By Bill Betten
I am the founder and registered agent of the newly formed 105 Cedar Avenue Foundation.
Our goal is to preserve and protect all the historic early-20th and mid-20th century properties located at 105 Cedar Ave. in Snohomish, owned by all the citizens of Snohomish, also known as the Carnegie Building, which was discussed in Werner Blake’s commentary in the May 14 Herald (“Bring back Carnegie building’s original look”).
Through our efforts, both the 1910 and 1968 buildings, the 600-year-old Douglas fir stump, the soon-to-be-returned 1961 American Legion War Memorial Statue, and all trees will soon be registered and protected by the Washington state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in Olympia. This listing will protect all of the properties from removal, demolition or major alteration or renovation, such as Mr. Blake’s “scissor jack” promenade of three ramps for “children and the disabled.” I’m sure children would love to play and skateboard on the ramps, but what about a legless vet in a wheelchair trying to maneuver up the ramps?
There are close to 5,300 square feet of ground-level ADA-accessible space in the 1968 annex that can be utilized for community events, town hall meetings and city council meetings with a legal maximum person count occupant load (per Snohomish city building and fire official) under the building code of 187 persons seated and 374 standing. The 1968 annex is a example of efficient, strong, utilitarian mid-20th century architecture by a noted local Everett Architectural firm Botesch, Nash &Associates. Steel framing reflected the public’s desire for strong, yet practical and economical structures for the public sector.
In Blake’s guest commentary, he correctly calls out the council for “backward thinking” in spending $70,000 alone for a “chairlift for stairs” in the 1910 building. (A total of $230,000 in overall spending was proposed that doesn’t even include a second egress door or a fire escape, according to March 21 council meeting minutes.)
The last city-paid master plan of 2011, costing $35,000, showed an ambitious $4 million restoration project. It was my understanding the private Snohomish Carnegie Foundation was to raise all the money through donations, not taxpayer money.
After I filed a public records request, the city reports there is no record of any lease or partnership agreement between the city and the Snohomish Carnegie Foundation outlining the use, purpose and control of the 105 Cedar Avenue properties.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the Snohomish Carnegie Foundation, also referred to as the Carnegie Library and Educational Center, hasn’t privately raised even $50,000 over the last 11 years — far short of its $4 million goal to complete the city’s master plan. Taxpayer grants in 2013 did pay for a new seismically retrofitted Spanish tile roof costing nearly $1 million for the 1910 building.
I feel it is time for a fresh look on how the 105 Cedar Avenue properties can truly provide future generations with over 10,000 square feet for free public meeting rooms, historical research and museum space, etc. In other words, all citizens should have access to the properties they own, not a private “educational center.”
In our view, practicality trumps aesthetics and wasteful spending. Our county leaders and judges came to the same conclusion when they finally decided to keep the 1968 courthouse from being demolished.
It is our foundation’s mission to preserve and protect all the historical properties, including the 1968 annex, for many more generations to come.
Bill Betten lives in Snohomish and is an amateur local historian.
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