Recently faced with demolition due to the continuous development of the waterfront properties, this house was luckily being closely watched by a crew of preservationists who had already cut their teeth with the South West Seattle Historical Society. Although a feat of meticulous preparation, this house was reinforced in order to entirely move it off site and find a new home. The Save the Stone Cottage project is one of pure community conservation. Despite multiple roadblocks along the way, this project has not faltered in its determination to repurpose the structure for a public interactive display within the historical context in which it was created.  Communications with the Duwamish Tribe and local historical societies have helped to make this project fully integrated into the complex history of both West Seattle and pre-colonized America. 

I believe this effort to be one of not only this year’s best Community Advocacies, but the best of the last decade in Seattle. If this building had been lost there would be nothing like it left in the area. It is an architectural snapshot of depression era construction in the Pacific Northwest and will be treasured for generations to come.  We owe a debt of gratitude to the team this project has composed. Their efforts are towards a future where we recognize our past pioneers.