Join your Fremont Neighborhood Council, Fremont Historical Society and your neighbors for this remembrance of Fremont before it disappears. Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. at Fremont Baptist Church, 717 North 36th Street, Seattle.
A Wake for Fremont’s Affordable Rental Houses
The Fremont neighborhood will be hosting a wake for Fremont’s Affordable Rental Houses on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. at Fremont Baptist Church, 717 North 36th Street, Seattle. Over the last two years the Fremont neighborhood has lost a great number of the neighborhood’s rental houses, many of which were older homes built before the 1930s. This event will spotlight more than a dozen of these homes that have been demolished or are planned for demolition. This event is sponsored by the Fremont Neighborhood Council and the Fremont Historical Society.
Join with neighbors to mourn this loss of historical heritage, housing diversity, green space and affordability. Learn the details of the housing inventory that has been demolished and the stories of the families that lived there. Find out how you can contribute to upcoming efforts that stop this loss of affordability.
“Neighbors are concerned about the changing face of Fremont,” said Fremont Neighborhood Council President Stephanie Pure. “This is an opportunity to draw attention to this issue. The Fremont Neighborhood Council has taken the unusual step of filing a SEPA (State Environmental Protection Act) appeal on one of the projects. We encourage residents to come hear about that appeal.”
“The Fremont Historical Society (FHS) is dedicated to building awareness and appreciation of the history of a unique and early Seattle neighborhood”, said Judie Clarridge, volunteer, Fremont Historical Society. “We think it is important to tell the stories of these houses and the people who lived in them. Fremont has been fortunate that many historic buildings have been preserved and are in use today, but residents are concerned that the current pace of new construction may mean the loss of older houses and commercial buildings that give Fremont its character and economic diversity. We think this event will be a good opportunity for discussion on this important issue.
Both organizations would like to thank the Fremont Baptist Church for providing us an opportunity to come together. Residents from other Seattle neighborhoods that are interested in offering a similar event are welcome to attend.
Media photo opportunities are available. Follow this event on Twitter #FremontHouseWake. Contact: Leo Griffin, Fremont Resident, 206-295-1599, fremontauxilary@gmail.com
Thank you for putting together this event. I think it’s important that an invitation is sent to the media, as well as, Mike O’Brien and the rest of the city council. They need to know the hard reality of the choices they’ve made on behalf of developers. I think most Seattle residents are ok with the idea of “urban density”, but what’s happening now is simply a land grab with little thought for the environment or the character of the neighborhood.
Before my grandparents built their home at 3828 Linden Ave., fire horses grazed on their property. My mother & her sister were raised in that house, as well as my sister & I. My mom & dad were married in the living room of that house & my great-grandfather reported that the fire station was on fire in the late 40’s early 50’s!! Now I realize that this house is not one that is to be destroyed for ‘progress’ but we knew people growing up who lived in those houses & walked past them every Sunday on our way to Fremont Baptist Church . Where did our sense of community go? I guess the almighty dollar wins again. Good luck with your fight. I hope you win not only for Fremont, but for other communities facing ‘urban density’
June, 2015–demolition has begun on Linden Ave. FNC helped the neighbors file an appeal but the appeal was denied. So change begins.