Owner of Denny
Developer Larry Benaroya is fighting back against a recent ruling that his company must preserve an abandoned Denny’s Restaurant in Seattle’s Ballard district as a historic landmark.
A development entity associated with Benaroya Co. — BCC Mikie Ballard LLC — today filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court challenging last month’s ruling by the Seattle Landmark Preservation Board.
The ruling, in favor of preserving the quirky structure with its swoopy, so-called Googie-style roof, effectively prevents Benaroya from proceeding with plans to construct a condominium project on the site. The ruling surprised many because it went against the recommendation of preservation board staffers.
The property is located at Northwest Market Street and 15th Avenue Northwest at one of Ballard’s busiest intersections bad credit payday loan. The parcel was one of several seized by the Seattle Monorail Project for a station site and later sold when voters pulled the plug on proposed transit system.
Marc Nemirow, a spokesman for Benaroya, said despite the legal action, the property owner also plans to negotiate with the landmarks board regarding the economic impact of the board’s decision. Benaroya acquired the property in 2006 for $12 million.
No timetable has been set for consideration of the appeal, Nemirow said in a statement.
City officials could not be immediately reached for response.
Filed under: finance by Wolf