This is an update on the state bills impacting landmark designation. On March 10, state representatives in the House voted to pass Substitute House Bill 1576. Senate Bill 5554 was not moved forward by the Senate so that bill is no longer in play.

SHB 1576, if passed into law, would restrict the ways in which communities are able to designate landmarks. Historic Seattle strongly opposes the bill, as amended.

The bill seeks to prohibit cities and counties from designating a property as a historic landmark if:

1. It is less than 40 years old, or

2. The designation would restrict its use, alteration, or demolition, and

3. Written owner consent has not been obtained.

The above restrictions do not apply to properties in locally designated historic districts; properties more than 100 years old; and properties designated prior to the effective date of the bill.

This statewide bill will have the most impact on local ordinances for Seattle, Tacoma, and parts of King County. However, the real target is Seattle, where owner consent is preferred, but not required for landmark designation and the threshold age of a property is 25 years or older.

What’s next? TAKE ACTION!

SHB 1576 is now in the opposite chamber—the Senate. The Senate Committee on Local Government is holding a public hearing for SHB 1576 on Monday, March 17, at 1:30 pm.

It’s important for preservation voices to be heard! You can do this by 1) submitting written testimony; 2) stating your position for the record without testifying (select CON to oppose); or signing into the hearing to offer testimony (either in person or remotely via Zoom).

SIGN IN TO OPPOSE SHB 1576
(Clicking this link will take you directly to the Senate Committee Sign-In page)

We also ask you to contact YOUR state legislators (particularly your senator) and tell them you oppose SHB 1576 and ask that they vote no on the bill. Time is of the essence! Please reach out to them ASAP. Find legislators here.

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

- The sky is not falling. Not every property is eligible for designation. In Seattle, the percentage of designated parcels (including historic districts) totals only 0.5% of all parcels, which is a minuscule amount in the grand scheme of the built environment. The landmark designation process that has been in place for over 50 years provides a high bar to meet standards for designation. Not every building should be a landmark or preserved, but the community should be involved in saving significant resources.

- Giveaway to developers. Requiring written owner consent for designation creates an imbalance of power, giving developers all the control and leaving communities little to no voice in terms of what happens to historic places in their neighborhoods. Preservation is a public good, as confirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

- Not about housing supply. If SHB 1576 becomes law, then we are certain that Seattle will lose many significant historic places, including residential properties. This, in turn, will adversely impact the overall environment and livability. Affordable housing will not be achieved by weakening local preservation ordinances.

For more information about this important issue and additional talking points, please see the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation’s Advocacy Alert. We have been collaborating on this important issue.

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.