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The City of Seattle
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An ordinance relating to historic preservation; imposing controls upon the Wilde-Streatfield House, a landmark designated by the Landmarks Preservation Board under Chapter 25.12 of the Seattle Municipal Code, and adding it to the Table of Historical Landmarks contained in Chapter 25.32 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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Recitals:
The Landmarks Preservation Ordinance, Chapter 25.12 of the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC), establishes a procedure for the designation and preservation of sites, improvements, and objects having historical, cultural, architectural, engineering, or geographic significance.
The Landmarks Preservation Board (Board), after a public meeting on April 2, 2025, voted to approve the nomination of the improvement located at 2409 11th Avenue W and the site on which the improvement is located (which are collectively referred to as the “Wilde-Streatfield House”) for designation as a landmark under SMC Chapter 25.12.
After a public meeting on May 7, 2025, the Board voted to approve the designation of the Wilde-Streatfield House under SMC Chapter 25.12.
On February 18, 2026, the Board and the Wilde-Streatfield House’s owner agreed to controls and incentives to be applied to specific features or characteristics of the designated landmark.
The Board recommends that the City Council enact a designating ordinance approving the controls and incentives. Therefore,
Be it ordained by The City of Seattle as follows:
Section 1. Designation. Under Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) 25.12.660, the designation by the Landmarks Preservation Board (Board) of the improvement located at 2409 11th Avenue W and the site on which the improvement is located (which are collectively referred to as “Wilde-Streatfield House”) is acknowledged.
A. Legal Description. The Wilde-Streatfield House are located on the property legally described as:
Gilman’s Addition, Lot 28, Block 170 Less Portion Lying Sly of Following Described Line: Commencing at SE Corner SD Lot 28 Th S 88-50-10 W Along S Line Th Of 28.09 Feet TPOB Th N 59-08-42 W 2.99 Ft Th N 01-09-50 W 0.80 Ft Th S 87-49-46 W14.35 Ft Th S 01-09-50 East 2.13 Feet to South Line SD Lot 28 and Terminus Described Line; TGW West 14.41 Ft Of N 2.39 Ft Of Lot 27, Blk 170, as record in Volume 5 of Plats, Page 92, Records of King County, Washington.
B. Specific Features or Characteristics Designated. Under SMC 25.12.660.A.2, the Board designated the following specific features or characteristics of the Wilde-Streatfield House:
1. The site.
2. The exterior of the house.
C. Basis of Designation. The designation was made because the Wilde-Streatfield House is more than 25 years old; has significant character, interest, or value as a part of the development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the City, state, or nation; has integrity or the ability to convey its significance; and satisfies the following SMC 25.12.350 provisions:
1. It embodies the distinctive visible characteristics of an architectural style, or period, or of a method of construction (SMC 25.12.350.D).
2. It is an outstanding work of a designer or builder (SMC 25.12.350.E).
Section 2. Controls. The following controls are imposed on the features or characteristics of the Wilde-Streatfield House that were designated by the Board for preservation:
A. Certificate of Approval Process.
1. Except as provided in subsection 2.A.2 or subsection 2.B of this ordinance, the owner must obtain a Certificate of Approval issued by the Board according to SMC Chapter 25.12, or the time for denying a Certificate of Approval must have expired, before the owner may make alterations or significant changes to the features or characteristics of the Wilde-Streatfield House that were designated by the Board for preservation.
2. No Certificate of Approval is required for the following:
a. Any in-kind maintenance or repairs of the features or characteristics of the Wilde-Streatfield House that were designated by the Board for preservation.
b. Installation, removal, or alteration (including repair) of underground irrigation and underground utilities, provided that the site is restored in kind.
c. Installation, removal, or alteration of the following site furnishings: benches, chairs, tables, swings, non-historic movable planters, and trash/recycling receptacles.
d. Installation or removal of interior, temporary window shading devices that are operable and do not obscure the glazing when in the open position.
e. Planting texture and structure are a design priority for the garden, as well as foliage. The intent is for the historic landscape to grow naturally. The following types of maintenance are considered appropriate and may be done without further review:
1) Trees and internal shrubs may be pruned to promote health, allow walking pathways to remain open, and keep branches away from the structures.
