Guide to the Office of Urban Conservation Subject Files
1974-1999

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Overview of the Collection

Creator: Seattle (Wash.). Office of Urban Conservation
Title: Office of Urban Conservation Subject Files
Dates: 1974-1999 ( inclusive )
Quantity: 10 cubic feet (25 boxes)
Collection Number: 5754-01
Summary: Materials documenting projects and concerns of the Office of Urban Conservation, a City of Seattle historic preservation agency.
Repository: City of Seattle
Seattle Municipal Archives

PO Box 94728
600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 3
Seattle, WA 98124-4728
Phone: 206/233-7807
Email: archives@seattle.gov
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives

Languages: Collection materials are in English 

Historical Note

The Office of Urban Conservation was created in 1975 as part of the Department of Community Development (DCD). It was founded in an era of citizen protests against a proposed urban renewal program that would have demolished Pioneer Square and Pike Place Market. The office’s mandate was to coordinate Seattle’s historic preservation programs and administer the city’s landmark boards and historic districts. When DCD was abolished in 1992, the office became the Historic Preservation Program in the Department of Neighborhoods.

Content Description

Correspondence, memos, legal documents, and other materials documenting the projects and concerns of the Office of Urban Conservation. A large portion of the materials address the controversy over what to do with Fort Lawton. The Parks Department and open-space advocates wanted to demolish the buildings left from the army fort, while preservationists wished to save at least some of them. Planning and negotiation about what became Discovery Park went on for years, finally resulting in the preservation of the most significant buildings.

Another topic addressed in some depth is the preservation of historic religious properties. The city tried to declare both First Covenant Church and First United Methodist Church as historic landmarks, but the churches fought the designations in court on constitutional grounds and won. There is a great deal of documentation of these two cases, as well as material from other relevant cases around the country, documentation of historic religious properties in the city, and files relating to a Seattle conference on religious properties.

Another sizeable portion of the records is devoted to work the City and the OUC did with the Seattle School District on capital improvements during the 1990s. Materials document the capital improvement program in general as well as work on individual schools.

Other subjects documented in the collection include historic theatres, siting for the Mariners stadium, the Frederick & Nelson site, preservation surveys, the downtown plan, Seattle Commons, and Preservation Week activities.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access :  

Records are open to the public.

Preferred Citation :  

[Item and date], Office of Urban Conservation Subject Files, Record Series 5754-01. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Administrative Information

Separated Materials :  

Publications were pulled from the collection and are cataloged separately in the Published Documents Index.


Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Office of Urban Conservation Subject Files, 1974-1999
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box/Folder
17/1 Accountability Contract 1992-1997
17/2 Baseball Stadium - Environmental Review 1996
17/3 Baseball Stadium - Environmental Review 1996
17/4 Baseball Stadium - Environmental Review 1996-1997
17/5 Baseball Stadium - Ethics and Elections Commission Opinion 1996
17/7 Baseball Stadium - News Clippings 1994-1997
17/8 Baseball Stadium - News Clippings 1996
17/6 Baseball Stadium - Neighborhood Impact Funds 1997
17/9 Baseball Stadium - Parking and Access Review Committee (PARC) 1997-1998
17/10 Baseball Stadium - Staff Notes 1994-1997
18/1 Baseball Stadium - Staff Notes 1994-1997
18/2 Baseball Stadium - Staff Notes 1995-1996
1/1 Board / Commission Reports 1982-1991
1/2 Board / Commission Reports 1992
1/3 Board / Commission Reports 1993
1/4 Board / Commission Reports 1994
18/3 Brochure - State Grant 1991
18/4 Budget 1994
18/5 Budget 1994
18/6 Budget 1994
18/7 Budget 1996
18/8 Budget 1996
19/1 Budget 1997
19/2 Budget 1998
19/3 Budget 1998
19/4 Certificate of Approval Legislation 1997-1998
19/5 Certificate of Approval Legislation 1998
19/6 Church Preservation 1975-1997
1/5 Comprehensive Plan 1991-1993
19/7 Concert Hall Task Force 1989-1990
1/6 Convention Center Expansion 1984-1994
19/8 Cultural Resources Element and Action Plan 1996-1997
19/9 Cultural Resources Element and Action Plan 1997-1998
1/7 Downtown Plan 1983
1/8 Downtown Plan 1984
1/9 Downtown Plan - Allied Arts 1984-1985
1/10 Downtown Plan - Housing 1983-1984
1/11 Downtown Plan - Interim Controls 1984
1/12 Downtown Plan - Preservation Policy 1984-1985
1/13 Downtown Plan - Proposed Interim Code 1984
1/14 Downtown Plan - Retail Core 1984-1985
1/15 Downtown Plan - Transfer of Development Rights 1980-1985
1/16 Downtown Plan - Transfer of Development Rights 1984
1/17 Downtown Plan - Transfer of Development Rights 1985-1989
2/13 First Covenant Church - News Clippings 1989-1993
2/1 First Covenant Church 1990-1993
2/2 First Covenant Church - Legal Documents 1990
2/3 First Covenant Church - Legal Documents 1990-1991
2/4 First Covenant Church - Legal Documents 1990-1991
2/6 First Covenant Church - Legal Documents, Affadavits 1990
2/7 First Covenant Church - Legal Documents, Briefs 1990-1991
2/8 First Covenant Church - Legal Documents, Briefs 1991
2/9 First Covenant Church - Legal Documents, Briefs 1991
2/10 First Covenant Church - Legal Documents, Briefs 1991
2/11 First Covenant Church - Legal Documents, Briefs 1991
2/12 First Covenant Church - Legal Documents, Briefs 1991
2/5 First Covenant Church - Legal Documents 1992
2/14 First United Methodist Church 1993-1996
2/15 First United Methodist Church - Legal Documents 1993
2/16 First United Methodist Church - Legal Documents 1993
3/2 First United Methodist Church - Legal Documents, Affadavits 1993
3/3 First United Methodist Church - Legal Documents, Affadavits 1993
3/4 First United Methodist Church - Legal Documents, Affadavits 1993
3/5 First United Methodist Church - Legal Documents, Briefs 1993
3/10 First United Methodist Church - News Clippings 1993-1996
3/6 First United Methodist Church - Legal Documents, Briefs 1994
3/7 First United Methodist Church - Legal Documents, Briefs 1994
2/17 First United Methodist Church - Legal Documents 1995
3/1 First United Methodist Church - Legal Documents 1995-1996
3/8 First United Methodist Church - Legal Documents, Briefs 1995
