Georgetown Neighborhood Talking with Rainier Brewery Developer
February 9, 2007 - Residents and business owners in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle are planning talks with the new owner of the historic Rainier Brewery complex. Sabey Corporation purchased the structures along Airport Way in 2006, and nearby residents want redevelopment to be compatible with the surrounding mix of century-old structures and homes.
"We're trying to get all the interested parties at the same table and get a dialog going," says Brooke Best, a community activist with Friends of Georgetown History, a local historic preservation group. "We're trying to be proactive."
After Sabey announced the $9.9 million purchase of the 5.5-acre site in October, some Georgetown residents and merchants worried that new development could damage the area's distinctive historic character. Georgetown is one of the city's oldest neighborhoods; the community was annexed to Seattle in 1910. In recent years, the neighborhood has drawn an increasing number of artists and small businesses. These newcomers have recently questioned plans to locate new industrial facilities in the area, such as a waste transfer station. Initial talks between Sabey and neighborhood leaders have led to a proposed community outreach and advisory group, although the group is not yet formed.
Constructed between 1900 and 1914, the monumental brick structures fall under the Seattle's landmark preservation ordinances, which means any changes to the exterior need city approval. The old building is currently occupied by a number of small businesses. The complex was once the home of the Seattle Brewing & Malt Company, which later became the Rainier Brewing Company. In the early 20th century, it was said to be the largest brewery west of the Mississippi River, employing 300 men and brewing a million gallons of beer a year.
For more information, contact Brooke Best, Friends of Georgetown History.
related links
|
