The Showbox in Seattle wins historic landmark status

It was a joyous scene at Seattle City Hall on Wednesday night as the Landmarks Preservation Board voted unanimously to preserve the beloved Showbox from being demolished and turned into a high rise.

Earnie Ashwood works at the music venue has become a leader of the #SaveTheShowbox activists.

“This is nothing short than a monumental victory for not just The Showbox not just Seattle," Ashwood said, "but for culture and for anyone that's fighting for inequality in general.”

The owners of 1426 1st Avenue — where artists including Prince, Pearl Jam, and Duke Ellington have performed — want to sell the building to be developed.

Their attorneys said Wednesday that the property hasn’t always been a music venue and it has had a number of changes over its 80 years.

But the board sided with tens of thousands of petition signers and activists and who argued The Showbox has grown to embody Seattle's music scene.

In a statement the building owners said they intend to fight the designation in court.

“There's a lot of work to be done in the future," Ashwood said. "The fight is nowhere near over.”