In a hugely positive meeting on Jan. 28, the two architects hired to create the restoration plan for the Alki Homestead met with the 10 member Architectural Review Committee of the Landmarks Preservation board. This is in keeping with the purpose of the committee and the larger board whose "goal is to manage change, not to eliminate it."

Greg Squires and Mark Haizlip of Alloy Design Group had previously shared with the members of the committee via email what they intended to present, but the standard half hour allotted for such presentations, still grew to over an hour as any initial questions about the removal of non-historic elements of the existing structure were easily answered and the focus shifted to how the restoration might be accomplished. The non historic parts of the structure, one added in 1961 and a second in 1985 predate the designation of the building as an historic landmark.

Squires made it clear that since this was the first meeting based on this new plan they were "taking the view from 20,000 feet."

A question from the committee centered around first, confirming that the intent of the owner and his team was and is to restore the building. Squires confirmed this, and Haizlip read their Mission Statement:

"Our mission is to restore the historic Fir Lodge/ Alki Homestead Restaurant the iconic structure that has stood for decades in the core of the Alki Community.
To revive the unique dining experience that has served generations of people and to insure that the legacy of the Homestead continues for decades to come."

Haizlip talked about "Five key areas for accomplishing this mission."
1. Homestead will be restored "to the greatest extent possible"
2. The existing entry landscaping should be restored
3. To keep the existing 22 stall parking capacity
4. Remove the non historic expansion structures
5. Building an attached external structure.

Part of the plan, as the West Seattle Herald described in a previous story, involves that fifth point, the construction of an external building. In the current iteration of the project it would be 18 feet 7 inches deep, and shorter than the width of the existing building. It would be behind the present Homestead structure and would house a commercial kitchen, possibly ADA bathrooms for the disabled, recycling and waste and "vertical circulation" meaning a staircase and elevator for disabled access to the upstairs (and a 120 person banquet facility), possibly using the existing rear door. It would, under its present NC130 (Neighborhood Commercial) zoning be allowed to have no setback from the alley, but a 7 foot separation would exist between the back of the Homestead and this new structure. The banquet facility could be allowed since the apartments that were built later in the building's life were non-historical.

While it would likely be a one story (max 13 feet) structure one part of it might rise to accommodate the elevator and stairs. The site is split zoned with the parking lot being L3 (Residential Multifamily Lowrise 3). The additional building in the back could be three stories since the zoning permits it. However most likely it will be hidden behind the main Homestead building to preserve the view of it from the street.

Several members were interested in keeping the new structure an unobtrusive as possible.

Haizlip explained in the presentation that the existing staircase inside the Homestead, behind the central fireplace, while "non-conforming" meaning it doesn't meet current standards, would not be removed since it is part of the historic nature of the structure.

Other questions probed what was meant by and how the team might proceed with "deconstruction" since this term is most commonly associated with salvage projects. The building can, based on the geotechnical review by Leavengood Architects, go eight feet below current grade thus permitting a new foundation. Squires pointed out that it was not possible to simply lift the building up and build a new foundation underneath it so removal of some if not all the structure first is a more likely path. That would be a painstaking process of evaluating and cataloging every element in the structure with the aim being to restore every part of the structure possible.

Alloy was advised to bring a landscape architect into the process to deal with the landscaping plan in the front of the Homestead and to possibly provide design assistance regarding the integration of ADA access through the front of the building.

They were told they need to in the next meeting on Feb. 11 and beyond provide greater clarity as to their "roadmap" answering why they are doing certain things and were asked to provide a photo essay of the existing building showing what would be removed and where the proposed addition might abut the historic building. Alloy suggested they would generate a 3D model for illustrative purposes.

Reaction to the plan and discussion was all positive.

Clay Eals speaking on behalf of the Southwest Historical Society said, "We are grateful for this process and we're grateful for the new energy here (...) Our message has always been to protect, preserve and restore the Homestead and I can tell you we are thrilled that we are finally talking about how and not whether." Chris Moore of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation echoed Eals feelings and urged that the building be secured and protected while the plans are being developed to prevent further deterioration.

Char Eggleston of the Queen Anne Historical Society shared a memory and offered her thanks to owner Tom Lin, and said, "Thank you very much for understanding the importance of the restaurant (...) I moved here 25 years ago and I will never forget the first time I went there (...) I had fried chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy and I have never forgotten that!," to which Tom Lin replied, "That's very nice of you to say that but you're not getting the recipe."

Lin was encouraged by the positive impressions the plan has gotten.
"I think it went very well and we're all thinking the same thing. I hope the process will go faster so that we can get it done."

Greg Squires had one word for how the first meeting went, "Awesome."