The Masonic Home of Washington has stood along Marine View Drive for 100 years. A county superior court hearing may be the last chance to save it.
DES MOINES, Wash. — For a full century, the Masonic Home of Washington has been one of the most head-turning structures along the Puget Sound shoreline.
It’s a sprawling landmark rising above Marine View Drive in the city’s Zenith neighborhood, visible on clear days from as far away as Tacoma.
While a long saga over the future of the property has been drawn out for nearly two decades – its fate may finally be sealed on Friday, May 22.
A King County judge is scheduled to hear an appeal from a community preservation group seeking to halt a conditional demolition permit already granted to the property’s owner and developer, Zenith Properties LLC. If the judge sides with the city and the developer, little may stand between the building and the wrecking ball.
If the judge sides with preservationists, demolition plans are paused — and the fight enters a new phase.
A surprising factor in the chronicle is that the Masons of Washington — the fraternal organization that built the massive structure and operated it for nearly 75 years as a retirement home, community meeting hall, and lodge — actually support demolition. A letter signed by the Grand Master of the Masons entered the public record four years ago confirming that stance, a detail that continues to confound preservationists.
A landmark that was never officially a landmark
Despite its architectural scale and historical significance, the 30-acre property has never been formally registered as a historic landmark — even though it is eligible for that status. That gap has frustrated those who have spent years trying to protect it.
“It’s just crazy,” said Lloyd Lytle, president of Citizens for the Protection of Des Moines Historical Resources. “There are a lot of things like that that just make you shake your head and say, what’s been going on?”
Lytle said because the property is so massive and there are several structures – it can also qualify for a “historic district” status.
Those who have recently been inside describe the interior as gutted — furniture and many fixtures were removed after the building ceased operation nearly 20 years ago.
Photographs taken by Douglas Orton from before the interior was stripped show grand common spaces consistent with its long history as a fraternal and care institution. Now, in what could be the building’s centennial year and its last, the contrast between its exterior grandeur and hollowed interior has become a focal point in the debate over its future.
The case for preservation — and the math against it
The preservationists’ legal appeal — paid for through community fundraising to cover attorney fees — raises several concerns beyond aesthetics. Lytle said fundraising allowed the group to pay for the “written transcript” and “transfer of record” from the City of Des Moines Hearing Examination.
Donations to that page continue with the potential need for more legal action. You can view the GoFundMe page here.
“We are now focused on long-term fundraising to cover attorney fees through the King County appeal that’s estimated around $25,000,” Lytle said.
The group argues the structure is sound enough for renovation and repurposing. The appeal also cites potential risks to air safety during demolition, landslide hazards, and proximity to a neighboring nursing and retirement care community.
The financial obstacle is significant. Estimates to renovate and repurpose the building run to approximately $100 million or more. Lytle’s group contends that a successful renovation could still be financially viable for a developer — and that the goal is not to stand in the way of profit, but to redirect it.
“We want to see the developer and the city profit, too,” Lytle said. “We’re not here to go against them. We think they’re going to financially benefit from a renovation like this.”
The city and the developer
The City of Des Moines approved demolition plans last year, granting the conditional permit to Zenith Properties LLC. With litigation now pending, city officials declined to comment in detail.
However, Des Moines City Manager Katherine Caffrey wanted to direct interested parties to “the comprehensive analysis that was conducted over a span of three years that formed the basis for the city’s decision is available on the city website.” The full analysis is available here.
Zenith Properties LLC did not respond to requests for comment, nor did it provide access to the building for reporting purposes. KING 5 will follow up with the property owner again after Friday’s court decision.
Preservationists say that regardless of Friday’s outcome, they are prepared to pursue further legal and advocacy steps.
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