The Rainier Cold Storage building, a landmark in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, is set to be demolished. The building is a striking fixture of the neighborhood. Georgetown simply won’t be Georgetown without it. But before we start blaming the developer and clamoring for the torches and pitchforks, let’s first read a bit about the fascinating way in which the building is slowly destroying itself, courtesy of Vintageseattle.org:
As I mentioned in my initial collection of photos from the complex, this building was used as a freezer facility from 1937 to 2002 and had frozen the water table 24 feet down. Over the years, the building has launched up 12 inches into the air and now as the water thaws over the years the building is settling and cracking. I have to say that when I was on the tour of the building in this area I did not feel safe and was extremely skeptical, given the structural condition of the building, if they’d be able to salvage any of it.
Who knew?
Alaskans. Also Russians, Canadians, and Norwegians; pretty much any engineer or homesteader in an Arctic climate. Ever seen what a highway can do to permafrost, and vice versa? (Check out the photo in Fig. 6 of the linked article.)