Eugenia Woo, who runs "MAin2," Seattle's historic preservation blog, has put out a call for community members to support the nomination of the Ballard Free Carnegie Library as an official landmark.

In part, this is in reaction to an essay by building owner Karoline Morrison in the Ballard News-Tribune, where she stated that she is not in support of official landmark status, describing the pains she went through to take care of it and how little the city has done. Morrison has expressed concerns that the landmark status will only hinder her and the businesses who pay the rent and provide the money that preserves the building.

However, Woo is not so convinced.

"We believe nominating and designating the building as a Seattle Landmark will only enhance the property, not hinder its operations or its future," she writes. "Most historic properties in Ballard, particularly those in the Ballard Avenue Landmark District, are thriving."

She also mentions that, once its a landmark, funding can be applied for through preservation incentives, which could help undo damage done by money lost.

Read Woo's full article here.

Public comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., Monday, Sept. 17 to kate.krafft@seattle.gov (include ‘Ballard Carnegie Library’in your subject line). Public is welcome to the hearing at Floor 40, Municipal Tower, Sept. 19 at 3:30 p.m. If the nomination is approved there will additional time for comment and a public meeting on designation.