Extremely Depressing Makeover
One of the former owners of the blue house wrote this in the comments thread in response to my earlier post…
i owned that house along with its current owner from 1996-2001 (sold out and left the country in 2001). last saturday, the press contacted me in south america…looking for the current owner (who was also out of the country). I felt like i was punched in the stomach when I heard what happened; I vomitted shortly thereafter. I lived in that house with several friends (including a year with both sisters) and we hosted numerous parties there ourselves. I built that bathroom on the top floor where the women hid…and painted the walls that saw these horrors. I know each corner of that house so intimately that even though I know longer own it, I’m filled with sadness as it had always been such a happy place and now is stained. I spoke with the current owner yesterday…he’s in shock. Also filled with grief for the families, and has not even thought about his investment yet; that seems to be the least of his current worries.
My heart is so saddened but comforted to know that house will soon be a memorail that stands for love. It is no longer simply and investment to be bought or sold. The owners will donate it to our community.
We in Seattle cherish commnity deeply and Capital Hill especially has never been just about real estate values. Our real investment is in the kindness we share, the dancing and great spirits of individuals.
The love of those lives lost will remain in that place, in the memorial soon to be built there and the color bright flowers that will embrace the community garden.