Queen Anne Masonic Temple Townhouses

Monica Brown, Archivist, Queen Anne Historical Society

Each year, the Queen Anne Historical Society celebrates Preservation Month in May by giving five awards to notable people and places in our neighborhood. The awards are:

• Outstanding Stewardship

• Outstanding Renovation

• Beloved Community Business

• Outstanding Community Organization

• Outstanding Adaptive Reuse

In 2024, the Outstanding Adaptive Reuse award winner is the Queen Anne Masonic Temple Townhouses.

Built in 1905 as the Sunset Telephone and Telegraph Exchange, the newly renovated pair of elegant townhouses occupies the former Queen Anne Masonic Temple building at 1608 and 1610 4th Avenue West. The townhouse project was the result of a team effort, including R&R Development, Ryche Contracting, Steve Kennedy, Compass & Eiffel Tour LLC, N5 Architecture, DCI Engineers, and BOLA Architecture + Planning.

We decided to ask two members of the project team who both have lived on Queen Anne for a few of their insights on the neighborhood. They are: Rich Rogers of R&R Development and Ryche Contracting and Steve Kennedy of Steve Kennedy Real Estate Team.

What do you like about the Queen Anne neighborhood the best?

Rich: Queen Anne has a certain character, a charm, that is unique and provides the best neighborhood to live in Seattle.  It is the combination of architecture, both residential homes and commercial, neighborhood size and walkability that blend to offer a perfect community to live and work.

Steve: I feel that Queen Anne is the best neighborhood in Seattle. The urban charm and walkable convenience. It's just got a great vibe.

Do you have a favorite spot on Queen Anne? If so, what is it?

Rich: My parents moved to Queen Anne before my wife and I did, and they started a family tradition of weekend dinners at Hilltop Alehouse.  We've met them there for dinner so many times.  That must be my favorite spot on the hill given the great food, great drink, and most importantly all the memories we've created over the years.

Steve: St. Anne Catholic Church for my soul. Ken's Market for my bodily sustenance and F45 for my physical training.

Do you have a favorite memory of Queen Anne? A sort of "remember when" memory? 

Rich: As a developer (and to search for great memories beyond family and friends) my best memories must be when we've successfully sold unique homes.  I've built all over the hill...3rd Ave W, Warren Ave N, 9th Ave W (twice), 8th Ave W, Ward St and the Queen Anne Masonic Temple on 4th Ave W (of course), and each time we've sold to a new family is a special thing and great to remember.

Steve: Getting the dads together and planning the 4th Ave. N. Block Party and celebrating an Irish Christmas with St. Anne’s Dads.

Thank you, Rich and Steve, for all you do for Queen Anne!