A fight is underway in the Central District to save a home that a group of Black first responders say has long been a cornerstone in their community.

Members of the Seattle Black Firefighters Association are locked in a legal battle to reclaim the property, which was sold last year under controversial circumstances. Saturday, a community rally was held at 23rd and Pike to show support for saving the property.

“It’s just really very disappointing that we cannot, as Black men and women, sit down and talk about the property, and the only solution that the current regime has come up with is to sell it,” said retired Deputy Chief Charles Gill of the Seattle Fire Department. Gill, alongside other retired and active members, has been leading the charge to preserve the house, which has been central to the group’s identity for over four decades.

The house’s sale has ignited outrage not just because of its history but also due to what some say was a lack of transparency and a disregard for the organization’s bylaws. A court ruling in 2024 affirmed that retired members of the SBFFA retain voting rights, yet the sale went ahead anyway. The double-lot property, located in one of Seattle’s most rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods, was sold for $680,000 — far below its market value, the group says.

The corner marks the latest fight in what is becoming sometimes a house by house effort to hold onto remaining roots of the Central District.

For Gill and his peers, the fight isn’t just about preserving a building. “It’s got historic value for us because it was a meeting place for us for the last 40 years,” he said. “We drove people to the polls out of this house. We sponsored Little League baseball teams. This house was at the center of our community.”

Claude Harris, the first Black firefighter to join the Seattle Fire Department, echoed these sentiments. Harris, who overcame significant racial barriers during his career, spoke to the house’s importance as a safe space for Black firefighters who often faced hostility on the job. “It was difficult times being the first Black firefighter. Yeah, I almost quit. Twenty-five times. Five of those times I was as serious as a heart attack,” Harris shared. “But I don’t know, God had his hand on my back or something because I stayed here. All I wanted to do was be a firefighter.”

Harris likened the house to a church, calling it a refuge for those who needed support and solidarity. “A pastor doesn’t have the right to sell the church; it belongs to the community,” Harris said. “This house has special meaning for us. It’s significant.”

The house’s sale has sparked accusations of mismanagement and betrayal within the SBFFA. “No meeting was held, and there was no vote. It was just brazenly sold,” said Roberto Jordan, a 41-year veteran of the Seattle Fire Department and former president of SBFFA. “We were discussing plans to develop it into a duplex or triplex”, adding that the goal was to create a resource for the association and the community. “The most important thing is that it remains part of the Seattle Black Firefighters Association in perpetuity.”

The property has been described as debt-free and vital to community events.

“In July, the house was pending for $760,000. It sold in October for $680,000. This is a double lot in an expensive area. How does it sell for that price?…If you have a house in the Central District, you don’t sell it,” Jordan said.

There is an effort in court to put things right.

This lawsuit is about preventing the defendants from destroying the very essence of this organization by selling its only asset and excluding its founding members,” Yohannes Sium, a lawyer representing the group fighting to reclaim the property, said. “We’re going to continue to press the people who sold this house illegally to be held in contempt. We’re bringing it to the street, we’re bringing it to the court, we’re bringing it to the media, and eventually, we will get this house back.”

The battle has also drawn support from Seattle City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth who vowed to advocate for the preservation of the property. “This was just brought to my attention about a month ago,” Hollingsworth said. “I’ve been working with Attorney Yohannes and our elders to figure out a game plan.”

Hollingsworth underscored the importance of preserving historic institutions in the Black community, referencing other landmarks like the First AME Church and Washington Hall. “These places are a big part of the legacy of this community and what it means for Black people,” she said. “My conclusion is, I want this to stay in the Black community, and that’s my goal.”

The SBFFA awaits a key court hearing this week.

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