From Historic Seattle:

This is an update on House Bill 1576 and Senate Bill 5554, which were introduced into the state legislative session in late January. The bill, if passed into law, would restrict the ways in which communities are able to designate landmarks. Historic Seattle strongly opposes the bill. 

The bill seeks to prohibit cities and counties from designating a property as a historic landmark if:
It is less than 40 years old, or
The designation would restrict its use, alteration, or demolition, and
Owner consent has not been obtained.

The above restrictions do not apply to properties in locally designated historic districts. The bill’s vague language is unclear as to whether the restrictions in point two can apply to a designated property, even with the owner's consent. The bill reports subsequently issued seem to clarify this more and the intent appears to be that restrictions (or controls) on a designated property are allowed if written consent of the owner is obtained. But this intent has not been confirmed.  

What is the status of the bill now?

SB 5554 – After a public hearing was held, the bill went from the Senate Committee on Local Government to the Rules Committee. The bill has passed out of the Rules Committee and is scheduled for a second reading in the Senate this week (we believe it will be on Wednesday, February 19). The Senate will vote on the bill this week.  

HB 1576 – After a public hearing was held, the bill is still with the House Committee on Local Government. The bill is scheduled for an executive session of the Local Government Committee on one of these dates—February 18, 19, or 21. We assume the bill will move onto the House Rules Committee next.

So what does this all mean and what can you do? 

We are asking you to contact YOUR state legislators and tell them you oppose HB 1576 / SB 5554 and ask that they vote no on these bills. Time is of the essence! Please reach out to them ASAP (preferably before Wednesday, February 19). 

Suggested talking points to frame your comments (please also personalize your message with examples of why historic landmarks in your community are important): 

- Local landmark ordinances should stay local. For decades, local governments have been empowered to decide what historic places in their communities should be protected and how. This state bill (if it becomes law) will undermine the landmark designation process, particularly in Seattle—the Landmarks Preservation Ordinance has been in place since 1973. 

- Requiring owner consent gives property owners all the power and control and gives renters, tenants, business owners, and community members NO voice at all in terms of what happens to historic places in their neighborhoods. Preservation is a public good. 

- The fear that landmark designation of “swaths” of single-family homes without owner consent to prevent “missing middle” housing from being constructed is unfounded. The sky is not falling. In Seattle, the percentage of designated parcels (including historic districts) totals only 0.50% of all parcels, which is a miniscule amount in the grand scheme of the built environment. This percentage (half of one percent!) is changing anytime soon. 

How to contact your state senator and representatives 

If you are unsure of who your senator and representatives are, or which legislative district you live in, you can search by entering your address here. 

You can find email addresses for all legislators on the email roster here. 

And if you live in Seattle, we also recommend that you reach out to Seattle City Councilmembers and ask them to oppose HB 1576 / SB 5554. They may not be aware of this effort to take away community voices and the ability for the City of Seattle to determine those historic resources significant to the community. Find Seattle City Council contact information here. 

For more information about this important issue, please see the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation’s Advocacy Alert. 

If you have questions or wish to keep informed about this issue, please email Eugenia Woo, Director of Preservation Services at Historic Seattle, at eugeniaw@historicseattle.org.