Dog House, Langley land deal makes progress

Published 4:45 pm Friday, November 21, 2014

Reopening of the Dog House Tavern in Langley took a step forward this week.

Building owner Janice Kleiner presented some concept designs at the Nov. 17 public hearing. The most striking of which showed three decks on the north side of the building extending toward Seawall Park. All of the deck space is contained within property owned by Kleiner and her husband Charlie, who did not attend the hearing. The Kleiners’ architect, Duaine Weston, said there was no functional change to the properties that would be exchanged.

“We aren’t blocking any access to the waterfront or doing anything that isn’t already there,” Weston said. 

The land swap is necessary for the Kleiners to work on parts of the building, part of which is technically on a city easement. Langley Mayor Fred McCarthy said the property lines along First Street were drawn in error at the time of its original platting, leading to the overlap onto city property at the intersection with Anthes Avenue.

Janice Kleiner said they are once again looking at renovating the building, and made a distinction from a true restoration. The decks, she said, would allow for outdoor seating for a street-level restaurant, the basement-level rental space, and the upper-level residence. The red First Street facade would be preserved, as would the red westside facade, though it may be altered with more windows.

Such changes will likely result in the loss of the building’s tax exempt and grant funding abilities. Currently, the Dog House Tavern is on the National Register of Historic Places under its original name, The Olympic Club. That comes with tax credits and other potential monetary benefits, which Kleiner said she was willing to forsake to avoid having the building’s view of Saratoga Passage and the Cascade Mountains underutilized — her main focus in any work going forward.

Less than 700 square feet is being proposed for the transfer. The Dog House property would gain land adjacent to its west side, encompassing parts of the existing structure in places and the exterior porch and staircase. Similar to one proposed earlier by the city and abandoned by the Kleiners, wording had given them pause. Originally the trade proposal called for the city to receive an equal or greater amount of land. Now, the city is willing to amend that to be equal or greater value.

An appraisal of the three pieces of land ­— two on its west side — one on its north side, is in the works. Mayor Fred McCarthy said the expense of the evaluation would be covered by the Kleiners, but did not know how much it would cost or when it would be completed.

The Kleiners argued that the property they were asked to give up, on the waterfront side, was far more valuable than what they’d receive. State law requires that the city receive compensation for the land. At the public hearing, McCarthy said it was an issue to be dealt with later.

“We don’t want to get hung up on that at this particular point,” he said.

Langley owns the land west of the building, which is part of a right of way to the public waterfront of Seawall Park. The steep hill is also used as an emergency access below several First Street buildings and down to the waterfront park.

Hearing of plans to keep some of the “iconic” elements of the building intact while preparing to open the long-vacant building in the city’s downtown core had the interest of several city council members.

“I’m very excited to see you doing something with that place,” said Councilman Bruce Allen.

Only a few people attended the hearing Monday. Langley’s public hearing on the proposed land swap, technically called a street vacation, was kept open until the council’s next meeting, Monday, Dec. 1.