RSSHistoric Wilson building could be spared
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- Previously headed on a collision course with a wrecking ball, the 107-year-old Wilson Building may yet have a future as part of the Capitol Theatre.
Steve Caffery, president and chief executive officer of the Capitol Theatre, said finding a use for the 107-year-old building is one of several possibilities.
"We are checking out all the options. We don't want to say one thing over another," Caffery said. "We want to know which options are feasible and which are not."
To suggest anything more definite would be premature, he added.
City officials confirmed it's possible the old building could be part of the Capitol Theatre's $12 million expansion -- a move supported by preservationists seeking another chance to save the building.
However, Caffery also doesn't rule out that the building could ultimately be demolished under Capitol's original plan to replace it with a two-story pavilion that would include a small theater, box office and other facilities.
The Capitol Theatre Committee, which owns the property, last week withdrew its permit to demolish the building, citing the difficulty of raising needed funds for the pavilion portion of the project.
The theater is focusing on a new $7.5 million production facility at the east end of the theater, which is the first phase of the expansion. Caffery said construction of the facility likely will start next month.
Yakima City Council member Bill Lover, council liaison to the city's Historic Preservation Commission, said he is pleased the theater is revisiting options for the building, erected in 1902 by businessman George Wilson.
"We must remember the building belongs to the Capitol Theatre Committee. They have ultimate say," Lover said. "I'm encouraged that Steve is thinking that way. It opens the possibility to get together with the commission."
Commission Chairman Scott Irons said the group would welcome the possible future for the building.
The commission has offered funding to look at the condition of the building's original exterior, now hidden by a metal facade.
Caffery said the review of options isn't far enough along to investigate the exterior.
"We don't want to go to the expense of doing that until we are sure what we want to do with it," he said.
* David Lester can be reached at 509-577-7674 or dlester@yakimaherald.com.
I Hope they can remove the ugly metal facade and rescue the brick underneath. AT least that much. I fail to see why the building can't be literally gutted and put whatever is necessary inside.
Report ViolationI completely agree with you Nick - the building's brick facade should be worked into any new design - it is done all the time - it is important for a community to preserve some connections with it's past - even if it is just a facade.
Report ViolationTake for example The Capitol Theatre... It's basically just 3/4 of a facade. If you look close you can see the original and new parts replaced after the fire. Almost everything else in the building was destroyed.
Report ViolationI totally agree with exactly what everyone above mentions.
Look at the WaMu (now Chase) bank...that was the shiny new blandness we got after tearing down the beautiful building that stood there. The Wilson should be preserved and reworked in a new design and I hope that Yakima can do a better job preserving our historic buildings downtown, we've already lost too many in the past few years.
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