3/9 First United Methodist Church - Legal Documents, Briefs 1995
3/11 Fort Lawton 1974-1975
3/12 Fort Lawton 1974-1975
3/13 Fort Lawton 1976
3/14 Fort Lawton 1976
3/15 Fort Lawton 1976
4/1 Fort Lawton 1977
4/2 Fort Lawton 1978
4/3 Fort Lawton 1978
4/4 Fort Lawton 1978
4/5 Fort Lawton 1978
4/6 Fort Lawton 1979
4/7 Fort Lawton 1979
4/8 Fort Lawton 1980
4/9 Fort Lawton 1980
5/1 Fort Lawton 1981
5/2 Fort Lawton 1981
5/3 Fort Lawton 1981
5/4 Fort Lawton 1982
5/5 Fort Lawton 1983
5/6 Fort Lawton 1983
5/7 Fort Lawton 1983
5/8 Fort Lawton 1983
5/9 Fort Lawton 1983
5/10 Fort Lawton 1983
5/11 Fort Lawton 1983-1984
6/1 Fort Lawton 1984
6/2 Fort Lawton 1984
6/3 Fort Lawton 1985
6/4 Fort Lawton 1985
6/5 Fort Lawton 1985
6/6 Fort Lawton 1985
6/7 Fort Lawton 1985
6/8 Fort Lawton 1985
6/9 Fort Lawton 1985
6/10 Fort Lawton 1985
6/11 Fort Lawton 1986
6/12 Fort Lawton 1986
7/1 Fort Lawton 1987
7/2 Fort Lawton 1987
7/3 Fort Lawton 1987
7/4 Fort Lawton 1987
7/5 Fort Lawton 1988
7/6 Fort Lawton 1988
7/7 Fort Lawton 1988
7/8 Fort Lawton 1988
7/9 Fort Lawton 1989
7/10 Fort Lawton 1989
8/1 Fort Lawton 1989
8/2 Fort Lawton 1989
8/3 Fort Lawton 1989
8/4 Fort Lawton 1989-1991
8/5 Fort Lawton - Adaptive Re-Use Study 1982
8/6 Fort Lawton - Adaptive Re-Use Study 1982-1983
8/7 Fort Lawton - Certificates of Approval 1988-1989
8/8 Fort Lawton - Cost Estimates 1988
8/9 Fort Lawton - Council Action 1988
8/10 Fort Lawton - Council Action 1988
8/11 Fort Lawton - Council Action 1988
9/1 Fort Lawton - Council Action 1988
9/2 Fort Lawton - Council Action 1988
9/3 Fort Lawton - Council Action 1988
9/4 Fort Lawton - Council Action 1988
9/5 Fort Lawton - Discovery Park Ordinance 1976-1981
9/6 Fort Lawton - EIS 1977
9/7 Fort Lawton - EIS 1978-1982
9/8 Fort Lawton - Endangered Landmarks Fund 1988-1989
9/9 Fort Lawton - FSEIS Appeal 1983
9/10 Fort Lawton - FSEIS Appeal 1983
9/11 Fort Lawton - FSEIS Appeal 1983
9/12 Fort Lawton - FSEIS Appeal 1983
10/1 Fort Lawton - FSEIS Appeal 1983
10/2 Fort Lawton - Landmarks Preservation Board Action 1988
10/3 Fort Lawton - Legal Documents 1987-1988
10/4 Fort Lawton - Legal Documents, Affadavits 1987-988
10/5 Fort Lawton - Litigation 1988
10/6 Fort Lawton - Margaret Coughlin 1983-1984
10/7 Fort Lawton - Margaret Coughlin 1984
10/8 Fort Lawton - Margaret Coughlin 1984
10/9 Fort Lawton - Margaret Coughlin 1984
10/10 Fort Lawton - Margaret Coughlin 1985
10/11 Fort Lawton - Margaret Coughlin 1985
10/12 Fort Lawton - Margaret Coughlin 1985
11/1 Fort Lawton - News Clippings 1974-1977
11/2 Fort Lawton - News Clippings 1977-1982
11/3 Fort Lawton - News Clippings 1978
11/4 Fort Lawton - News Clippings 1983
11/5 Fort Lawton - News Clippings 1988
11/6 Fort Lawton - News Clippings 1988
11/7 Fort Lawton - Plans 1988
11/8 Fort Lawton - Plans 1989
11/9 Fort Lawton - Reference Materials 1976-1983
11/10 Fort Lawton - Reference Materials 1977-1984
11/11 Fort Lawton - Relevant Material 1985
11/12 Fort Lawton - Scoping 1984
11/13 Fort Lawton - Support Letters & Testimony 1987-1988
12/1 Frederick & Nelson Site 1984-1994
12/2 Frederick & Nelson Site 1995
12/3 Frederick & Nelson Site 1995
12/4 Frederick & Nelson Site 1995
12/5 Grants - Historic Preservation Survey & Planning 1982
12/6 Grants - Historic Preservation Survey & Planning 1983
12/7 Grants - Historic Preservation Survey & Planning 1983
12/8 Grants - Historic Preservation Survey & Planning 1984
12/9 Grants - Historic Preservation Survey & Planning 1984
