FUMC Demolition Comment Period Open

The First United Methodist Church debate continues.  We talked about this case several month ago and the debate got quite lively.  As the church has now begun the process of taking its building apart, the latest chapter in the story appears to be starting now:

Rec’d via email:

As part of its State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review process, on October 16th the City of Tacoma issued a Determination of Environmental Non-Significance regarding the proposed demolition of First United Methodist Church.  The 1916 church was recently nominated to the Tacoma Landmarks Register.  The State Historic Preservation Office has determined that the church meets the criteria necessary to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

In its determination, the City noted that “though impacts to the historical community have been identified, the imposition of mitigating measures requested by the City’s Historic Preservation Officer would be contrary to the protections granted to religious institutions under the WA State Constitution and WA State case law.” 

Historic Tacoma and the WA Trust for Historic Preservation believe that by transferring title back to the congregation, for the sole purpose of demolition, MultiCare Health Systems, the purchaser, has chosen to avoid the public process of nomination to the Tacoma Register of Historic Places.  We do not believe that this case meets the test posed in the 1997 state Supreme Court case to which the City refers.  More significantly, demolition by the church sets a chilling precedent for future demolitions of historic structures:  religious institutions, because of protections granted by state law, can be commissioned by developers to demolish properties that stand in their way.

The Board of Historic Tacoma encourages you to write to the City to express your concern at the SEPA Determination of Non-Significance, making the following points:

• Avoidance of public process by MultiCare, the new owner
• Case does not meet the test posed in the 1997 Supreme Court case
  to which the City refers in its SEPA determination
• Demolition by the church sets a chilling precedent for future demolition of historic structures by religious institutions
• Value of the church’s historic character and significance to the community and its place within the larger Wright Park neighborhood
• Mitigation should be required if demolition is approved including an architectural survey and a specific salvage plan for historic elements

As part of the SEPA review process, public comment can be submitted during a 14-day period, ending October 30, 2006. 

Comment must be directed to:
Jana Magoon
Land Use Administration Planner
Tacoma Public Works Department
747 Market Street, Room 345
Tacoma, WA 98402

Previously on Exit133

Do you have an opinion?  Make yourself heard.

Full Disclosure: Derek sits on the board of Historic Tacoma.