Cass Turnbull hopes you can help her save a beloved house:
I hope someone who is reading this is the person, or maybe knows the person, who can save the house and garden at 4625 Eastern Ave North. It’s important. It’s keeping me up at night thinking that a developer is going to raze the garden, chop down her Heritage Trees and bulldoze that wonderful house–the likes of which will never be made again in Seattle—in order to build two or three MacMansions of the sort which are, unfortunately, commonplace. Marilyn’s Wallingford house is a sort of legend among neighbors. People have wondered for many decades who owns that house, and what is hidden by the overgrown trees and shrubs. It has the air of a mansion in a romantic novel and it has cast a spell over many people. Other folks, the less curious sorts, don’t even notice that something is there.
The house is reasonably good looking and ample in size but not huge. It is a monument to deferred maintenance. The copper downspouts have been stolen, the irrigation doesn’t work, there is a tarp over the greenhouse, the walkway is buckled, a concrete retaining wall leans outward toward the ally. But that neglect also means that everything is still original. The gutters are made of wood. The shingles are wood. There are original appliances in the kitchen. The outside is nice but the impressive part is inside–there is a painted mural and leaded windows, incredible wood work, vaulted ceilings, and bay windows in the study that open outward.
I only got brief looks inside the house because Marilyn Bechlem, (only the second owner of the house) was an extremely private woman. Even those neighbors with whom she spoke regularly were never allowed inside. As I entered the living room for the first time, I stopped, looked around and said, ‘wow’. Marilyn said, ‘People always say that.’ I took in what I could while following Marilyn to the underground garages to get to the water shut off (I was going through a secret passage!). She took me upstairs to the bedroom so I could see if we could improve the view from her tiny balcony (a real balcony!) And after the diagnosis she finally let me inside to sit and talk to her because she could no longer walk the garden with me. By then I had become inordinately fond of her for some unknown reason. I did manage to make myself tell her that, though she might not know it, it was nevertheless true that she was a special person.
Long before seeing the inside of the house I had fallen in love with the garden, which was why I had been hired. It had been totally overtaken by invading holly, laurel, Oregon grape, blackberries, and vines. Beneath it all hid a collection of perfect, 60 year old ornamental shrubs and trees. My crew and I worked there one day a month for over a year to dig it out. It was the secret garden and it was my job to restore it to Marilyn’s satisfaction—not an easy task. It was both hard and delicate work. Marilyn liked the overgrown look and was quite protective of every plant that the original owner, Mrs. Bittman, had planted there. Marilyn, a spry 84 year old, knew where each plant was and would walk fearlessly through the tangle on uneven ground to show us things and to check on our work. She could hear a comment made 15 feet away. So it was quite a challenge.
During my tenure, I liberated two-story camellias, a ‘waterfall’ of rhododendrons, kerria, quince, the biggest silverberry I’ve ever seen, silktassle, purple smoke tree, spindlebush, a huge witch hazel, wintersweet, the biggest osmanthus, strawberry tree, stransvesia, and many more plants including several I could not identify. I discovered and cleared the path back to a hidden wooden gate, I found a very large birdbath, cleared around the greenhouse, and pruned a way back to a charming wooden shed. I wish I had taken photos. As I returned each month the garden slowly revealed it’s hidden splendors. There was of succession of bulbs in the spring: avalanche lilies, fields of crocus, snow drops, and huge patches of hardy cyclamen (corms the size of tennis shoes). I talked Plant Amnesty arborists into donating a day of big tree work, $6,000 worth of work, for the giant sequoia, the coast redwood, the two copper beeches, the red oak, the three magnolias, two dogwoods, the snowbell, blue Atlas cedar and deodar, the gingko, the dove tree, the biggest tan oak in the city, and the most fabulous redbud I’d ever seen. It had moss covered trunks leaning horizontally over the field of foxglove, its trunks covered in tiny licorice ferns.
The garden still looks quite rough, as I was forced to stop by the occasion Marilyn’s passing. I felt robbed that she was gone and my time with her and the garden had come to an end. Truth be told, I was heartbroken. My intent throughout the process, besides keeping Marilyn happy, was to save the existing garden by bringing it back to good enough order that the next owner would not take a chainsaw and indiscriminately cut everything back. I hope I achieved that. And now, if only I can find the right new owner for garden and house, I will be able to sleep again.
Marilyn’s house is a block away from Seattle Tilth/The Good Shepherd center. It is due to go on the market any day now and it will probably sell in a couple of weeks. My real estate friend Cynthia said it could go for anywhere from $1-$3 million. Plus it will need many, many expensive repairs to restore it. So it needs the right buyer to save it. For them it will be a labor of love. But this is an easy place to love, I know I did. So I hope you are that buyer, or know someone who will be that buyer, and that you will contact the historic preservation people to express desire that it be preserved as a landmark:
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/historic-preservation/landmarks
Cass Turnbull, Marilyn’s gardener 206-783-9093
The real estate agent representing the seller is Patty Allen, 206-227-9139.
The real estate agent who will represent the buyer is my dear friend, Cynthia Creasey of Lake & Company. Cynthia specializes in ‘gardens that come with houses’. Her number is 206-276-8292
A few more photos are available here: http://www.shannonandpeter.com/BittmanHouse/
I had the great good fortune to see the inside of that wonderful house at the estate sale last month. So pleased to know that the owner had Ms Turnbull on the job. I had to pass up on purchasing books, but all the editions of Trees of Green Lake were there, inscribed by their author, to the family, mentioning the “Wallingford Arboretum”.
