Design Concepts for the Town Center Park

A Centennial Walk to Commemorate
100 Years of the Red Brick Road

Shoreline's historic "Red Brick Road"
(aka North Trunk Road)
to be a key feature of the Town Center Park.

Why not an "Architectural Arcade" or Pergola somewhere on the Town Center Park?

Headhouse Square Arcade in Philadelphia
is now the home of a popular Farmers Market. It is modeled after
a market there from the Colonial era.

An Architectural Arcade or Pergola could be a very wonderful feature to add to the Town Center Park.
It could be very simple or more elaborate. It could be open on top or closed as a shelter (above). Either way it would be a very attractive feature of the Town Center. Shoreline already has a similar structure at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, which is a big attraction to visitors.

Pergola or Arbor at

Richmond Beach Salt Water Park

Arcades, archways or "arbor walkways" have always been a beautiful addition to the landscape. Just add some plantings, gardens and art, and this will set off the Red Brick Road in a most wonderful way.

An arcade could be designed to resemble a train station to harken back to the Interuban.

Let's be creative with our Town Center Park and carry out the underlying theme of the Red Brick Road throughout the entire Town Center to really bring life and meaning to the center of our city.

Landmarked Ronald School - Some Details

What is Special About the Ronald School? 

Ronald School through the garden
Built in 1912
ph credit - Vicki Westberg

It is LANDMARKED. Why?

Because it is unique in North King County and is "a rare example"  remaining of an intact

"semi-rural neo-classical school building" and was "an excellent example of early 20th Century school design , executed in a modest Classical Revival style."

Interior Staircase and Arched Window
Ronald School

There is a Shoreline City Council Hearing TONITE (2/28) at 7pm, at Shoreline City Hall.

It is to determine whether the Shoreline School District's "Certificate of Appropriateness" for significantly altering the building will be upheld.

It is nearly a century old, built in 1912. It was built because Judge Ronald, a Shoreline pioneer donated the property for the purpose of building a school. It served the children and families for education for almost all of those 99 years. 

The exterior is landmarked AND including the 15 ft setback surrounding it and out to N 175th St.

It was preserved from 1975-2011 by the Shoreline Historical Museum, which was evicted by the Shoreline School District.

The front walkway leading out to N 175th St is also Landmarked.

Front Walkway of Ronald School

The rear of the building is landmarked. The EAST elevation is significant because it is part of the original 1912 building. 

Rear EAST Elevation of Ronald School

The front entrance is a "classical revival style" portico.

Front Portico and Entrance of the Ronald School

It is a unique freestanding school building and is the oldest public building in Shoreline. 

It is also the only remaining original school building left in the Shoreline School District.

You are invited to witness the arguments FOR and Against its

PRESERVATION.

TONITE! 

MONDAY, February 28th at Shoreline City Hall.

A Quiz on Places That Matter in Shoreline

Can You Guess Where These Places Are?  Add a Comment Below with Your Answers
and We'll Identify Tomorrow!

Amazing Trees in Shoreline in a Historic Place - Guess Where?

More Places That Matter in Shoreline

Can you name them?

Where does this path lead?

Where do these steps lead?

Sacred Place in the Forest?

Where is this magic castle?

A Creek, but where?

Have fun!

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Reminder - Places That Matter In Shoreline Holiday Celebration

Friday is the Date! 
Places That Matter In Shoreline 
Holiday Event! 


Sponsored by Shoreline Preservation Society


Lots of fun! Beautiful Gifts and Treats! 
Join us!

Shoreline's Ronald Place, aka "Red Brick Road" Gets Recognition

Ronald Place facing N 

The "Red Brick Road" in Shoreline has been quietly enduring obscurity for the over half a century. 

Ronald Place facing S from N 175th with access still available

This section of the Ronald Place (North Trunk Road as it was known at the time it was built) was "vacated" and purchased by Aurora Rents owners last year. The owners had to temporarily move 
their store to accomodate the Aurora Phase II Project, since the Right of Way (ROW) would have intruded into the existing building, which had been permitted by King County many years ago.


