(Image: Passable)
A Capitol Hill arts space throwback to the times when the neighborhood had more places for cheap studios and galleries is working to recover from a damaging fire this week.
Passable’s Shelly Farnham tells CHS that the “arts-oriented, collaborative makerspace” suffered thousands of dollars in damage in the early Tuesday morning electrical fire that damaged the auto row-era two-story building at 10th and Union the venue calls home.
Farnham says the growth of Passable has been a reminder of Capitol Hill’s spirited arts communities and the importance of “one of the few building left on the hill with an old school warren of artists studios, several that participate in the Capitol Hill art walk, and very lgbtq-+ friendly of course.”
“When I was watching the fire that night and imagining it spreading throughout the building that’s what I was thinking — I desperately feared hope this stronghold of old school cap hill artists isn’t going to go up in flames,” Farnham said. “As painful as it is, I’m focusing on being grateful it wasn’t worse.”
Seattle Fire Department investigators ruled the cause of the early Tuesday blaze as accidental, “likely caused by an overloaded outlet that ignited nearby combustible materials.”
There were no reported injuries and SFD’s response kept the fire from spreading into the rest of the building’s gallery and studio spaces and the upper story residential areas.
Damage to the building is estimated at $10,000 but Farnham says the costs will be higher, even with insurance.
CHS visited Passable in its 1911-era, 1005 E Union building in 2022.
Passable is raising funds to help cover repair costs. Visit passable.art to learn more.
The 10th and Union fire comes as insurance and permitting work has progressed for repairs needed to restore the former Post Options commercial space on E Pike after a fire badly damaged the suite last July. CHS reported here on the decision by the mail and business services shop’s owners to remain permanently closed following the blaze. There is no word, yet, on what will come next for the E Pike space once repairs are complete.
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