This is what I’d do if I won the lottery!
This house should be landmarked!! If not, it’s totally vulnerable! What an amazing house! Anyone know how to get that started? It’s not necessarily too late. But it’s helpful if there’s an architect who knows the ropes.
http://web6.seattle.gov/DPD/HistoricalSite/QueryResult.aspx?ID=-1581748802
Back in the late 60’s early 70’s, the kids on the block called it the “Spook House”.
What a beautiful article! Thank you very much for writing this! I too, have lost sleep thinking about the fate of this house. I visited the estate sale twice just to try and process what I was experiencing. The collection of possessions spanning 100 years and the only two owners of that amazing home was un freaking believable! I could only afford a few small chatchkies but I will forever treasure the story attached to them. I still think about the incredible, intact collection of amazing Seattle things I saw! And the secret passages, and the mural, and all the amazing old photos. I’m kicking myself for not buying more.
I only wish there was more stories to be told and recorded about her and Mrs. Bitmap. Who is in charge of this estate anyway? Did she have no family?
How can we as a community further express the value of this Seattle gem? How can we record and gather the history? If I can help in any way, I will! Please, oh please, future buyer, please do this house the justice it deserves!
OMG. If only I could win the lottery today! Have LOVED this garden for many many years and dreamed about this house.
My wife and I are quite new to the neighborhood and so we don’t have the same attachment to this place as the rest of you. But as we chose this neighborhood because of the small craftsmans and care for gardening we saw abundant here, I am hoping that the lot isn’t subdivided and the garden — and trees, oh those trees! — lost.
I am mostly surprised that buyers would have to go through a pre-selected buyer’s agent, I’ve never heard of that before. But I would definitely hope that Marilyn’s would be open to having Cass Turnball do some extensive documenting and landscape designs of the historic gardens. If she has or could photograph and draw the gardens, Curbed Seattle and other local media might drum up interest to change the seller’s idea of the space from tear-down to potential museum-quality historic home and garden, an unparalleled opportunity for restoration.
I think the best hope is to change the mind of the seller’s agent that the gardens and house are not assumed costs for the lot but this unique collector’s asset that would appeal to multiple potential buyers. At this price range, I fear that its interest will be primarily among developers (especially if the lot can be easily subdivided) but if the seller comes to see the trees as an asset to a bidding war rather than an clearing expense, the seller will market it that way.
The heirs, a sister and a brother, (Marilyn had no children) seem remarkably un- attached to the house, it’s possessions or its fate. The agent cares, but can only do what the heirs decide.
The original piece I wrote had a lead/link to the Preservation Society. If nothing else they need a heartfelt email from each of you. Someone started the landmark preservation process but had to leave town. I am unable to do more. Someone who reads this could and should jump in to finish it. You could contact the agent for details on the house. Owners do not need to agree to have a property. declared a landmark. Property goes up for sale next week. Cass 783-9093
Oh my. I’ve lived in Wallingford for almost 24 years and have loved that house from the first time I saw it. What a wonderful location. An alley! Really, a double alley. But the house, I love to walk by and image what the inside looks like, thanks for posting the photos.
The house and property are truly epic – probably the best lot in all of Wallingford.
We are neighbors and have gotten to know Marilynn over the years and were sorry to see her pass. When we moved in 13 years ago, the grown children of our neighbors told us they got a paper route in the 60s specifically so they could get into the “spook” house. And they never did.
There is a neighborhood rumor of an easement/agreement with some bordering neighbors/cross the street neighbors about development, but who knows if that’s true or enforceable. It will be terrible to lose such a treasure to the march of progress – the trees alone deserve preserving. The lot could easily hold 4-6 townhomes once some of those trees are removed.
Curious to see how it all goes down.
Just for the sake of analysis with a lot of assumptions it appears that the property is a shade under 15,000 square feet. Zoning allows for 3 lots if allowed to round up. The house seems to be sitting right in the middle. It is certainly possible that a developer could buy the property, keep the house, create a three-lot plat, and build houses on both sides. This would keep the house, but I suppose most of the garden would be gone. This may be the highest and best use from a financial perspective.
Amazing story. I lived maybe, a block from there for five years and simply never noticed it.
Justin to clarify, though I am a dear friend of Cass’s and supporter of Plant Amnesty, there is no such thing as a “designated” buyers’ broker and buyers are welcome to choose their broker representative.
Summary for 4625 Eastern AVE / Parcel ID 7834800240 / Inv #
Historic Name: Bittman Residence Common Name:
Style: Queen Anne, Tudor Neighborhood: Wallingford
Built By: Year Built: 1915
Significance
In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance.