12/10 Grants - Historic Preservation Survey & Planning 1985
12/11 Grants - Historic Preservation Survey & Planning 1985
12/12 Grants - Historic Preservation Survey & Planning 1985-1986
13/1 Grants - Historic Preservation Survey & Planning 1988-1989
13/2 Grants - Neighborhood Preservation Workshops 1988-1989
13/3 Grants - Neighborhood Preservation Workshops 1988-1989
13/4 Grants - Neighborhood Preservation Workshops 1989
13/5 Grants - Neighborhood Preservation Workshops 1989
13/6 Grants - Neighborhood Preservation Workshops 1989
13/7 Grants - Pioneer Square Boundary Increase 1987
13/8 Grants - Pioneer Square Boundary Increase 1987
13/9 Grants - Pioneer Square Boundary Increase 1987
13/10 Job Classification 1985-1987
20/1 Landmarks Preservation Ordinance Amendments 1992-1993
13/11 League of Women Voters Historic Preservation Survey 1986
13/12 National Trust Honor Award Application - Seattle Carnegie Libraries 1989
13/13 National Trust Honor Award Application - Bel-Boy Project 1991
14/1 Partners for Livable Places 1984
14/2 Partners for Livable Places 1984-1985
20/2 Photos -
14/3 Preservation Week 1977-1982
14/4 Preservation Week 1983
14/5 Preservation Week 1984
14/6 Preservation Week 1985
14/7 Preservation Week 1986
14/8 Preservation Week 1987
14/9 Preservation Week 1988
14/10 Preservation Week 1989
20/3 Regulatory Reform 1994-1996
14/11 Religious Properties Conference 1989-1990
20/4 Religious Properties Conference 1989-1990
20/5 Religious Properties Conference 1989-1990
15/1 Religious Properties Conference 1990
15/2 Religious Properties Conference - Final Report 1990
20/6 Religious Properties Conference - Slides 1990
20/7 Reorganization 1996
20/8 Reorganization 1996
20/9 Reorganization 1996
20/10 Reorganization 1996
21/1 Reorganization 1998
21/2 Rooftop Feature Code Amendment 1998-1999
21/3 Schools - Bryant Elementary 1994
21/4 Schools - Building Excellence 1993-1994
21/8 Schools - Building Excellence - Consultants 1993-1995
21/5 Schools - Building Excellence 1994
21/6 Schools - Building Excellence 1994
21/7 Schools - Building Excellence 1994
22/1 Schools - Capital Improvement Program / CIP II 1992-1993
22/2 Schools - Capital Improvement Program / CIP II (includes photo) 1992-1993
22/4 Schools - Capital Improvement Program / CIP II - City Council 1992-1993
22/8 Schools - Capital Improvement Program / CIP II - District Planning Efforts 1992-1993
22/11 Schools - Capital Improvement Program / CIP II - Landmarks Board 1992-1993
21/9 Schools - Capital Improvement Program / CIP I - Heery Report 1993
22/3 Schools - Capital Improvement Program / CIP II 1993
22/5 Schools - Capital Improvement Program / CIP II - Community Meetings 1993
22/6 Schools - Capital Improvement Program / CIP II - Correspondence 1993-1994
22/7 Schools - Capital Improvement Program / CIP II - CRSS/TRA Assessment 1993
22/9 Schools - Capital Improvement Program / CIP II - Draft EIS 1993
22/10 Schools - Capital Improvement Program / CIP II - Historic Seattle 1993
22/12 Schools - Capital Improvement Program / CIP II - News Clippings 1993
22/13 Schools - Capital Improvement Program / CIP II - Superintendent's Recommendation 1993
23/1 Schools - Classroom Use Survey 1992-1993
23/2 Schools - Coe Elementary 1994
23/3 Schools - Concord Elementary 1994
23/4 Schools - Correspondence 1983-1986
23/5 Schools - Draft Nominations 1980
23/6 Schools - Dunlap Elementary 1994
23/7 Schools - Elementary School Educational Specifications 1993-1994
