The Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board will hold a hearing and vote today, Aug. 19 at 3:30 p.m. on whether to designate The Kenney's Seaview and Sunrise buildings as historic landmarks.

The hearing will take place in the Seattle Municipal Tower 700 5th Avenue, 40th Floor, Room 4060.

On July 15, the Landmarks Preservation Board unanimously approved a nomination to designate The Kenney's Seaview and Sunrise buildings as historic landmarks.

The building was self-nominated by the retirement home owners in hopes of preserving and protecting the buildings.

"We recognized the significance of the building in the West Seattle community," said Kevin McFeely, chief executive officer of The Kenney. "We wanted to make sure that as we use the building going forward we’d be able to acknowledge that it does have historical significance in West Seattle."

The Landmarks Preservation Board will spend the next few weeks touring The Kenney and will determine whether the buildings should be designated in a public hearing on August 19.

The Kenney Presbyterian Home was established in 1898 through funds left in their will "to maintain a home or retreat to be called The Samuel and Jessie Kenney Presbyterian Home."

By the early 1900's, by the executors of their will were able to purchase five acres near Lincoln Beach--the present site of The Kenney--for $105,000.

With additional funds left to build a building, the Seattle firm of Graham & Myers was chosen to design the building, and construction began in 1907.

The Seaview building, located at 7125 Fauntleroy Way S.W., was built in 1907, patterned after the Independence Hall in Philadelphia with a prominent tower and cupola.

By 1909 the facility was open for membership, although the third floor was not yet complete.

The site was rural, and on the property through the early part of the 20th century there were cows, pigs, horses, chickens, and a freshwater spring as a water source.

Access to the home was via street car or ferry service across the bay, and supplies were delivered by horse and wagon. Between 1922 and 1924 the third floor was completed.

In 1958, 1959, and 1963 additions were constructed which were connected physically to the original 1907 building, and are today collectively known as the Sunrise Building. The architect was Durham Anderson & Freed.