This house was probably erected in 1914-15. The Property Record Card prepared by the Assessor’s office in 1937 gives 1915 as the date of construction; the King County Assessor Property Characteristics Report (accessed in 2004) indicates that the structure was built in 1916. The original permit for the building (generally the most accurate indicator of the date of construction) cannot be located, although the City’s permit history card for this site indicates that a permit was issued in 1914. Polk’s Seattle Directory indicates that Henry W. Bittman and his wife Jessie first appeared at this address in 1915. Because the permit is missing, the names of the building’s original builder and designer are not preserved in the public record. However, Caterina Provost, who wrote the article on Henry W. Bittman in Shaping Seattle Architecture, dates the building 1914-15 and notes that this house may have been Bittman’s first foray into architecture. Henry Bittman (1882 -1953) was a skillful, prominent and successful Seattle engineer and architect. Numerous modifications were made to the buildings over the 38-year period beginning in 1915 and extending to 1953, the year of Henry Bittman’s death; all of these were designed and built by Bittman himself according to the permit record. Bittman enclosed a porch in September 1915. He added a 9’ x 18’ laundry structure to the house in 1918. In 1929, he designed and built a second story room over the laundry. Another addition to the house (10 ft. x 20 ft.) was designed and built by the owner in 1949-52. All but the last of these changes occurred before the structure was surveyed by the Assessor in 1937. Bittman built a 10’ x 20’ garage on the site in 1918. A second terrace garage, opening onto Eastern Avenue N. was designed and built by Bittman in 1924-25. Bittman’s widow, Jessie, continued to live in the house until 1965 according to city directories. The current owners acquired the property in 1966. This house is significant for a number of reasons. It is an intact and fairly well maintained example of Tudor revival architecture, one of only a few in the Wallingford neighborhood. It is also significant as a relatively rare example of residential architecture designed by an architect best known for his office buildings and commercial structures. It is also one of only a few residential buildings in the neighborhood situated on a large site (three lots amounting to about 1/3 acre). The house contrasts in scale and character with other residential structures in the neighborhood and is well known to people living within a few blocks of the site. Folke Nyberg and Victor Steinbrueck identified this building as a structure of significance to the Wallingford community in “Wallingford: An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design Resources.”
Appearance
This structure is a two-story frame residence with brick veneer at the main level and with stucco and false half timbering in the gables and at some first floor elements. The house is built on a concrete foundation over a full basement. The rectilinear but irregular footprint of the structure, the wide, built-up bargeboards at the gable ends and at most of the dormers, the copious use of “half-timbering,” and the variations in the design of the numerous wings and dormers are all typical elements of Tudor revival work. The location of the entry at a minor elevation, and the fact that this minor elevation is the street façade of the building is a common feature of the English country house typology that many houses built in Tudor revival style utilize. Most of this building’s windows and the glazed doors are divided in to rectangular lights by metal muntins. The main axis of the house stretches east and west and is marked by the ridge of the main roof. The axis is less clear at the west end of the structure where several wings appear to “pinwheel” around a point about two thirds down the length of the building A wide, gabled wing stretches southward from the southwest corner of the structure. At the east sidewall, this wing is only seven feet deep but at the west sidewall it is about 25 feet deep. A balcony extends a few feet from the face of the south-facing gable at the upper level; it shares a central axis with the gable itself and with a pair of fully glazed doors by which it is accessed. Two double-hung windows are paired and centered in the brick veneer below the balcony. A dormer with a small pair of casement windows is situated on the eastern slope of the gable roof, its apparent size diminished by the visual weight of the gabled dormer roof (which has bargeboards and overhangs similar to those at the main roof of the structure). A similar dormer is located at the south end of the west-facing roof; however, a much larger dormer with much larger windows is located to the north. The main level of the west elevation cannot be seen from the public right-of-way. At the north end of the southwest wing’s west wall, another wing stretches westward. The walls of this structure are almost entirely half-timbered. Its long axis is parallel to the main axis of the house but is situated several feet to the north. The gabled west elevation features a pair of casement windows, each divided in a 6 x 3 pattern. A similar pair is centered in the south wall of the wing in a gable-roofed partial wall dormer. A shed-roofed partial wall dormer, featuring a centered pair of casements divided in a 5 x 3 pattern, is located near the middle of the wing’s north elevation. A small courtyard seven feet deep by ten feet wide once separated the southwest wing from a smaller one-story wing near the east end of the south elevation. The house is entered through a simple porch at the east sidewall of this latter gabled wing. The entirety of this small wing is half-timbered. The gable faces south and a horizontally oriented rectangular window is centered in the wall below the gable, lighting what is apparently the entry hall. Paired casement (or perhaps fixed) windows, separated by a heavy mullion, are situated in the south wall of the main house east of the entry. The courtyard that once separated the entry wing from the larger wing to the west has been filled with a one-story, half-timbered, shed-roofed addition. Heavy mullions divide the south-facing window centered in this addition into three lower units divided in a 3 x 2 pattern and three transom units divided in a 2 x 2 pattern. The east elevation of the house faces Eastern Avenue N. but is set back several feet from the street. Its half-timbered gable can just barely be seen through the trees at the eastern margin of the site. A large window assembly is centered in the brick-veneered facade below the gable and fills a large percentage of the elevation. Heavy mullions divide the assembly into three pairs of tall casement windows and three transom units, one transom above each of the casement pairs. Each casement sash is divided by metal muntins into 21 rectangular lights (seven lights tall by three lights wide). A large planter box stretches across the elevation at the base of the windows. The house is difficult to observe from the public rights- of-way despite the fact that the property is bounded by rights-of-way at the east, south and west property lines. The north elevation is particularly hard to see. Three separate gables are barely visible. The easternmost is faced with brick and features a large chimney at its centerline. It appears to be part of a wing projecting from the north side of the main house but the wall line at the main level cannot be seen and this gable and the central gable may be extension of a continuous north wall. The westernmost gable is much smaller and appears to be the north elevation of a wing that projects into the north yard from the east end of the west wing. Two separate concrete terrace garages are located at the eastern margin of the property. Each of these opens across the sidewalk onto Eastern Avenue N. The larger garage is located at the northeast corner of the site and is entered through a single large opening with two hinged doors. South of this garage, but north of the main axis of the house is another garage entered through an overhead door. At the northwest corner of the site is an attractive wood accessory structure of unknown function. A greenhouse is located along the west property line south of the axis of the main house Numerous changes have been made to the building. Most, if not all of these, were completed in the years when Henry Bittman resided at the site. The infill at the south elevation may be an exception; it was completed at some point after the Assessor surveyed the house in 1937 but does not appear to match the description of additional work completed under permits issued by the city after that date. No other significant modifications to the building are apparent.
