Title
Special Recognition - 2016 Historic Preservation Awards
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
the Olympia Heritage Commission seeks recognition of the recommended award recipients for the 2016 Excellence In Historic Preservation Award.
City Manager Recommendation:
Recognize the recommended Historic Preservation Award recipients.
Report
Issue:
Whether to celebrate the work that ordinary Olympians do to preserve and celebrate our city’s unique historic places.
Staff Contact:
Michelle Sadlier, Historic Preservation Officer, Community Planning & Development, 360.753.8031
Presenter(s):
Holly Davies, Chair of the Olympia Heritage Commission
Notified: Award Recipients Sean Kirby and members of the Thurston-Lewis-Mason Central Labor Council
Background and Analysis:
Under their role of promoting excellence in historic preservation, the Heritage Commission reviews nominations and recommends one or more recipients for Olympia’s Historic Preservation Award each year. While each recipient contributes something unique, the Preservation Award is intended to recognize the people and projects which serve as a model for preserving and championing Olympia’s historical culture, architecture, and stories as embodied in its historic places.
For 2016, the Heritage Commission wishes to applaud the work of a number of people and groups, including tonight’s award recipients. They are:
1. Sean Kirby, for rehabilitating the Trena and Leo Belsito House (408 27th Avenue SE) (Attachment 1)
Sean Kirby has gone above and beyond the call of duty in rehabilitating this significant Trena Worthington-designed home from 1948. Paying extremely close attention to detail, Mr. Kirby painstakingly restored rotting and failing building systems and finishes to their original grandeur while making minor design concessions where necessary in order to make the house function for modern living. The modern upgrades - such as the kitchen remodel, basement build-out, new garage doors, and minor expansion of the front balcony - are tastefully executed so that the original character is well-preserved and the new elements seamlessly integrated into the historic fabric. This house stands as a model for appropriate rehabilitation of a highly significant Olympia landmark property.
After completing this major rehabilitation project, Mr. Kirby successfully nominated his home for the Olympia Heritage Register. Thanks to his passion and initiative, the Trena and Leo Belsito House is now recognized and preserved as a local landmark for current and future generations.
2. Thurston-Lewis-Mason Central Labor Council, for celebrating Olympia’s places of labor history (Attachment 2)
The inspiration for the selection of this year’s theme for Preservation Month, “Labor in Olympia - This Place Matters,” came from the Thurston-Lewis-Mason Central Labor Council. In purchasing and presenting to the City of Olympia the John Vanek sculpture entitled “Dignity in Labor,” the Labor Council took the initiative to use art to mark and celebrate our city’s rich working history in Downtown Olympia, a center for labor and industry for thousands of years.
Embracing the Preservation Month theme with real enthusiasm, the organization drew a huge crowd of members from unions all over the region to take part in the sculpture’s dedication ceremony at Olympia’s historic Labor Temple. The Labor Council’s active involvement on the project served as a catalyst for the participation of regional arts and heritage organizations, including the Arts Commission, Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum, Olympia’s Main Street Program (Olympia Downtown Association), Olympia Tumwater Foundation, Washington State Historical Society, and Washington State Archives.
Also worthy of mention is the role Labor Council members continue to play in the stewardship of our historic Labor Temple. Listed on the Register and located in the Olympia Downtown Historic District, the Labor Temple has served as a business and social center for South Sound’s labor organizations since regional unions pooled their resources to purchase and manage the building in 1926.
A list of past recipients of Preservation Awards is provided in an attachment.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
General community interest in preserving, enhancing and championing the places that give our city its unique character and tell the story of our past.
Financial Impact:
Included in base budget.
Attachments:
Rehabilitation Photos
2016 Preservation Month Photos
Past Preservation Award Recipients