The Seattle City Council approved legislation this afternoon creating a Pike/Pine Conservation District designed to preserve the neighborhood’s historical character. CHS detailed the latest discussions surrounding the legislation when it was approved by the Council’s land use committee last week.

In comments before the vote, councilmember Sally Clark said of the Pike/Pine ‘character:’ “We like it because it makes us feel a little bit warm and fuzzy but there’s something about the buildings that lend themselves to the types of businesses [we] want to see in the area.”

Meanwhile, a related bill that will enable the Polyclinic to develop a parcel of land it owns on First Hill into a new facility also passed the Council today. The legislation allows medicual uses of large developments within the city’s ‘highrise’ zones. The Polyclinic is now able to build a new facility on First Hill to replace their aging structure on Broadway near Union. The Polyclinic had been considering building the facility on a lot they own across the street from their current facility that would have required the demolition of the historic Complete Automotive building. Councilmember Jan Drago said, “I think this is the perfect solution for the Polyclinic” but councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who spearheaded the land use committee work to form the legislation, said he wouldn’t have supported the plan if it was only to benefit the clinic. “This is to benefit the entire community not just one property owner,” Rasmussen said.

In other afternoon business, the Council also approved development restrictions on the two Capitol Hill properities designated historical landmarks that we wrote about last week.