The Washington Masonic Home has stood along Marine View Drive for 100 years. A county Superior Court hearing may be the last chance to save it.
DES MOINES, Wash. — For a full century, the Washington Masonic House has been one of the most impressive structures along the Puget Sound coast.
It’s a massive landmark that can be seen even from Tacoma on a clear day, rising above Marine View Drive in the city’s Zenith neighborhood.
While the long saga over the property’s future has dragged on for nearly two decades, its fate may finally be settled on Friday, May 22.
A King County judge is scheduled to hear an appeal from a community preservation group seeking to halt the issuance of a conditional demolition permit to the property’s owner and developer, Zenith Properties LLC. If the judge sides with the city and developer, there will be little between the building and the wrecking ball.
If the judge sided with the preservationists, demolition plans would be paused — and the battle would enter a new phase.
One surprising element of the Chronicle is that the Washington Freemasons—the fraternal organization that built the massive building and operated it as a retirement home, community meeting hall, and hotel for nearly 75 years—actually supported the demolition. one Letter signed by a Masonic Grand Master That position was confirmed when it entered public records four years ago, a detail that still confuses preservationists.
a landmark that was never an official landmark
Despite its architectural size and historical significance, the 30-acre property has never been officially registered as a historic landmark—although it is eligible for that status. The disparity has frustrated those who have tried to preserve it for years.
“It’s crazy,” said Lloyd Lytle, the company’s president. Citizens to Preserve Des Moines Historic Resources. “There are a lot of things like that that just make you shake your head and say, what happened?”
Lytle said the property also qualifies for “historic district” status because of its large size and multiple buildings.
Those who have been inside recently described the interior as being gutted – with furniture and many fixtures removed after the building ceased operations nearly 20 years ago.
Photographs taken by Douglas Orton before the interior was demolished show the grand public spaces, consistent with its long history as a fraternal and nursing institution. Now, in what may be the building’s centenary and final year, the contrast between its grand exterior and hollow interior has become a focus of debate about its future.
The case for conservation—and the math against it
Preservationists’ legal appeals — with community fundraising to pay for legal fees — raise concerns beyond aesthetics. Lytle said the fundraiser allowed the organization to pay for “paper transcripts” and “transfer of records” for hearings in Des Moines.
Donations to the page are continuing, but more legal action may be needed. You can check out the GoFundMe page here.
“Our focus right now is long-term fundraising through King County Appeals to cover attorney fees, which is expected to be approximately $25,000,” Lytle said.
The organization believes the structure is strong enough to be renovated and repurposed. The appeal also cited potential risks to air safety during demolition, landslide hazards and the proximity to neighboring nursing and retirement care communities.
The financial barriers are huge. Renovation and repurposing of the building is expected to cost approximately $100 million or more. Lytle’s team believes that successful renovations will still be financially viable for developers, and the goal is not to impede profits but to redirect them.
“We’d like to see developers and cities profit as well,” Lytle said. “We’re not here to fight them. We think they will benefit financially from a renovation like this.”
cities and developers
The city of Des Moines approved the demolition plan last year and granted a conditional permit to Zenith Properties LLC. City officials declined to comment in detail because the lawsuit is now pending.
Des Moines City Manager Katherine Caffrey, however, wanted to direct interested parties to a “comprehensive analysis conducted over three years that formed the basis for the city’s decision-making and can be viewed on the city’s website.” Full analysis available here.
Zenith Properties LLC did not respond to a request for comment and did not provide access to the building for reporting purposes. KING 5 will follow up with the owners again following Friday’s court ruling.
Conservationists say they are prepared to take further legal and advocacy measures regardless of Friday’s outcome.
