Town Hall
Address: Eighth Avenue at Seneca Street
Date Built: Between 1916 and 1922.
Original Architect/Builder: The building was designed by Portland architect George Dunham Foote.
Original Owners: The Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist.
Description: The Town Hall building was built in the Roman Revival style. Its exterior is clad in glazed terra cotta, and a two-story portico, with a pediment supported by six classical columns, forms the grand entrance. The layout of the building is nearly square, with a large dome at the center of the roof.
Historic Seattle's Role:
Town Hall / Historic Seattle Archives
David Brewster, a former Seattle Weekly publisher, had long been exploring the possibility of converting an older building, such as a church, into a music performance venue and cultural center. After a lengthy search, Mr. Brewster contacted Historic Seattle to assist with the negotiation process for the Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist. Historic Seattle convened a group of possible users to examine the potential of the project as a performance venue, and in 1997 successfully negotiated a purchase and sale agreement for the property.
Historic Seattle's offer was chosen over other development proposals, including a plan to demolish the structure and create a surface parking lot, partly because the congregation liked the proposal for adaptive reuse. Members were interested in the preservation of their building, they liked the proposed use as a community center, music hall and performing arts venue.The purchase agreement included a contingency period pending the results of a feasibility study and building assessment.
The King County Arts Commission and Landmarks and Heritage Commission approved $75,000 in emergency funding for the feasibility analysis from Hotel Motel Funds. This was the first project jointly funded by both commissions. The feasibility analysis examined the physical condition of the building, the constraints and opportunities presented by the project, and its suitability as a performance venue. In addition, more than 200 potential user groups were surveyed to assess the market for such a cultural center.
The analysis took longer than expected and required an extension of the agreement, to which the church agreed for an additional sum. Following the study, however, Historic Seattle concluded that it would not be able to raise the funding necessary to assure the long term preservation of the structure.
Although beyond Historic Seattle's capacity at the time, the project itself was feasible. What was needed was an organization that could fulfill the ownership role and successfully undertake such a project. Historic Seattle agreed to transfer the purchase agreement and the results of its extensive feasibility analysis to an investor group led by David Brewster. The transfer included some restrictions, such as a three year moratorium against demolition of the structure. The deal closed in April 1998.
Current and Future Uses:
Town Hall / Photo: Marissa Natkin
Today, the venue, now known as Town Hall, is maintained and operated by the non-profit group Town Hall Association, and has been undergoing a multi-year process of upgrades and rehabilitation. Although the building is likely eligible for a variety of preservation incentives, so far the project has not applied for or received any preservation funding.
Town Hall Project has been a successful experiment due to its organizational flexibility and the building's characteristics. Its 900-seat capacity fits nicely between larger venues such as the University of Washington's Meany Hall and the smaller Benaroya Hall downtown, and its First Hill location is well suited to its market.
According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, in 2002 Townhall anticipates 60,000 visitors and has 300 bookings, a 50% increase over the year prior.
Although a historic building, Town Hall has been conceived with an eye toward the future. David Brewster imagines the future of the neighborhood developing toward a balanced mix of uses. Future projects may help cultivate a diverse community of businesses and people, and a well-rounded neighborhood that has a life after 5pm. Town Hall, he asserts, is the beginning of this trend.