Just to add that I know Historic Seattle is very aware of the house — wants to see it nominated for landmark status. Neighborhood support for this could help……direct to Kji Kelly at Historic Seattle. Marilyn and Don (who passed away in 2011) were wonderful additions to our community at WCSC. They are both missed. But having their house-home live on would be wonderful tribute.
If anyone is friends or acquainted with Dave Matthews, they should mention it to him. I’m aware of his efforts in preservation. Next time I see him, I will mention it to him. It would be a travesty for that house and surrounding trees to disappear.
Given the numerous 40′ to 65′ mega apt./condo buildings going up all over Wallingford, Fremont, & Ballard, I suspect this triple wide lot will be sold to another out-of-town developer like the one attempting to get a variance to build a 7 story 56 apt. ghetto box literally lot-line-to-lot-line dwarfing the Fremont Library next door and all the other nearby buildings in my immediate neighborhood. Just follow the money to their gated communities to find out if they even give a slight damn about destroying the other 99%’s communities! Time to rise up & just say NO to the god awful unchecked re-development blight allowed by our bought & paid for politicians.
Mike, you may want to take a look at Bill Bradburd for at-large city council position 9. I have similar concerns as you, such as the move to increase rowhouse construction in Wallingford. Rowhouses have zero-lot lines with adjoining lots. Developers use that more recent added designation to squeeze at least one extra unit onto each lot which is built literally to the lot line hence zero-lot line. Developers do this buy buying a lot, having the front of the lot subdivided into rowhouse designation which is the only designation with no density limits. The back of the lot cannot be zoned that way so is subdivided into townhouses. Rowhouses may belong in Seattle in urban areas such as south Capitol Hill but I don’t feel they belong in all neighborhoods but are currently being constructed here due to the up-zoning that the rowhouse designation put into place. Unfortunately, the renters end up saying shaft the homeowners, and the homeowners who live in areas where this zoning is not permitted simply say they don’t care what happens to neighbors who live in less fortunately zoned areas.
Mike, unless you know something that I don’t this property doesn’t appear to qualify for rowhomes or higher density. It is zoned SF5000 and isn’t in the urban village. I think only 3 lots and 3 homes are legally possible. They would need to apply for a zoning change or land use change to do more units.
http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/Neighborhoods/Planning/Map/Wallingford-map.pdf
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Research/gis/webplots/k14w.pdf
It will be easier to preserve the property knowing a max of 3 units are possible rather than 8.
rumors abound, true or not, I’ll share the last one that came my way.
A neighbor, living on either Eastern or 1st Ave., has access to the type
of money needed to make this purchase. That neighbor, has investagated
the property with, at minimum, an architect in hand. The neighbors thinking,
as I understand the “gossop”, is a plan to add an addition to the West side
off of the Laundry [NW corner I believe].
In addition, that same source suggested that the Estate will go up for auction.
I too am curious as to how “we” know that there is a Realtor already picked
for the buyer? Sounds strange to me.
I have long admired this house as well and was awe-inspired seeing the interior during the sale. I too hope we can rally neighborhood support to halt any destruction of this neighborhood treasure!
Okay, thinking outside the box here. What about creating a GoFundMe campaign to either provide to encourage a buyer who would otherwise not have the means to do the necessary renovations/garden clean up to purchase the house? Alternately money raised could be used to fund purchasing the property (or subsidizing a preservation organization’s purchase of the property)? The idea being to help a non-profit or restoration/preservation-minded person compete with the big money developers.
Anything that gets done needs to happen very, very soon. I’m sure the developers have this property on their lists – and if they can put three houses in, they won’t have a problem making a big profit.
Chuckie – I’d be curious if you are speaking of me. We live across the street, knew Marilyn well and helped her out often, and offered to buy the house from her a few times over the past year+. We did look at the house with an architect and contractor, came up with a high level estimate of required repairs – it is SIGNIFICANT, and made an offer on the house that we could afford. The heirs chose not to negotiate with us because they want to maximize income – which is a bummer for us, but I suppose understandable. We’ll be back next week with an offer, and we want to do it right, but I’m concerned about our ability to compete with an all cash offer from a developer. We are also concerned about financing on a house where the bulk of the value is in the land. The house is in ROUGH shape and hasn’t been maintained for 5 decades. Despite that, the price will be high; I worry a cash offer from a developer will win the day. I agree with Brady on the zoning and likely scenario that we’ll end up with fewer trees and two new houses. The house does sit about 5′ across onto the north lot, each of which you can see are 40′ wide. It isn’t 100% clear to me what it would take to build on the north lot – seemingly a lot line adjustment or some other variance. The south lot seems buildable, though big trees are a challenge, and most would have to come down to build. If you have any ideas for us, please share! This blog is great. [email protected]
I am Marilyn Bechlem’s sister and one of the the heirs of her estate. I was so happy when Marilyn hired Cass to care for her landscaping, care that was long overdue because Marilyn did not want just any landscaper involved in caring for the place and waited until she found Cass. She had read about her and read her book on
pruning and probably had talked with her and decided she was “the one”. I enjoyed visiting with Cass several times while in Seattle and appreciated her love for Marilyn’s gardens.