23/8 Schools - Emerson Elementary 1994
23/12 Schools - Facilities Planning 1979-1989
23/9 Schools - Facilities Master Plan / CIP II 1992
23/10 Schools - Facilities Master Plan / CIP II 1992
23/11 Schools - Facilities Master Plan / CIP II 1992
23/13 Schools - Highland Park Elementary 1994
23/14 Schools - Historic Building Survey 1989
24/1 Schools - Inventory 1979-1988
24/2 Schools - Latona Elementary 1994
24/3 Schools - Lincoln High / Hamilton 1994
24/4 Schools - Master Cooperation Agreement 1993-1995
24/5 Schools - Middle School Educational Specifications 1993
24/6 Schools - Seward Elementary / TOPS 1994
24/7 Schools - Stevens Elementary 1994
24/8 Schools - West Seattle High 1994
24/9 Schools - Whittier Elementary 1994
15/5 Seattle Commons 1993-1994
15/6 Seattle Commons 1995
15/7 Seattle Religious Properties 1990
15/8 Seattle Religious Properties: B-E 1990
15/9 Seattle Religious Properties: F 1990
15/10 Seattle Religious Properties: I-N 1990
15/11 Seattle Religious Properties: S 1990
15/12 Seattle Religious Properties: T-U 1990
15/13 SEPA 1986-1987
15/14 SEPA 1988
16/1 SEPA - Committee Recommendations 1988
16/2 SEPA - Review Responsibilities 1986-1987
16/3 SEPA - Review Responsibilities 1987
16/4 SEPA - Review Responsibilities 1988
16/5 SEPA - Royer / Street Recommendations 1987
24/10 Shoreline Policies 1986-1988
16/6 Society of Jesus vs. Boston Landmarks Commission 1989
16/7 Society of Jesus vs. Boston Landmarks Commission 1989-1990
16/8 South Lake Union Subarea Plan 1995
16/9 State Legislation 1987
16/10 State Legislation 1990-1991
16/11 State Legislation 1992
16/12 State Legislation 1993
15/3 St. Bartholomew's vs. New York Landmarks Commission 1989-1990
15/4 St. Bartholomew's vs. New York Landmarks Commission 1990
24/11 Theatres 1974-1993
24/15 Theatres - Downtown Theater Task Force 1986
24/12 Theatres - Downtown Historic Theatre Advisory Group 1991-1992
24/13 Theatres - Downtown Historic Theatre Advisory Group 1991-1992
24/14 Theatres - Downtown Historic Theatre Advisory Group 1991-1992
25/1 Theatres - Landmark Theatre Bonus Ordinance 1987-1990
25/2 Theatres - Landmark Theatre Bonus Ordinance 1989
25/3 Theatres - Landmark Theatre Bonus Ordinance 1989
25/4 Theatres - Landmark Theatre Transferrable Development Rights / TDR 1991-1992
25/5 Theatres - Landmark Theatre Transferrable Development Rights / TDR 1992-1994
25/6 Theatres - Music Hall Theatre 1988-1994
25/10 Theatres - Music Hall Theatre - News Clippings 1988-1994
25/7 Theatres - Music Hall Theatre - Lawsuit 1992
25/8 Theatres - Music Hall Theatre - Lawsuit 1993
25/9 Theatres - Music Hall Theatre - Lawsuit 1993-1994
25/11 Theatres - Paramount Theatre 1989-1990
16/13 Walking Tours 1974-1979
16/14 Walla Walla Supreme Court Case 1996
16/15 Walla Walla Supreme Court Case 1997

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Subjects

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

  • Corporate Names :
  • Seattle (Wash.). Office of Urban Conservation
  • Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board
  • Geographical Names :
  • Seattle (Wash.)
  • Subject Terms :
  • City planning--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Fort Lawton (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Historic buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Historic preservation--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Landmarks of faith--Washington (State)--Seattle

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