Committee continues appeal over proposed demolition of John Cook House after extensive public comment

The committee on historic preservation and licensing continued a public hearing on an appeal of the Heritage Preservation Commission—s Sept. 30 denial of a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish the John Cook House, an individual landmark at 948 E. 18th Ave. Northeast.

Rob Skalecchi, senior city planner in the Historic Preservation team, told the committee that CPED and the Heritage Preservation Commission recommended denying demolition because staff found the property "retains significance as recorded in the building's 2021 designation resolution" and that the submitted materials did not prove demolition was required. "CPED found the property was not in unsafe and dangerous condition that would require demolition," Skalecchi said.

The appellant, represented by Jacob Steen of Larkin Hoffman, said the building is unsafe and economically infeasible to rehabilitate. "This building cannot be rehabilitated. It is too far gone," Steen said, noting that structural reports from 2022 and 2025 and an applicant-provided repair estimate of about $1,500,000 supported the request to demolish. The appellant said the property was on the city—s vacant building registry when purchased in 2019 and was condemned in 2020.

Neighbors and community members urged the committee to preserve the house. Melanie Ng, who lives nearby, described the structure—s Queen Anne features and said the neighborhood has watched the property deteriorate: "These aren't just structures, they're pieces of our shared history," she said. Elizabeth Richardson, co-owner of a nearby business, said the house "carries the history of all the people who have lived in it and provides meaning and cultural identity to the artists, workers, and families who call Northeast home today."

CPED staff flagged inconsistencies among the submitted structural reports and concluded that the materials did not demonstrate that demolition was the only feasible option. Staff and HPC reviewers said the application did not provide a thorough, itemized evaluation tying specific repairs to documented contractor bids, architectural plans or a clear pathway showing economic infeasibility. The HPC concluded the property retains the seven aspects of historic integrity and that reasonable alternatives to demolition exist.

Residents described repeated trespass, vandalism and broken windows that have allowed water into the structure, and urged the city to enforce the vacant building registration and secure the property. The appellant said trespassers caused some interior damage and that holding costs, fees and repair expenses made rehabilitation impractical.

Committee members asked staff for follow-up on several administrative details, including the history of owner notification during the landmark nomination process, vacancy-enforcement fines and what enforcement options the city could use if an owner fails to secure or repair a designated property. Andrea Burke, supervisor of the historic preservation team at CPED, clarified that condemnation orders direct owners to make specified repairs and do not by themselves authorize demolition.

After discussion the committee voted to continue the public hearing and accept written comment through the next committee cycle, scheduling continuation for Nov. 13, 2025. No final resolution was made; the appeal remains pending.

Clarifying details: the property has been on the city's vacant building registry since November 2014; a structural report cited repair estimates of about $1,500,000 in materials submitted by the appellant; staff noted the property was condemned in January 2020; the property was designated a landmark in 2021. The staff report and HPC findings are on the record and were cited directly during the hearing.