I love the place and would be devastated if it were to go to a developer. I am from Oregon and my late husband and I had many wonderful and fun times when we visited Marilyn and Donald over the years (since 1966). We always brought our bicycles and had such great times biking down to Green Lake and on other bike trails in Seattle. My brother (and co-executor) and I had some very stressfull times during the weeks following Marilyn’s death dealing with a quite complicated estate, so talking to me during that time is probably where Cass got the idea that
I was unattached. We had so many things to take care of before we could even think about putting the house up for sale
I’ve dreamed of restoring this house since I first noticed it over a decade ago. What a treasure. I hope someone does right by it, or that I win the lottery between now and the time it goes on the market…
Rob, thank you for speaking up, from what you write, it reads like the rumor-mill had some factuality.
Pat, other than a developer, who’s interest may not represent or reflect the concerns
of many [most] of the 2000 estate sale attendees, which leaned toward preservation,
who ever makes the purchase will take one of two directions, conserve and preserve,
and/or a turn-key sale to the highest bidder, a fourth owner.
Regardless, without the cover of Historic Preservation, everything Henry and Jesse
Bittman created and your sister and Donald nurtured for the last 100 years, may be lost to time, the neighborhood, Seattle, and the Pacific Northwest.
Litterly thousands of us place our trust and concerns in you and your brother’s hands.
It now is your legacy… polish up a diamond or turn it into dust.
So, the best thing us laypeople can do is write a love letter about the house to the preservation board (which I am doing)? Is there anything else that can be done to influence the houses fate?
Here is Historic Seattle’s online contact form. Let’s build some momentum for landmarking & send them requests to nominate this truly remarkable house.
It’s quite remarkable & such a testimony to the neighborhood: http://historicseattle.org/contact/
And also make a copy before you submit & send it also to Kji Kelly: [email protected]
Phone: 622-6952 x223
And if funds are needed to help with restoration or landmarking the crowdsourcing is a great idea! Dave Matthews is a good idea as well. This is only a fanmail address: [email protected]
Could try cc’ing: [email protected]
to see if that might work as well.
Thanks to Cass, & all for great data. Raven, where does your info come from?
To Nina…the Department of Neighborhoods Historic Resource Survey at seattle.gov. I did not know how much text I could cut and paste. The ground work is already done for a nomination. The City Council makes the decision. I don’t think Historic Seattle needs to get involved, they will probably direct you to the Department of Neighborhoods Landmark Preservation Program.
See entry #3.
Hi everyone! Sorry to be late to the discussion. I am the neighbor immediately to the north of Marilyn’s and also had come to know her and Don since we moved next door in 2006. I’ve completed most of the application for the Historic Preservation Society but am missing a couple pieces that I could use help with. My draft is here: http://1drv.ms/1IaNSCX and you are welcome to help me edit it. I had to take the PDF into Word and insert text boxes on top of the form to be able to edit (bit of a hack) but it should work fine – just be sure to click “open in Word” to get a decent editing experience.
Specifically I’m missing the section of the nomination calling for “Plan, Maps and other Figures. Please provide an accurate site plan of the nominated Property and any other relevant maps or figures.” RAVEN you gave such a great description and significance statement above that I copy and pasted it into the application. Do you have any of those missing pieces? I will get photo’s shortly as I already have many from the estate sale.
I created a “template” letter anyone can fill out and send to the Landmarks Preservation Board: http://1drv.ms/1PBTNDe and the names of the people that are accepting the formal nominations are [email protected] and [email protected] – I suspect emails supporting the nomination process could be sent there.
And last I created a photo essay of sorts of the inside of the home taken during the estate sale. Based on the information in this discussion I’ll update the text shortly, but feel free to enjoy in the mean time: https://sway.com/2mrYtrUPVwecexbx
Personally my wife and I both grew up in historic homes, purchased our current home due to original “non painted over” woodwork and windows from 1912 and would love to see Marilyn’s restored to it’s full glory!
Any potential “redevelopment” would certainly impact us personally based on a large bay window that faces south – directly into the north side of Marilyn’s property.
Please post any questions here or send to me: [email protected]
Eric…Thanks for getting the nomination records together, Sarah provided a link to the Resource Survey at Comment#3. I copied the text so everyone would know that the research work was mostly done. The 1908 Plat of Smith’s University Addition is available at kingcounty.gov. Just go to Parcel Viewer and enter Parcel# 7834800240. Also from the Assessor Office you can find a 1930’s photo of the house w/o trees, a sketch of the floor plan, and the short legal description.
Thanks Raven. I’ll see what I can pull together from there.
Please preserve the history of Seattle in this magnificent piece of architecture & it’s contents. I am an art conservator available for assessment & restoration of the interior murals, as well as a resource for appraisal recommendations for the new owners. I would love to see this heritage preserved.
First, to Pat Mascall, my condolences to you and your family members on your loss.
And, nods to the folks above, posting about ways to “crowd fund” so as to contribute to the costs of preservation should that be an avenue for this house.
It’s great to see that several people believe the property deserves landmark status. But to buy the property and pay for all the renovations and conservation is a daunting prospect….wouldn’t it be marvelous if the community stepped up, somehow, to help with the finances (and, perhaps, for conservators, architects, landscape folks to donate their talents) so a buyer wanting to restore and preserve the home could compete with other development options?