2) The perimeter hedges on the property borders may be pruned once or twice each year.
3) If low-level plantings become damaged, diseased, die, or are assessed by an ISA Certified Arborist to be hazardous, they may be replanted one-for-one with like varieties to restore the garden form and space.
4) If shrubs or trees become damaged, diseased, die, or are assessed by an ISA Certified Arborist to be hazardous, they may be replanted one-for-own with like varieties to restore the garden form and space. If proposed replacement with the same species is problematic, the applicant can seek a Certificate of Approval to explain how the proposed, alternate shrubs or trees are a reasonable substitute and suited to the garden’s original design.
B. City Historic Preservation Officer (CHPO) Approval Process.
1. The CHPO may review and approve alterations or significant changes to the features or characteristics listed in SMC 25.12.720.B or in subsection 2.B.3 of this ordinance according to the following procedure:
a. The owner shall submit to the CHPO a Certificate of Approval application.
b. If the CHPO, upon examination of the application, determines that the alterations or significant changes are consistent with the purposes of SMC Chapter 25.12, the CHPO shall approve the alterations or significant changes without further action by the Board, and the CHPO shall notify the owner of that determination.
2. If the CHPO does not approve the alterations or significant changes, the owner may submit revised materials to the CHPO, or request consideration by the Board under SMC Chapter 25.12.
3. CHPO approval of alterations or significant changes to the features or characteristics of the Wilde-Streatfield House that were designated by the Board for preservation is available for the following:
a. The Landmarks Coordinator may determine that no Certificate of Approval is required if the proposed work is consistent with in-kind repair and/or general maintenance.
b. Emergency repairs or measures (including immediate action to secure the area, install temporary equipment, and employ stabilization methods as necessary to protect the public’s safety, health, and welfare) to address hazardous conditions with adverse impacts to the building or site as related to a seismic or other unforeseen event. Following such an emergency, the owner shall adhere to the following:
1) The owner shall notify the City Historic Preservation Officer within 24 hours, and document the conditions and actions the owner took.
2) If temporary structural supports are necessary, the owner shall make all reasonable efforts to prevent further damage to historic resources.
3) The owner shall not remove historic building materials from the site as part of the emergency response.
4) In consultation with the City Historic Preservation Officer and staff, the owner shall adopt and implement a long-term plan to address any damage through appropriate solutions.
Section 3. Incentives. The following incentives are granted on the features or characteristics of the Wilde-Streatfield House that were designated by the Board for preservation:
A. Uses not otherwise permitted in a zone may be authorized in a designated landmark by means of an administrative conditional use permit issued under SMC Title 23.
B. Exceptions to certain of the requirements of the Seattle Building Code and the Seattle Energy Code, adopted by SMC Chapter 22.101, may be authorized according to the applicable provisions.
C. Special tax valuation for historic preservation may be available under chapter 84.26 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) upon application and compliance with the requirements of that statute.
D. Reduction or waiver, under certain conditions, of minimum accessory off-street parking requirements for uses permitted in a designated landmark structure may be permitted under SMC Title 23.
Section 4. Enforcement of this ordinance and penalties for its violation are as provided in SMC 25.12.910.
Section 5. The Wilde-Streatfield House is added alphabetically to Section I, Residences, of the Table of Historical Landmarks contained in SMC Chapter 25.32.
Section 6. The City Clerk is directed to record a certified copy of this ordinance with the King County Recorder’s Office, deliver two certified copies to the CHPO, and deliver one copy to the Director of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections. The CHPO is directed to provide a certified copy of this ordinance to the Wilde-Streatfield House’s owner.
This ordinance shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Sections 1.04.020 and 1.04.070.
Passed by the City Council and signed in open session in authentication of its passage on .
President of the City Council
on .
Katie B. Wilson, Mayor
Scheereen Dedman, City Clerk