Commission hears plan to inventory and temporarily store Belmont lanterns; plaque subcommittee outlines Roading Park signage

Staff told the Historic Preservation Commission that decorative lanterns found under the Belmont underpass are being inventoried and moved to temporary city storage, and that the commission's plaque subcommittee continues work on Roading Park signage.

"We have been asked to move them from the High‑Speed Rail facilities, by the end of this month," a staff presenter said. Staff said there are 82 lanterns to be inventoried and that they will be tagged tomorrow for recordkeeping. The lanterns will be temporarily stored at a Department of Public Utilities facility for a few months while staff pursues long‑term storage options; commissioners mentioned the archive basement as one possible long‑term location.

Commissioner LaValle noted that the lanterns appear to have been hung along railings in the Belmont subway and that additional research is needed to confirm original placement and provenance; commissioners and public commenters suggested placing small plaques on lanterns to record provenance once storage is secured.

On plaques and signage, staff reported that proposed Roading Park interpretive signage will reference the park's history rather than labeling the area as a "Roading Park Historic District," because the park resource itself was determined eligible but not designated as a district. The proposed sign location is adjacent to Lake Washington in the park's southwest corner; staff said the text proposed last month remains largely intact and the design will be refined with partners.

No formal commission action was taken; staff will continue inventory, short‑term storage and outreach for long‑term display or storage options.