is a tragedy.
Another example, 1914 building at the corner of Second Avenue and Stewart :
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2008/10/23/smashing-history
I think that story Cliffe linked just made me sick to my stomach. For the life of me tuntil now, I have never even heard of such a thing.
The loss of interior architectural features won’t help, but landmark designation depends primarily on exterior integrity and, in this case, historic/social significance of the house, which are intact. There is still a very strong case for historic designation and everyone who cares about the Carmack House and neighborhood preservation in Seattle should support the nomination and let the Landmarks Preservation Board know it. The hearing is scheduled February 18, 3:30 PM, Seattle Municipal Tower 40th Floor.
Mark: Well said. I updated the text to reflect your points.
P.S. Does anyone know why that old fire station In the U-District next to the library is fenced off with a Land Use Action Sign? I couldn’t stop to read it and it’s making me worry.
Hey, Cliffe–friend, former neighbor, and conspirator:
What about papering the neighborhood with flyers to see if anyone saw anything? Particularly at the bus stop. Couldn’t hurt, maybe someone remembers something. I’d be happy to help.
Maybe the owner hired the company? Remember that Benaroya was able to demolish the Ballard Mannings after the Landmarks Board allowed it because they felt Benaroya was entitled to a ‘reasonable profit’ and reversed the Landmark Status.. Owners can apparently do what they want with their own property. Shocking. Why can’t we tell them what to do? Oh, yeah, that’s right. They own the property, not us.
Sorry to see it go but this house is past it’s prime and the owners have the right to use their property as they choose. And I imagine it is zoned for something other than single family homes based on it’s location. Would have preferred that Nickel Brothers had a chance to move it rather than have it demolished and sent to a landfill. At least most of the good stuff was saved. Watch for the demolition permit to show up anytime….
Now if it was a crime (unbelieveable) then that’s just not right. But neither is a car prowl and this will likely rank right up there with those crimes on the list of the City’s priorities. But life will go on people…..Get out there and live it….
Uncle Sam, the existence of a police report might be a tipoff that a crime was committed.
But you’re right, all buildings past their prime should immediately be razed and replaced with the most modern, trendy, up-to-date structures possible. Everyone knows that design just gets more and more timeless as the years pass.
My impression is that the family that owns the property is very interested in seeing the house preserved, just somehwere else. Unfortunately, the media types I talked to said that they (The owners) weren’t interested in talking to the press about this story, but KOMO and KING have covered the theft to some extent.
-andy
The consideration by the Landmark Preservation Board (mentioned by Mark in an earlier post) will not take place at the February 18 meeting. In light of the damage to the building and the possibility of a new owner of the house (not the property) the Squire Park Community Council, the sponsor of the Landmark nomination, has asked for a postponement. The current date for that consideration is April 1.
The current owner of the property opposes the designation of the house as an historic landmark, at least so long as it sits on property it owns. The current owner is not a “family”. It is the estate of Irene Jewdoschenko the late owner. The beneficiaries of the estate, I’m told, include several charities including Swedish Hospital.
The administrator of the estate has a fiduciary duty to the beneficiaries. The estate believes the fiduciary duty is inconsistent with preserving the house on the property. The current zoning of the property is SF (Single Family) which, ostensibly would allow only single family development. However, the property is included in what is known as the Providence Hospital Major Institution Master Plan overlay. The overlay allows development of the site to a more intense degree (higher, bigger, different use) than a single family home so long as the development is “functionally related” to the Swedish Medical Center that now occupies the site. So, if the property were acquired by Swedish Medical Center, or perhaps by the Sabey Corporation which owns approximately half of the Swedish campus, there could be more intense development of the site. Presumably this greater degree of development would also be more valuable.
A proposed development of the site for a use not functionally related to the Swedish Medical Center would not be permitted by the Land Use Code, unless it is a use allowed in a single family zone. (Basically, a single family home, or a small nursing home or adult family home.)
Update from Bill Zosel:
“The consideration of the Carmack House by the Landmarks Board has been postponed from February 18. Now it’s scheduled for April 1. A potential purchaser is in conversations with the estate, owner of the property. If an agreement can be reached the house may be purchased and moved to another location. That potential purchaser does not oppose the designation of the house as a landmark while the current owner (the estate) does oppose designation.”