Monday was a big night for Langley.
City officials and the Kleiners, the Issaquah couple who own the famed Dog House Tavern on First Street, seem to have hammered out an agreement that will work for them both. And in so doing, this historic property, one that just about everyone has a memory of, appears to have escaped the wrecking ball.
At least, for now.
The fate of the building is by no means certain, but the deal struck between the two parties was more than a simple land swap — it was sign of cooperation, partnership and ultimately, we hope, of better and more constructive days ahead.
The conditions and the reasons behind the agreement seem overly complicated and mildly ridiculous, especially when the fate of such an important Langley icon seemed to hang in the balance. Basically, the Kleiners needed property under the building’s western stairs in order to move forward with their renovation plans, but it was tied up with a city easement. As a public entity, Langley couldn’t just give it away no matter how small the slice of land or how much individual city council members or the public wanted to save the building.
The solution involved a trade. Getting the values to equal out was tricky, involving an unorthodox appraisal, but in the end an accord was struck. Langley will get 175 square feet of property on the north side of the Dog House which will be added to Seawall Park, and the Kleiners get the piece under the stairs.
The value or benefit of the latter is somewhat unclear; the Kleiners have said publicly that a small portion of the building is actually on the land protected by the easement. Perhaps it made future lending difficult, or had some other unknown ramification. Whatever the case, it was necessary for their plans, and their patience in dealing with the city’s public obligations should be noted.
Likewise, the city was right to be such stalwart guardians of public assets. It may seem small, or silly, but that easement belonged to Langley residents, not the council or city planners. Giving it away at anything less than full value would be inappropriate and a gift of public funds.
Of course, all this followed years of discussion, and at times seeming stalemates. At one point the Kleiners even threw up their hands in frustration and threatened to tear the building down. That sparked an emergency ban on demolition, giving the city time to create rules for historic building demolition.
It’s perhaps fair to say the city and the Kleiners, as evidenced by their long negotiations, have different agendas and duties. Monday’s deal, however, suggests they share the same goal, to keep the Dog House alive and that they’re willing, with compromise and mutual respect, to make that happen.
Well done. Now, get on with it.
