The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation has named the Alki Homestead, among 13 other Washington landmarks, as an endangered historic property.

Chris Moore is field director for the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. He spoke Tuesday, May 26, from a podium set up on very windy bicycle trail by the Sculpture Garden.

Andrea Mercado is executive director of the Southwest Historical Society.

"This could not be a more ideal location for this (event) because we are right over there, the birthplace of Seattle," said Mercado, as she pointed to Alki Point across Elliott Bay from the podium.

"The Log House Museum is in the landmark carriage house, one of five originally that surrounded (the Alki Homestead Inn)," she said. "So historically it is a very significant property. When you ate there you walked through that door and were back to a different era, plus (there was) the fried chicken on the menu we were all hooked on since the 1950's. The museum itself cost close to a million dollars to restore and is just a quarter to a third the size (of the Alki Homestead Inn)."

Mercado pointed out that because the Inn is privately owned, and for-profit, it does not have the luxury of fundraising often needed to keep up expensive historic properties. She said the current owner Tom Lin is working hard to get it up and running again.

The Homestead's roof and dining area were damaged in a fire that sparked at the restaurant on Jan. 16. It's been closed since then.

When asked about the Homestead being listed as an "endangered" property, Lin said he was not aware of that or the existence of The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation.

Lin is in negotiations to sell the business to another party who would operate the restaurant.

"One of the goals of the endangered list is education and the Homestead Restaurant is a good example that represents the opportunity we have to work with property owners to educate them on the benefits they have to work with and engage in rehabilitation work," said Moore.

The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation says this about the Homestead:

In 1903, Gladys and William Bernard began construction of Fir Lodge. This country estate, located near Alki Point in West Seattle, exemplified the Rustic Style of architecture and stands as an early iteration of the style in the Puget Sound region. Its log structure and river rock fireplace provided a retreat from the hustle and bustle of Seattle and the city’s accompanying growth during the 1890s. Almost immediately after its construction, Fir Lodge became a gathering place, serving as the first clubhouse for the fledgling Seattle Auto Club from 1907-1911. Since 1950, the structure has been home to the Alki Homestead Restaurant. Because of its architectural quality and its association with the development of Seattle, the Alki Homestead Restaurant is a designated city landmark.

In January, the restaurant suffered an electrical fire leaving the interior and portions of the roof damaged. While temporary measures have been taken to prevent additional damage from weather exposure, the timeframe for implementing major repair work needed to stabilize the building is uncertain at this time. Compounding matters is the fact that the restaurant had been for sale for nearly a year prior to the January blaze. Despite this, the owner has publicly stated his intent to restore the building and re-open the restaurant, allowing denizens of West Seattle and other neighborhoods to continue to enjoy the warmth and storied history of the landmark building.

The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation is a statewide, non profit organization founded in 1976 "to safeguard Washington’s historic places through advocacy, education, collaboration and stewardship," according to it Web site.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer Globe tops the list of endangered Seattle properties. The George Carmack House and the Sand Point Naval Station round out the four Seattle sites named. Nine other properties from around Washington were named on the list.