Dear Supporters of the Historic Jensen-Byrd Building,
The Jensen-Byrd Building is now under review for proposed demolition by Campus Advantage, the Texas
company that is buying the building from WSU. We have a new, important opportunity to make our
voices heard and save this building. The City Building Department requests public comments by April 17,
2012, 5:00 p.m.
Please submit a brief statement (by email or post) such as the following sample letter, which you can
personalize and change as you see fit:
John Halsey, c/o Emily Christensen
City of Spokane,
Building Department
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Spokane, WA 99201-3343
echristensen@spokanecity.org
cc. to SPA at: advocacy@spokanepreservation.org (VERY IMPORTANT so we can track all
comments)
RE: City File Number B1201015SEPA
Dear Mr. Halsey,
This letter is in reponse to your request for comments on the proposed demolition of the
Jensen-Byrd Building, pursuant to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) that requires
government agencies to consider the environmental impacts of proposed developments. Of the
sixteen areas of possible environmental impact on the “SEPA Checklist,” I would like to
comment on the following three:
6. Energy and natural resources.
The Jensen-Byrd Building contains substantial “embodied energy” in its materials and
construction. Tearing it down and disposing of its high-quality materials, only to truck in new
materials for a new structure, is wasteful of both energy and resources. The process of
demolition and reconstruction would also produce substantially higher C02 emissions than a
renovation. The reuse of small amounts of original materials as decorative pieces, as Campus
Advantage has proposed, would not in any way mitigate this substantial waste.
10. Aesthetics
The unique feel and character of downtown Spokane owes in large part to the many historic
buildings found there. The Jensen-Byrd Building is a particularly prominent landmark in the
University District, and the whole eastern part of downtown. In recognition of this contribution,
the University District Master Plan of 2005 includes historic preservation as a “Core Planning
Principle” and notes that historic buildings define “a strong sense of place and urban character“
(p. 23). Also, the architectural detailing of the Jensen-Byrd Building, such as the classical cornice
and woven brick corners, are significant architectural expressions from the early twentieth
century that are beautiful and irreplaceable.
13. Historic and cultural preservation
Jensen-Byrd Building is eligible for both the Spokane and National Registers of Historic Places.
Designed by architect Albert Held, and built in 1909 for the Marshall Wells Hardare Co., the
building attests to Spokane’s prominence as a regional center of commerce in the early
twentieth century. It is architecturally significant as an architect-designed warehouse with three
formal facades expressed with classical detailing. The building is a part of Spokane’s heritage
and continuing culture.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your street address
Thank you! SPA will tally up your responses and make sure City officials take them all fully into account.
Kathryn Burke-Hise, Executive Coordinator, Spokane Preservation Advocates
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD MORE DETAIL to your comments, you can include references to these
planning documents:
1. Campus Advantage’s SEPA Application, with full list of 16 environmental impact areas.
[http://www.spokanepreservation.org/admin/PDFs/Campus Advantage's SEPA Application
7Feb2012.pdf]
2. University District Master Plan (2005):
See in particular these references to historic preservation:
Executive Summary;
p. 20 Chapter Two, The Core Planning Principles;
p. 23 “Planning Principle 12: Include retention of historic character and patterns of use:
Highest priority should be placed on utilization of historic buildings, with new infill construction
designed to complement the existing historic character, defining a strong sense of place and urban
character“; and
p. 47: Chapter 2: “Historic buildings and structures present an important link to our historical and
architectural past. They provide continuity and link us to our roots. They are also resources that can be
readapted and integrated into th efabric of The University District community.”
3. U.S. EPA Smart Growth Implementation Assistance Report for Spokane:
http://www.spokaneuniversitydistrict.com/documents/Spokane_SGIA_Final_Report.pdf
Makes recommendations for urban design improvements in the Univeristy District, and highlights
renovation of the Jensen-Byrd Building
4. Spokane Comprehensive Plan:
http://www.spokaneplanning.org/docs/Comp_Plan_2012_full.pdf
See in particular these references to historic preservation:
p. 9 “The Comprehensive Plan recognizes the high value citizens place on historic resources in Spokane”;
LU 7.3 “Historic Reuse : Allow compatible residential or commercial use of historic properties when
necessary to promote preservation of these resources”;
ED 2.2 “Revitalization Opportunities: Provide incentives to encourage the revitalization and utilization of
historic and older commercial and industrial districts for redevelopment”;
DP 4: “Preservation”; and
SMP 7: “Historic, Cultural, Scientific, Educational” goals.
5. “The Greenest Building: Quantifying the Value of Building Reuse,” by the National Trust for Historic
Preservation Green Lab, based in Seattle, WA:
https://ilbi.org/education/reports/greenest_building