Landmarks & Design Commission

Help in Restoring & Maintaining Downtown Properties

In 2015, the City Council approved several types of Community Grants, including Historic Preservation Grants. The maximum award is $10,000 annually. The grants seek “to foster public initiative and participation in maintaining National, State and Ellensburg historic registers, develop programs to create incentives for historic preservation and aid in providing outreach for education and information programs. The Landmarks and Design Commission reviews all requests for Historic Preservation Grants. Deadline: August 31st each year; review by the LDC in the fall with awards decisions made by the City Council at a regularly scheduled November City Council Meeting. Check this webpage early summer for more information about the availability of grants.

Types of Eligible Projects

Eligible projects of Historic Preservation Grants include: 

Identify properties or districts with potential for listing on the Ellensburg Landmarks Register, conduct surveys of historic properties;  

Develop educational pamphlets and information packets;

Support installation of interpretive signs or a phone application (App) with information on historic buildings;

Move endangered register-eligible properties (if threatened with demolition).

Program Guidelines

Check the application for further details, but historic building owners, non-profit organizations, civic groups, and neighborhood groups would be eligible applicants. Eligible sites would include any non-governmental property in the City Limits of Ellensburg. Eligible expenses include personnel, professional services, supplies and materials, construction costs, lodging and mileage. Matching funds are encouraged but not required for this program. See application instructions for further details.

Historic Preservation Grant Program 2022

Members

The Commission has seven members, the majority of which must be City residents. The Commission shall include: 

• Two property owners within the Downtown or Residential Historic Districts
• Three professionals
• Two members at large

The Landmarks and Design Commission’s members serve four-year terms. The current Commission members are:

• Dorothy Stanley (historic property owner), term expires May 31, 2024
• Maurice Blackson (professional), term expires May 31, 2025
• Zane Kanyer (professional), term expires May 31, 2025
• VACANT (professional), term expires May 31, 2024
• VACANT, (at-large), Chair, term expires May 31, 2025
• Fred Redmon, (historic property owner), term expires May 31, 2025
• Darren Reid (EDA representative), term expires May 31, 2024

Monica Miller is the current City Council liaison to the commission.

Responsibilities

The Commission operates under the authority of Chapter 15.280.030 of the City Code. Recognizing the significant role of architectural design and appearance to the development of the community, the Landmarks and Design Commission is responsible for:

• Assisting in proper, orderly, and aesthetic development by conducting a design review process for those buildings within the City that are covered by the design review permit
• Protecting, preserving, and enhancing the social, cultural, economic, environmental, aesthetic, and natural values that have established the desirable qualities and unique character of Ellensburg
• Promoting and enhancing the construction and maintenance practices that encourage visual quality throughout Ellensburg
• Recognizing environmental and aesthetic design as an integral part of the planning process
• Promoting and perpetuating educational, cultural, aesthetic, and social values by preserving and protecting structures and places of historic interest