AWARD  WINNERS!

City of Kirkland and Kirkland Heritage Society

First King County Executive’s

John D. Spellman Award

for

Exemplary Achievement in Historic Preservation

June 2000

During the past 24 months, the City of Kirkland and the Kirkland Heritage Society have taken a number of significant Historic Preservation actions that are the culmination of a growing ten-year partnership.  These actions are:

            -  Saving the 1922 Church of Christ, Scientists, Kirkland;  The City accepted the donation of the building and relocated it on the prominent Waverly site at the corner of Market Street and Central Way adjacent to downtown Kirkland.  and.  The heritage society did the basic research on the historic and architectural significance, obtained Landmark status and committed to assist in raising funds to renovate the building.

            -  City entered into an Interlocal Agreement for Historic Preservation with King County;

            -  City Provided the Kirkland Heritage Society with $42,000 to conduct a historic property inventory of 215 properties and to assist in efforts to develop multiple building nominations and landmark specific structures.

            -  Install 200 street signs that also include the original street names:  First year of three-year program by City Public Works based on research done by the heritage society.

            -  Developed joint program with KHS for 40 historic interpretive markers and have installed 8 in last two years (another 7 - 8 are underway).

            -  Supported Downtown Kirkland on the Lake based on MainStreet program with its historic preservation principles.

            -  Supported a KHS member's participation at a conference on Planning & Historic Preservation to report back to the Planning Commission.  Sept 98

Prior to that the policy basis has been established through the following items:

            -  Participation in the Comprehensive Plan adopted in 1997 that resulted in changes to the City's Vision Statement, Framework Goals and Community Character Goals and Policies relative to Historic Preservation.  This included policies to actively work to preserve historic structures, to enter into an interlocal agreement with King County, and to inventory historic properties.

            -  Provides Annual Grant of $2,000 to maintain a display in City Hall, assist planning department in reviewing historic properties and to provide photographs and articles in the City Update newsletter.

            -  Preparation in 1993/1994 of a report on Historic Preservation - City of Kirkland by the Kirkland Heritage Society that was provided to the Growth Management Commission and resulted in strengthened historic preservation policies in the City's Land Use Policy Plan. (Report won recognition from the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and ACKHO).

            -  Supported initial oral history program that has subsequently been continued by the KHS.

            -  Conducting in 1990 / 1990 a historic property inventory of some 70 structures identified by KHS.

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