But now, instead of being hidden, fenced and facing ignominy as merely a "parking lot" for the new Aurora Rents store, it will receive recognition through a special interpretive plaque.  The City of Shoreline has ordered "mitigation" to the SEPA Threshold Determination on the Aurora Rents
Building and Site Development Permit.  The mitigation is to be as follows:

Given the historical interest of the exposed red bricks of the original North Trunk Road located on the subject property (Aurora Rents), the applicant shall work with City staff on appropriate design and placement of a commemorative plaque noting the significance and location of the road and honoring Shoreline pioneer, Judge James T. Ronald, to be installed prior to Certificate of Occupancy."

 The North Trunk Road (now named after Judge Ronald who pushed to have it built to serve the area), as it was officially known when constructed in 1913, has already been badly impacted by planning and development in Shoreline. In 2005 it was listed by the WA Trust for Historic Preservation on its Most Endangered List. http://www.wa-trust.org/PDFs/2005%20Most%20Endangered%20Poster.pdf

The Most Endangered Property List stated that it "is the last exposed section of the first paved highway through northwest King County making it one of the most historic and significant features in Shoreline. The road's two-fold significance lies in its association with the history of transportation in King County and its association with Judge James T Ronald, a pioneer and prominent local resident." 

That was because, the Walgreen's store was slated to remove an important link in the road. Now it is 
truncated by that development and has two isolated sections. One is next to the Aurora Rents property and one is still to the north of the Walgreens and is oddly meaningless next to the "Interurban Park" which is still not officially named or developed. The park is in discussion presently as a part of the new Town Center planning process.

"End of the Road" courtesy of Ronald Bog Blog

But, as the Aurora Rents Permitting process has unfolded, citizens and experts have implored the City to

ensure that this historic asset of our community is clearly identified for its significance and for its founder.

Shoreline Preservation Society is one group that has helped make that effort, by writing comment letters

into the official record. Other citizens have advocated and fought to save this piece of history over the last 30 years or more.  

Now thanks to citizens efforts, and the City of Shoreline's good sense, the road will finally have a clearly defined place in history.  It is a unique historical element of the fabric of our community, with its own beauty, texture, strength and timeless quality.  When you walk on it, you feel an immediate connection to the past.  

It is also recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as eligible for listing.  

It is clearly something of value that gives Shoreline its own character.

Looking North Towards the New City Hall

Here's hoping this time, it will really be saved!

WWII Era Cottages - Just Like Ridgecrest Neighborhood!

This article from State DAHP (Department of Architecture and Historic Preservation) Blog features
a familiar style of architecture for folks who know the east side of Shoreline. Both Ridgecrest and Briarcrest have thousands of small homes built during this era.

The Ridgecrest Neighborhood has even been considered for recognition as a neighborhood by historic organizations, because of the unique preservation of these homes, which has stayed nearly the same as when they were built in the 1940-s and 50's.

These homes have become highly desirable for younger buyers, because they are relatively affordable,
have simple classic styling, and small yards for gardening buffs and are big enough for a small family.

After WW II, many veterans moved in to the Shoreline area, into these small homes with help from the G I Bill.  So Ridgecrest is apparently at the height of preservation style! Who knew?

Washington State Dept. of Archaeology & Historic Preservation

Protect the Past, Shape the Future 

http://wadahp.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/style-guide-wwii-era-cottages/

STYLE GUIDE: WWII ERA COTTAGES

WWII Era Cottage: 1935 – 1950

The WWII Era Cottage resembles the Workingman’s Foursquare of the proceeding decade but utilized the latest advancements in spatial planning and building materials. The style serves as a transitional style bridging the gap between the Revival movement of the 1920s and the modern period leading up to and proceeding WWII.

