Hello everyone,
If we’ve never met my name is Tyler Freeman. I’ve lived in the Seattle area for over 9 years now. If you’ll give me a few minutes of your time, I have a proposition of hope to share that I believe will resonate with many listening. Molbak’s. What emotion does that word bring up? Anger, grief, or surprise? For me, it was all of the above. Hired on in 2022, I was one of the managers until the end. I knew only 1 week before the public knew. Then I saw, first-hand, how it hit each one of you. And it broke me, but I could do nothing about it except feel through it with you. I saw how Molbak’s was more than a store for so many of you. You met there regularly with family and friends, making memories that spanned generations; you found solace, inspiration and holiday spirit; you learned and grew alongside the plants you took home; you procured unique, curated gifts for loved ones to tell them exactly how you felt about them. Set aside, for just one moment, how it all ended. Remember that for so many years, Molbak’s was an institution nearly synonymous with, and in the very heart of, Woodinville. For this alone, wouldn’t you want to see something of that legacy continue? Now, what if the community took charge of the vision, rather than the late company? Imagine for me, one more time, continuing Egon & Laina’s near-7-decade legacy (and Ashley & Louise Nicholas’ 2-decade legacy before them!) by protecting historical structures on the Molbak property, designating them as an Historical Landmark, breathing the same spirit into them. We could recreate a meeting place for cultivating neighborly connection in a replanted cafe. The greenhouses could be the improved permanent, convertible, year-round home for the Woodinville Farmer’s Market selling local, curated foods and gifts. The smooth concrete floor of the retail garden store could continue to celebrate the Arts Alliance Sip n Stroll, holiday musical performances, and Fall plays. Or even act as a skate deck. The retail home & gift store could host inspirational, educational seminars heralding the wholesomeness of gardening. There could be rows of community garden beds lining the nursery. The Woodinville Heritage Society could give historical tours. It could still be an institution and a destination, drawing sales tax dollars and benefiting surrounding residential and commercial property, much like Pike Place does. Put another way, this doesn’t have to stop growth in Woodinville, or even stop the developer from building high-rises nearby. All of this activity would be the reason people would want to live nearby. It could even be a lucrative alternative for the current property owner. I can imagine (even as I saw) that a lot of confusion and hurt followed the news in November, December, January, and again in May. I bet your reserves of emotional energy toward this idea have run out, or nearly so. Well, if you’ve made it this far, please, hang on just a little longer. With help over the past several months, I am now ready to submit the requisite nomination form for the Landmarks Commission. Once they review and approve it, the Molbak structures will be protected from demolition or ahistorical alteration as a landmark. Although we were ready late last month, I chose to wait in order to reach out to the city and to the property owner, Cascade Asset Management dba Green Partners LLC to share my potentially lucrative ideas for repurposing the property. The owner declined to meet with Mayor Millman, City Manager Buchanan, and I, instead submitting an application for a demolition permit, which may be approved anytime between now and early November. I am saddened and disappointed that the owner did not even wish to hear what I had to say, and as far as appearances go, doesn’t care about the legacy of Molbak’s in the community. And unfortunately, being private property if we designated it a landmark they don’t have to let anyone on the property to restore it, and it could sit and rot. We need them on our side. As far as I can see, this is our last chance to do anything of substance to retain Egon & Laina’s legacy for posterity; it is now, or never. If the Landmarks Commission rejects the nomination, we can look back and say we did everything we could. I, for one, would like to live my life without regret. So here I am reaching out to you. You may be wondering what the legacy of the Molbak’s was. Ever since establishing their Woodinville business in 1956, Egon and Laina were well-known for their civic volunteerism in numerous county and city boards, activism and fundraising for local causes, and overwhelming generosity. Through these, they were instrumental in local planning, healthcare, housing, children’s education, city beautification, and arguably the incorporation of the city of Woodinville in 1993. Not only this, they intentionally cultivated neighborly connection, celebrated local arts, heralded the wholesomeness of gardening, and sought to lead the industry in implementing greater sustainable practices and products. And so, to fulfill this vision, we need very strong, outspoken community support to tell city leaders and Green Partners what Woodinville wants (or doesn’t want!). I just want to hear from as many of the roughly 13,000 residents as possible—as well as outsiders who care! Let me re-iterate: if you are for this project, let us know! If you are indifferent or strongly oppose it, let us know! We need to hear from you. Are you willing to see the structures protected if it means they may not be restored? Perhaps Green Partners could change their mind once designated? If you tell me “YES” you want this to happen, I will submit the form regardless of the outcome. If you do not want me to submit the form, I will not. I don’t care if you don’t care. Please tell your friends and family to tell their family and friends, and direct them to this website (MolbaksLandmark.com), where they can take a less than 5-min survey on the Survey tab at the top of the webpage. We need the word to get out. I will count the numbers before the end of October, ideally sooner. I don’t know how much time we have left. Thank you.
5 Comments
Jill Freeman
10/26/2024 10:27:31 pm
Kudos for your efforts to keep the Molbak's legacy alive!
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Kristin
10/29/2024 02:15:58 pm
You don’t even live in Woodinville. We want our community to grow and it’s time for change and something us residents can enjoy in the heart of our city.
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Barb
10/29/2024 05:32:19 pm
I believe the owners of the property paid for the right to decide how the property is used. They have adequate insight and the right to develop their property unencumbered.
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Pam larkin
10/30/2024 08:31:55 am
Please relent from demolition of a place so important to community and culture. Destruction of landmarks diminishes respect and pride and knowledge from people. We need a connection to the past and it’s people and what we can aspire to. Developments must be local to community and not decided by money of outside developers. People in charge and elected, need to protect the heritage of community.
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Patti
11/2/2024 06:10:15 pm
M'olbak’s 'was' a landmark, and the property should stay a part of the Woodinville community. Thank you for putting this on the 'front burner' to allow people to try and save what little they can from the high rise developments that have taken over nearby once small towns. One can only hope there is a majority that has loud and clear voices to make even part of the Molbak’s property a keepsake for Woodinville.
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AuthorJust a lifelong-Washingtonian concerned about losing our heritage. Lived in Bothell since 2015 until May 2024. Worked at Molbak's 2022-2024. Live in Ballard. If you care, I care! ArchivesCategories |