I was talking to a realtor friend last night, and she told me that once the house goes on the market, it might be very difficult or impossible for Pat to take anything less than the highest bid, which I expect will be a developer. With current prices, I think a developer could make back all their costs, plus close to a million dollars profit, by putting in three houses. So….does someone have contact information for Pat – can the sale be delayed until the Landmark process has had a chance?
I will pledge 20 hours of labor on gardens and/or structure if either are kept by the new owner. Not enough to make a difference to a developer but maybe to a neighbor who has a chance to buy it.
Thanks to E. Herzog for that great set of photos from the estate sale. What happened to that beautiful old pinball game?
I would definitely be willing to donate my time in labor to restoring the murals inside the the residence, & I would also be willing to work with the tentative new owner to source existing heritage preservation funds from local organizations to aid in restoration & repairs. I’ll b e thinking good thoughts toward a positive outcome on this.
I will also pledge 20 hours of labor, inside or outside to any resident who buys the house. Any update on the application? Does that person need any help? Someone in this feed said they were working on it. Are the siblings of Marilyn reading this feed? Have they changed their minds in any way on how they plan to proceed with selling the house? Will they be willing to hold off on listing the home for the application to be submitted to buy some time? I believe this is the LAST lot this size in the area. Saving the house is important and so is saving the lot with all its rare plantings.
I have been in love with this house since I first noticed it 15 years ago. I’ve told my husband that I would to buy this house if it ever came on the market, but I never expected it would. The interior is even more magnificent than I had hoped! Can’t wait to see how much it’s listed for…
Hi team 🙂 I have made just a little progress on the application since the above posting. Thanks to a few of you that reached out to me in my personal email with tips.
Dierdre – if you have time can you open the document above (suggest opening in Microsoft Word), review, and help complete as I’m still not sure of the following and you can help that would be great:
• Where can I get an accurate “site plan” with relevant maps and figures? Does pointing them back to the Department of Assessments pages work or no? Cass points to the King County Parcel Viewer, and suggests digging around, but I couldn’t find the “site plan” – I think.
• Do we really have to turn in everything in print as well? Including printed photographs? I suspect yes 🙂 and I think I would simply create a binder of all materials and mail or drop that off.
• Do the photographs from this Department of Assessment page http://info.kingcounty.gov/Assessor/eRealProperty/pictures.aspx?ParcelNbr=7834800240&View=1 count for the “Please provide (5” by 7” or larger for the primary elevations minimum 4”by 6” for the other photos) Photos (prints, not color photocopies or digital photos on copy paper) of all the elevations”? There is one historic photo on that page. I don’t have others handy – but could rally some quickly if needed.
I did get a tip to ensure that we list the “garden” as part of the historic preservation so I have added that to the title of the document.
John Scott: I have no idea what happened to the pinball machine. Likely sold through the estate sale. That said, my father in law has a working one of the same era that is vertical format. Email me separately if you’re interested in that as I’m sure he’d entertain an offer.
Oh and one more: Brady – you seem very handy with maps and such – any suggestions on where to get the site plan? Thanks for the urban village maps above, I did not know about that development plan. Do you have a recommended site to learn more about that plan?
Eric, A Site Plan can be satisfied by more than one map. The legal description is Lots 13, 14, and 15 Block 2 of Smiths University Addition. That Plat Map, recorded in 1908 is here and is probably the best site plan you can find.
http://146.129.54.93:8193/imgcache/OPR19081124582099-1-1.pdf
Let me know if that link didn’t work.
Brady: WOW. Thanks! Great to get help from people with more experience in these matters. Truly: thank you for being a night owl on this with me. I’m going to review with Rob, and likely have to update the photo’s more, get prints etc, and then I think we’re close to submitting.
To the labor pledges: Awesome offer. Please don’t touch anything in the garden without Cass’ permission though.
Sincerely,
Fellow possessive gardener who totally gets where Marilyn was coming from
@csh Thanks for the instructions. I’ll pull my goats from the garden I’m trespassing in and and tell Diedra to come down from the giant sequoia with her chain saw.
Beth West, I am curious, why would it be ‘difficult if not impossible for the current owners to take less’ than the highest price offered? Can’t they choose to make less profit, still a handsome sum, by selling to someone who wants to keep the house and garden? Is there some sort of law? Cass
Hi Cass – It didn’t make any sense to me either, but I’m not a realtor or a real estate lawyer, so I couldn’t really argue with it. She said it had something to do with the Fair Housing (anti-discrimination law). I just didn’t want things to be dead ended before the whole Landmark nomination can go through the system, so I passed it on. If there is a real estate lawyer in the Wallyhood readership, it would be great to get clarification on this.
Who is the ‘she’ that told you the owners must take the highest bidder offer? Seems unAmerican! But what do I know? I’m just the gardener :-). CASS
It doesn’t matter who the person is. I didn’t say that it was the gospel, or that I was sure it was correct. I do think it should be checked out, because I don’t want to see a developer get the house any more than you do, and a developer has the biggest incentive to buy it, and they probably have lawyers, and can afford to pay them.
Just curious
I just wanted to repost Eric’s helpful links:
PRESERVATION APPLICATION: http://1drv.ms/1IaNSCX “and you are welcome to help me edit it. I had to take the PDF into Word and insert text boxes on top of the form to be able to edit (bit of a hack) but it should work fine – just be sure to click “open in Word” to get a decent editing experience.”
