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CITY OF YAKIMA
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
March 2, 2009
Yakima County Commissioners
Kevin Bouchey, Rand Elliot, and Mike Leita
128 North 2 Street
Yakima, Washington 98901
Re: Mortuary and `A' Street Buildings
Commissioners:
Our Commission has had the opportunity to review the plans to renovate the "A
Street Buildings" created by the Diane Vance, and has sent members of our
Commission with an expertise in building preservation to the premises to conduct
their own informal assessment of the properties in question. It is our strong
recommendation that the County restore the buildings and promote their continued
operation for at least the period of 20 — 30 years for which it intends the property to
be a vacant lot.
The buildings themselves are in very good condition and require only the most
common restorative steps be taken to reopen a building following a period of neglect.
The framework of the buildings is excellent and the Mortuary in particular has a very
good foundation. There is no structural reason that the buildings are not viable.
The City of Yakima has lost many of its historic treasures in the past including the
Elks Lodge that the County demolished in order to build a parking lot adjacent to the
"A Street Buildings." We lament that loss. Many community members have
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approached us voicing their concern for the fate of the buildings, hoping that the
County Commissioners would be willing to engage in a dialogue with our
Commission so that a compromise could be reached.
We would be more than happy to assist Yakima County with the pursuit of funds
for the restoration of the "A Street Buildings ", and have already begun the process of
nominating them for Washington's Most Endangered Buildings List which will
generate interest and sympathy from lawmakers in Olympia, where preservation
projects are more common and receive a lot of funding. We did take the step of
including them on a list of Washington preservation projects worthy of stimulus
package funding. If such funds are forthcoming, the County would not have to spend
$150,000 of County funds, and could put those funds to better use on other projects.
The Mortuary in particular is a unique example of architecture in downtown, and
to create another vacant lot where it once stood is not only unnecessary at this time
but counterproductive to the economic development of Downtown Yakima. Our city
does not need more vacant lots, especially for a period as long as 30 years, it needs
the sound leadership that you can provide, leadership that understands the value and
appeal of historic texture for tourism and growth. Yakima is featured in the current
edition of Sunset Magazine, the coffee shop across the street from the A Street
buildings is highlighted because of its' historic charm.. Loss of additional historic
properties removes us further from our historical roots and also endangers tax dollars
generated by tourism. It is our Commission's unanimous recommendation that the "A
Street Buildings" be retained and restored for both the good of the community, and
the purpose of furthering historic preservation. To that end, we will do all we can to
help you assure that the restoration project meets with success.
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Commission Members
Celeste Barry • Stephanie Flynn • Scott Irons • Nancy Kenmotsu • Joe Mann • Karl Pasten •
Jennifer Wilde - McMurtrie
Sincer y, c(
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Scott Irons, Chairman
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Historic Preservation Commission
CC: Yakima Herald Republic
Commission Members
Celeste Barry • Stephanie Flynn • Scott Irons • Nancy Kenmotsu • Joe Mann • Karl Pasten •
Jennifer Wilde - McMurtrie