Molbak's, the beloved former garden store in downtown Woodinville, is being torn down.
On Monday October 28th, two large yellow vehicles (pictured) were seen knocking down greenhouses at the back of the property.
Public documents show that a demolition permit had been requested on October 8th and a website revealed that the permit was granted by City of Woodinville on October 15th. The City Council discussed a month earlier the pending submission to the King County Landmarks Commission. See this discussion during the September 17th meeting (key clip: https://youtu.be/vkPV0CmTrNo ). Yet the city approved the permit in record time between council meetings, knowing an application would temporarily pause any demolition.
The applications for landmark status was the work of a former Molbak’s employee, Tyler Freeman. He described seeking to preserve a much loved part of the region’s history on the related website: https://www.molbakslandmark.com
On the site he points out success stories of landmark preservation including: Woodinville Schoolhouse No23, The Lodge at St Edwards Park, and McMeneman’s in Bothell. His subsequent application to the King County Landmarks Commission was scheduled for a hearing on November 21st 2024 (announcement pictured).
Aside from the abrupt permanent closure of Molbak’s and their exclusion from Green Partner's future development, the site has had almost no activity for ten months. That is until Monday October 28th, when equipment of Wrecking Ball Demolition began work at the back of the property, mostly out of the public's view.
Green Partners LLC has been the land owner of the former Molbak’s property since 2018. They have assembled about 20 acres of Woodinville's downtown by acquiring several adjacent parcels. In June 2023, the city council granted a Green Partners a generous Development Agreement contract which, still, remains unsigned almost 18 months later. That agreement required a new Molbak’s business as the center piece of the “Gardens District” complex, which would have also included 1200 apartment units and a hotel. Without Molbak’s, the contract between Green Partners and the City of Woodinville can no longer be valid regardless of signature.
As photos of the Molbak's rubble spread on local social media, Woodinville resident Jeff Lyon emailed the King County Landmarks Commission staff asking if this was allowed. Within hours they responded suggesting the City of Woodinville should immediately issue a “stop work order” (email pictured).
When Mr Lyon passed this information to the City Manager and Council, the response was an unqualified rejection (email pictured). Their claim was that the demolition permit had been issued and stopping the work would open the city to liability from Green Partners. The City Manager did not address why the unexpected permit was approved so quickly when the city knew a month prior about the Landmarks Commission application.
Local social media groups have surpassed 300 comments and continue to grow. Online, the councilmember and ceremonial mayor Mike Millman defended the demolition. He also claimed the Woodinville Heritage Society opposed a landmark designation.
However, interviews with multiple Heritage Society board members tell a different story. During the group's most recent meeting many wanted the Landmarks Commission to at least consider the designation. The strongest opposition came from Hollywood Hill resident Lucy DeYoung. Her family has had business ties with Green Partners LLC, having sold parcels to the "Gardens District" project. Property records indicate the DeYoung family continues to own parcels near to the Molbak's buildings. Any increase in area land values could have a financial benefit for the DeYoungs. Other members of the Heritage board cited conflicts of interest and recused themselves from the vote, but not Lucy DeYoung. In the end, the vote to support Landmarks application failed by just one vote.
As of the close of business on November 1st, no stop-work has been issued and all indications are the rest of Molbak’s will be razed in the coming week.
The speed of the demolition and the timing relative to the Landmarks Commission hearing leaves the public with more questions than answers.
Why did Green Partners apply for a demolition permit when there are no current plans for the property? Why was the permit so quickly approved by the city? Why has the city assisted in the removal of the last vestige of gardens from its so called “Gardens District”?
- End notes -
Full agenda topic of 9/17/2024: https://youtu.be/VOQk8fnlyK4?t=4433s
Context of what Landmark status does and does not require of land owners from King County: https://tinyurl.com/LandmarkOwnersManual