TEMPLATE LETTER AND CONTACT INFO FOR PRESERVATION BOARD: I created a “template” letter anyone can fill out and send to the Landmarks Preservation Board: http://1drv.ms/1PBTNDe and the names of the people that are accepting the formal nominations are [email protected] and [email protected] – I suspect emails supporting the nomination process could be sent there.
Eric, I looked at the application you are working on and I’m not sure what to do? I’m sorry, I’m not a great editor. Can you further direct me on what needs finishing? I’m happy to devote the time, but don’t want to do work that’s already been done. Did you get the site plan you were looking for? Let’s get this thing submitted before it goes on the market?
I’m hoping the siblings have read this feed and are reconsidering their plan of action. Siblings? You out there?
Diedra, thanks for taking a look at it. The fact that there didn’t seem much to do… Is a good thing!
I SENT THE APPLICATION TO ERIN AT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY TODAY. The Next thing to do is for me to talk to her and see if I’m missing something then print it out, print out the photo’s in the sizes they want and turn in a paper copy. I won’t be able to get to printing until next Wednesday, May 8 due to some family commitments that I have.
I talked to Rob, who also looked over the document and we think we’re pretty much done. I left a message for Erin, and I’ll ask her if there is information that we’re missing.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR COMMENTS, HELP, TIME, CONCERN, INTEREST AND PASSION for preserving the legacy handed to us by the Bittman’s and the Bechlem’s. I literally have a “front row seat” to everything that has and will transpire next door and I have great respect for all those that have an interest in the outcomes. Growing up my family had similar experiences with heirs and interests and difficult decisions to be made. At that time I was too young to understand what was happening and it’s only over the course of my adult life that I’ve learned about all that transpired. From that experience I am thankful to have so many people communicating openly about their concerns via this forum. .
I’m sure there is more work to do, and I’ll continue to update as I hear about next steps and up coming decisions. Can anyone add to this timeline of what’s coming next:
– finishing submitting the application
– learn if the application is accepted for nomination.
– learn the timeline required for the Historical Preservation Department will make their determination. (I think I read about that the other night, but I’m forgetting so I need to re-read)
– learn if additional community comments are needed
– learn if the public is invited to be present at the meeting of the Historical Preservation Department where discussion and or the decision will be made
– learn what happens if the property is accepted and if there is additional work to do.
and:
– attend the open house if it is open to public (I don’t think it will be private showings only, but I don’t want to presume)
– follow the listing to see when it will close and who the buyers are
and
– prepare a neighborhood welcome basket for the new owners 🙂 (likely with a link to this blog if they have not already read it).
I’m building in some positive thinking here.
If you have not driven/walked by the house lately the garden in in fabulous bloom right now.
Thanks again everyone!
Heard back from the department, they are preparing a list of additional information that will be needed in advance of the May 21st meeting. Stay tuned.
Thank you!
Thank you Eric.
Hello all, I’m Marilyn’s nephew and an heir to her estate. I’m just catching up with all the comments and must say I’m quite surprised with all the rumors, hearsay, and assumptions a number of you have made! May I ask why any of you haven’t tried to contact her relatives and/or heirs? Some of you make us sound like we’re out for every dollar we can get, and willing to do anything to get it! On the contrary, a number of us have had lengthy discussions on actually taking less money if we can get some type of assurances that the property would stay essentially as Marilyn would have wanted it. There’s more I would like to say, and will say, but right now I can’t get over how saddened and shocked I am that we are being treated as though we don’t exist!
hello Randy,
It is too bad that you are focusing on a few comments which upset you. Please consider that many people do not know how to get ahold of owners. please consider that many people made helpful positive comments and that some show love of and desire to help.
Randy: It’s invaluable to hear from any member of the family, so: deep thanks for finding and entering this thread. I think anyone reading this has been hoping more than anything for family feedback, and then meanwhile because of apparent time constraints, leapfrogging over sensitivity or a possible early misinterpretation of disinterest, to be in time to have an effect in case no family member either was reachable or intervened. My uninvested sense is not that there’s been any intent to treat your family as if you don’t exist — just an exceedingly well-meaning starting post with the main message that This Is Something Deserving of Care – Can We Do Anything to Prevent It From Being Razed? … as has been happening left and right in Wallingford, more than over this past 1-2 years. Other caring people here then joined the chorus of those who have personal memories of your aunt’s home, mostly from a distance, or had the fortune of seeing the inside of this magnificent home, and as a result are now in a position to help plead the case for (official) preservation. The new element of its rare beauty and craftsmanship being shared with the neighborhood began a whole other chapter than Cass’s first description of her love and tending of the gardens. I, and I’m sure just about anyone even lurking over this thread, would be indescribably glad to hear any word from any family member, and would welcome hearing the more you mention that you’d like to say. Me, I’d like that above all else, while also wanting to help on the preservation side in any way possible.
I woke up with plans to respond to Randy, but Sally, you have said so much, so eloquently. I don’t know what more I can add to it. Randy, I hope you can see that we are all so very interested in seeing this house live on. I don’t know if you live in Seattle but it’s Terrible with a capital T watching multiple homes per week being razed for fugly town homes. Our history is going down the toilet. To discover this gem, your aunts house is so exciting and has created a lot of hope in the community. I personally am so glad that you replied to this thread to let us find you. I don’t think anyone believed they could bypass the real estate agent or the estate sale team and bother you guys. Once the story was spun about the heirs, people left it alone, I guess. So Randy, please let us know how the community can help save this house and restore it to glory. How can passionate gardeners, arborists, and botanists learn from the original landscape and help it continue to grow? As I hope you read in the thread, there are a handful of us who are willing to donate our efforts to the house. Thanks.
