Cindi Laws (Incumbent)

Cindi Laws (Incumbent)

RESPONSE RECEIVED: August 30, 10:39 a.m.

1. Why is historic preservation important?

Historical preservation provides an essential link with the past, one that is not only culturally significant, but can provide an enormous and underrated economic value to a community. Travelers don’t go to Egypt to see the giant engineering marvel that is the dam; they go to see the fabulous engineering magnificence of the Pyramids, the Sphinx, and of course, the treasures within. Each community has it’s own treasured buildings, be they a humble cottage or a tattered market, awaiting restoration. Buildings provide a series of data points reflecting society, or of the people for whom the structure was erected. In the study of architecture, one can gain an enormous education of the thinking, values, and goals of a people.

2. What should government's role be in local, state, and national preservation issues, concerns, and opportunities?

Government should be cautious in unwittingly or overtly creating incentives for destroying historic areas, buildings or structures through the use of tax incentives. Government should create incentives to restore and protect architecturally significant structures and neighborhoods.

3. What is your track record of supporting local historic preservation programs?

I helped with the restoration of the log cabin that became the Alki Log House Museum, which was diagonally across from my home. More significantly, I approved the Seattle Monorail Project’s multi-million dollar Historic Mitigation Fund package (contained in the “Memorandum of Understanding” with the City of Seattle).

4. Local government entities own many historic properties, both designated as well as eligible for designation as landmarks. What is your position on the stewardship of these properties? What amount of funding for maintenance and rehabilitation would you support for these properties?

Government-owned historic properties need first to be appropriately documented prior to an event of a force of nature, particularly in geologically sensitive areas like Pioneer Square and SODO. The documentation provides a historic record on its own merits, but also provides a pattern should the structure need rebuilding. The stewardship of historic government-owned buildings is woefully inadequate. New and creative funding sources must be established for the restoration, maintenance and preservation.

5. What policy changes would you support to strengthen protections for designated landmarks?

Tax credits for developers who protect the buildings, perhaps allowing for higher zoning on a project in a non-historic area. I’m open to any number of suggestions on this matter. I’m more concerned that not enough funding or engineering expertise is available. On government projects, too often I’ve heard the refrain “it’s just too expensive to fix this old ______; it will cost just ½ as much to start anew.” Perhaps. But the historic value is worth much, much more than lumber, mortar and brick, and needs to be recognized and protected as such.

6. What policy changes would you support to strengthen protections for buildings which have previously been surveyed and were determined to be eligible for a landmark designation?

I think the biggest policy change is making it easier for the public to understand HOW to gain landmark designation, and that it doesn’t necessarily take government to obtain that designation. We need to have a policy that puts more emphasis on the risk of losing our important structures, even if they may have been used for religious services; knowledge drives advocacy. The public can’t motivate their elected officials if the public isn’t aware that their favorite building might get torn down. At minimum, buildings that have been determined to be eligible need to have a greater public process so we don’t tear down another iconoclastic Twin Tee Pees or showplace theater. The historic preservation board needs some teeth, and money, to enable more historic protection.

7. What policy changes would you support to strengthen protections for older buildings which have not yet been surveyed and have not been evaluated for eligibility for a landmark designation?

Automatic documentation and review to determine eligibility.

8. In communities across the nation, public funds have been used to survey the historic integrity of neighborhoods. In what ways would you support a comprehensive survey to identify, evaluate, and potentially designate properties as historic landmarks?

It comes down to funding the work to document and evaluate the properties. The goalsof landmark preservation must be well established and made a priority. The historic preservation communities must have equal access to power on par with the development communities

9. Some community plans call for protection of architectural character and historic buildings with the establishment of conservation districts and design controls. What actions would you support to sustain community character?

The city currently has numerous commissions and boards that touch upon planning, design, zoning, and historic preservation. I think it is important to use a multiple of layers – federal, state, and local – of these citizen-oriented groups to evaluate recommendations that rightly begin in neighborhoods and community councils. I rented a classic Alki cottage, circa 1933, until the property was sold to a developer and torn down. 3, 3-story townhouse units replaced my 860 square foot single-family home. The old house was not deemed significant in any way except my elaborate gardens. The neighborhood had changed for decades and the house was sandwiched between two 3-4-story apartment buildings. Only a few of the original beach-type shacks and cottages remain, and yet the character as a funky, laid-back beach community is still strong. Alki is an example of a neighborhood that is continually evolving. The community character exists in the modern rebuild of the Bathhouse, the creation of the Log House Museum, the continuing operation of the Homestead Restaurant, and of the history. In a community like Alki, one can now only talk to old-timers about Luna Park or the Alki Trolley. No physical evidence – other than at photo galleries – tells the 154-year history of this neighborhood. Something is missing: physical art. Art and architecture can structure effectively as a bridge from the past to the modern in a way that is sensitive, culturally relevant, tangible and tactile. We need more of it and we need policies in place that encourage the creation and preservation of our history through the use of art and architecture.