After WWII, with the peacetime economy just beginning to start up, materials were still in short supply.  However the demand for housing was great, exacerbated by returning GI’s and their new families.  As a response to the situation, new homes like the WWII Era Cottage were built in large quantities and featured little ornamentation.  WWII Era Cottages are generally small (some less than 1,000 sq ft), and correspond to the small size of young families. 

Most were built by speculative builders and purchased by families who took advantage of a variety of government incentive programs which were offered through the Federal Housing Administration.  Because of their simplicity and low cost, WWII Era Cottages made the dream of home ownership possible for an unprecedented number of people.

WWII Era Cottages, sometimes referred to as “Roosevelt Cottages”, are one-story structures covered by a hipped roof with minimal eave overhangs.  The overall shape is typically square or rectangular in plan, although many boast more complex footprints that incorporate attached garages and shallow room projections.  These projections can have hip or gable roofs. Large porches are generally absent; although a small covering or hood may be found over the front door, and/or a shallow stoop can be inserted into a projecting wing.  The exteriors of these wood-framed buildings are sheathed with a wide range of materials from horizontal wood siding, wood shingles, stucco or brick, to asbestos ceramic shingles.  Some concrete block and clay tile examples can be found. Higher end examples utilize a change in exterior material using the window sill as a breaking point.

WWII Era Cottages have a noticeable absence of stylistic ornamentation.  However, early examples often have Art Deco or Streamlined Moderne elements such as glass block and rounded porch features.  Wide frieze boards and vertical siding in gable ends might add a playful detail.  Towards the late 1940s, brick and stone became common as decorative accents, particularly in the form of water tables and raised flower planters.  Many have a single octagonal window on the main façade near the front entry door.  Other windows are tall and wide, many retaining just horizontal muntin bars.  Often windows are placed at the corners of the house and wrap around a side elevation.

                

From top: Seattle, Vancouver, Seattle, Bremerton, Pullman, Seattle, Spokane, Aberdeen  

For More Information:

• Rifkind, Carole. A Field Guide to Contemporary American Architecture. A Dutton Book. New York, NY, 1998. pg 270-277.
• “A Puget Sound Home” Seattle Times, September 28, 1947. pg 18.
• “Small Homes Year Book” 1941  Show Edition.
• “Model Home in Modern” Pamphlet, 3rd Annual National Housing Exposition, Seattle, Febuary 1-9, 1941.
• Universal Small Homes: Book 21. Universal Plan Service, Portland, OR. 1950.
• Whiffen, Marcus. American Architecture Since 1780: A Guide to the Styles. 4th ed.   MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. 1996.

Posted in Style Guide

Now That's Some Real Snow!

Compare this snow with a storm that happened in 1927!

3. Echo Lake panorama showing Emme house in the foreground, ca. 1927

courtesy of Shoreline Historical Museum

http://content.lib.washington.edu/cgi-bin/pview.exe?CISOROOT=/imlsshoreline&CISOPTR=42&CISORESTMP=/imls/templates/shoreline_results.html&CISOVIEWTMP=/imls/templates/shoreline_view.html&CISOROWS=3&CISOCOLS=5

"Meadow" at Paramount Park with about 1" of snow

Real Snowfall in Paramount Park on Hemlock Grove

Reflections in "Upper Pond" are
especially beautiful in the snow

Upper Pond at Paramount Park is a restored
wetland with "Large Woody Debris"
placed as wildlife habitat. Sure makes a
pretty scene too!

Paramount Park is a "Headwaters Wetland" and contains one of the largest wetlands in Shoreline at over 6.5 acres. PPNG

did the restoration and "preservation" project over 10 years ago and created two wetland ponds and replanted nearly 3 acres with native plants.

Littles Creek doesn't mind the snow a bit!
It is a tributary and headwaters of Thornton Creek, the largest watershed
in Shoreline and Seattle

NW Native Plants don't mind the snow at all.
Sword fern gully makes a nice image.

Went for a nice walk and Paramount Park is a real star in the snow. 

Couple enjoys the view at the "lower pond" in the pre-Thanksgiving Snowfall