The city of Redmond and local residents have established historic preservation programs that balance 21st-century economic needs with a desire to conserve local history for future generations. Founded in 1912 as a lumber town, and now home to Microsoft, Redmond experienced explosive growth and severe development pressures in the last two decades. In 1995, city staff began studying ways to preserve the dwindling stock of historic structures in the small town's downtown area.
In 2000, the Redmond City Council adopted an historic preservation ordinance encouraging voluntary cooperation by downtown property owners with design guidelines that address historic character. The council also designated 16 structures and resources as key historic properties, including the Conrad Olsen Farmstead, the Odd Fellows Hall, and the Old Redmond Schoolhouse. The city council later established a "Community Treasures" grant program to fund preservation projects. And in 2005, the city signed an inter-local agreement with King County that allows timely cooperation with county historic preservation staff on preservation issues. Fourteen other cities in the county have similar agreements.
With these tools, several preservation projects have been completed or are under way:
- A 2006 survey discovered 50 historic properties, primarily residential, to be included in Redmond's Historic Resource Inventory (HRI). The HRI was funded in part by a $5,000 4Culture Special Projects grant. King County Historic Preservation program staff worked with city staff on the project.
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- The historic early-1900s downtown structure now housing the El Toreador restaurant received two Community Treasures grants totalling $25,000. The money funded reconditioning of the façade, even though the building does not qualify for landmark designation due to previous alterations.
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- Two historic log cabins in Anderson Park, one of the city's 16 designated landmarks, will receive a $40,000 upgrade in 2006 funded by the city's Community Treasures program.
The city has a strong working relationship with the Redmond Historical Society, formed in 1999. The city donates office and meeting space at the historic Old Schoolhouse to RHS, which consults with city employees on preservation. Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives, a member of RHS, keeps preservationists informed on city activities. "Our society has the best working relationship with city government," says board member Tom Hitzroth.
For more information on Redmond historic preservation programs, contact Dianna Broadie, dbroadie@redmond.gov, 425-556-2414.
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