People and persistence: lessons from a grassroots campaign
Last month a grassroots coalition of neighbors, preservationists and lovers of the Pike Place Market beat the odds in their three-year campaign to preserve the historic Hahn Building and along with it, the iconic market entrance.
In a resounding 6-1 vote, Seattle’s Preservation Landmark Board voted last month to designate the Hahn Building as an historic City Landmark.
The Hahn is a surviving example of housing built for workers, especially women, who came to Seattle for employment as downtown was rebuilt after the 1889 fire. The red brick building that once boasted private bathrooms was slated for demo and replacement with a glass and steel hotel.
Landmarking the Hahn was a long shot. It had been nominated twice before by owners intent on clearing the way for redevelopment rather than showing why it should be preserved.
What turned the tide? DRA asked Ruth Danner, campaign leader and President of Save the Market Entrance, a group 90,000 strong. Her answer: tenacity and a big tent.
Here are Danner’s takeaways for galvanizing public support:
Create a broad coalition: “Public input was the #1 reason for our success. It came from all corners.” Danner said some supporters focused on preserving the Hahn as a valuable piece of Seattle history and keeping the historic market entrance intact. Others were concerned over the new building’s scale and enormous impacts on transportation, the environment and pedestrian safety.
Make some noise: Danner says numbers make a difference. “The most important thing was getting people to attend meetings and speak up. Some will do it and others will say ‘me too.’ Whether they speak or write their support, all voices count.”
Employ Social Media: Social media is a game changer with broad reach but still requires personal touch. When Save The Market Entrance launched its change.org petition in January 2018, neighbors fanned the Market’s cobblestone intersection wearing STME t-shirts and carrying handmade signs soliciting signatures. “At first it was a trickle—we got 250 signatures, then 400, then 1,000 and then it shot through the roof.”
“Change.org was a great tool for spreading the word.” Today she estimates half the signers are from the Seattle area and the other half former residents and visitors.
Partner with community allies: Danner credits committed neighbors with propelling the campaign but says facing the developer’s team of polished attorneys and experts would not have been possible without support from local preservation groups. Among them she thanks Historic Seattle, Friends of the Market, Vanishing Seattle and Northwest Vernacular as key community partners for their integrity and expertise and in supporting the nomination.
Stay engaged: While encouraged by the landmark designation Danner says it is not the end of the story. The building’s owner and the City will negotiate the terms of the designation and whether the building may be developed by preserving its façade.
The process could take months or even years. Meanwhile, Save The Market Entrance remains engaged, offering lessons for other community activists.