Hi team. The house is officially listed for sale: http://www.windermere.com/listing/34061823
I got detailed feedback from the Landmarks Preservation Board which is both great and overwhelming at the same time. They would like to review the nomination ON MAY 21!!! This is the point where I’m now in over my head and need help 🙂
I reformatted my submission form to match the sample for the Bloss House on the Preservation Boards web site (should have done this in the first place – doh!).
My new draft is here: http://1drv.ms/1E7jSTe.
Please review the bulleted list on the first page for information and formatting that needs to be added to the report AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN SIGN UP TO HELP WITH ANY OF THOSE ITEMS :-). I got a couple items started, and I’ll continue to chip away at it, but I would greatly appreciate any and all assistance in getting it ready for submission. Send direct comments and suggestions to: [email protected]
Hi everyone,
I write for Komo News’ online magazine Seattle Refined http://www.komonews.com/seattlerefined/people/274416921.html, live in Wallingford and think my editor would be interested in running this story IF you think the publicity would help the cause. I can’t believe how stunning this house is, but don’t want to do anything that might be detrimental to its preservation.
Let me know if you think it would be appropriate and helpful to pitch this story.
Paola, I think that would be great, but I’m just one person. 7
Would be great!
Perhaps Patty Allen, the agent, should be consulted on whether or not attention from KOMO would be welcomed. I believe Ms. Allen lives in Wallingford and she has an interest in historic preservation. The preservation advocate at Historic Seattle might also have insight. Historic Seattle began with the Home of the Good Shepherd, I think they would give the Bittman House their full attention.
I’m not sure if the hiers would be interested in having the attention. Marilyn was an extremely private person, and I think the family may be also. But the press coverage would increase the pool of buyers who potentially would have the money and interest needed to keep the garden and house together. I’m certain many potential buyers are planning to separate them, keeping the house and getting rid of the large and beautiful garden, turning it into cash to help defray the cost of ownership.That would be a terrible same. The two really need to be kept together, like an old married couple they belong together.
There’s an open house at the home on Wed, May 13 from 11:00-2:00 pm. Not great for those working during the day but definitely worth the trip over to see it for those who are able.
Hi everyone – I was out for about 10 days and when I came back I found an inbox with offers to help! THANKS to those that offered, and I’m thrilled to report that we’re now making faster progress on getting the nomination submitted. With the help at hand we’re likely 2-3 weeks from completion.
Thanks again for the help as I’m unable to dedicate as much time as necessary due to my other responsibilities. I’d second the comment above that the open house is a unique and perhaps last opportunity for people to appreciate the interior first hand. Tremendous compliments to those that worked so hard to clean and prepare the home for the next generation.
As Marilyn’s niece and Pat’s daughter, I have to agree with my cousin Randy up above. I was already thinking the same thoughts that he wrote. I am at least encouraged by some sensitive folks out there who at least have the decency of expressing condolences to my mom and then Randy and simply want to help preserve it for the neighborhood. I’ve put myself in your shoes and I would have a vested interest in keeping it intact as well. But I also find it astonishing that Eric is leading the charge on this historic preservation application without even consulting with the heirs. Last time I came up with my mom we were standing out in front talking with Rob and Jennifer and Eric came blazing over to talk to them about the application and honestly, after he ran off I wanted to wave my arms and say “hello! My mom is standing right here! Wouldn’t you like to ask her opinion at least?” Apparently not. We’ve been enjoying the house and garden for nearly 50 years now and have no wish to dishonor the Bechlems or Bittmans by having it bulldozed. Sheesh, have a little faith that the right owners will come along. I know I do. *Thank you to Raven for actually suggesting talking to Patty Allen about press attention (or anything else for that matter.) ** I’d also like to remind a few neighbors in particular that it is in fact PRIVATE PROPERTY and I’d ask that you respect that fact. I’m sorry if my tone conveys any anger, I do understand where you all are coming from. I just see quite a lack of basic respect by a few of you. As Randy said “but right now I can’t get over how saddened and shocked I am that we are being treated as though we don’t exist!” No one lives nearby unfortunately and the direct heirs are not in good health. The last time my mom read this blog it upset her so terribly I told her to please not look at it again. The wise course of action at this point is to consult with Patty with any questions or concerns. I believe I’m the third family member now (thought not a direct heir) to say that we want to keep the house and garden intact. How much help will be needed on the house or grounds will be up to the new owners it seems to me. I would think they would welcome all your offers of help.
Just an update on where I am with writing a press article (see my comment above). I went to the Open House – the house is unbelievably beautiful by the way – and talked at length with Patty Allen. I committed to writing a sensitive portrait of the house and its history, particularly the Bittman connection and the Tadama muralswhich I think the greater Seattle community would be interested in hearing. Patty is on board and is approaching the owners on my behalf as obviously I wouldn’t go ahead against their wishes. She has been extremely helpful and sympathetic and I agree with Anne above that Patty should be consulted with any future questions or concerns.
FYI – the house is listed as pending. Does anyone know anything about the buyer? Is it a family? A developer?
Does anyone know who is buying the house? I’m dying to know!
I’m happy to report that the house has sold to a nice couple with young children who plan to respect the historic character of the home and garden. My wife has met them and we’re thrilled to welcome our new neighbors. Thanks everyone for your help and passion for preserving the home and garden.