I noticed on the front page of the Nov. 11 Juneau Empire a photo of crows sitting in a window of the Gastineau Apartments building. The accompanying article discussed imminent demolition. My involvement with this building compelled me to write this letter.
After the fire, the owners hired me as a reconstruction consultant. I engaged engineers to help design and certify our plans for restoring the building — a solution that remains valid to this day. However, the owners’ relations with the city sadly became adversarial and communications broke down. Other consultants advised the city the building must be demolished because it was not financially viable.
With partners, I recently approached the city about restoring the building to its historic original condition for housing. However, such a housing project needed more time than the city was willing to provide; patience had run out. To accommodate the lack of time, we pivoted to an alternate idea to restore the building to a finished exterior shell without interior finishes. Under this new plan, for a fixed price to be determined within 30 days, we would have conveyed to the city the restored building ready to be utilized as it deemed appropriate. The city could then sell the building for housing, use it to consolidate its own offices, or put it to any other needful purpose.
Contrary to what some may think, my team could not have come to the city earlier; it was the impending threat of the wrecking ball that enabled us to finally obtain a purchase agreement. We too were frustrated by that process. I empathize with the Juneau Assembly’s frustration — I get it. However, frustration is an emotion, and I believe the decision to demolish may have been made with emotion rather than logic.
The photo in the Nov. 11 paper shows an inlaid terra-cotta tile panel and diamond shape visible through the paint layers above the window. This is but a small sample of the features contained in the remarkable façade of this historic structure. In the vintage photo included with this column, obtained from the Gastineau Channel Historical Society, you can see the front of the building in all of its glory. At over 100 years old, this building was built 20 years before the state Capitol Building and the craftsmanship is of extraordinary quality — much higher than neighboring historic buildings. It was the first poured-in-place concrete structure built in Juneau after the Seattle and San Francisco fires. The concrete survived the recent fires in good shape and can be easily restored.
In my career, I have visited and worked on many historical restoration projects. In Seattle, San Francisco, Port Townsend or similar locales, historical buildings are cherished and preserved at great cost because they are primary visitor attractions. In Alaska, the natural wonders are the main attractions while the historical attractions are limited to very few locations such as Skagway and Juneau. The Gastineau Apartments building, when restored, would be a landmark of the highest order among its lesser peers in the downtown district.
I urge you to visit the site and look closely at the façade of the building and imagine what it could be in its restored state. I find it very ironic that the state is building a $140 million museum a few blocks away for the purpose of preserving Alaska’s history, while this important exponent of that history is slated for destruction.
It is not too late.
Until the wrecking ball actually hits the structure, this remarkable example of Juneau’s heritage can be saved. Its destruction would be an irreplaceable loss. Its future is now, truly, up to the people of Juneau.
Jim Hurley
Kenmore, Washington