The City of Seattle’s Landmarks Preservation Board voted unanimously to designate the Admiral’s House at Smith Cove as an historic landmark. According to a media release, board members found the property met multiple designation standards, including its cultural heritage; its distinctive visible characteristics of an architectural style and its distinct location.
![Admirals_House_Smith_Cove[1]](http://www.magnoliavoice.com/uploads/admirals-house-smith-cove1.jpg "Admirals_House_Smith_Cove[1]")
The house was originally owned by the U.S. Navy and is now owned by the public-private venture of the Navy and Forest City. Forest City Military Communities is in a partnership with the Navy to provide and manage military housing in the Northwest and other regions of the country.
Currently, the house is vacant. Forest City plans to sell the home to a private party, who will be required to maintain that house and site as stipulated by the landmarks ordinance.
“It’s been a thrill to contribute to such an important and visible project,” said Mimi Sheridan, local historian and preservationist, and author of the Admiral’s House landmark nomination. “As a Magnolia resident myself, I know how much this building means to Magnolia and Queen Anne. The community has really been behind this. People came forward to let us know the importance of the house and, together, we have been able to set aside and preserve a unique part of our history and community.”
In addition to being a Seattle landmark, the Admiral’s House is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places because of its association with the history of the Navy presence in Seattle and for its embodiment of the Colonial Revival style. Forest City is working with the Washington State Historic Preservation Office to complete this listing this year.
