On May 27, Washington Trust for Historic Preservation representatives were in Tacoma to announce its annual list of Washington State’s Most Endangered Historic Places. The list dates back to 1992, and aims to raise awareness of historic properties that face demolition by redevelopment or neglect. Over the past 16 years, according to the organization, Washington Trust has placed nearly 100 threatened sites nominated by concerned citizens and organizations across the state. The organization also assists historic preservation advocates in developing strategies aimed at removing these threats.

This year’s list was presented during a press conference on the bridge deck of the 95-year-old Murray Morgan Bridge, which was one of seven endangered historic properties for 2008.

Beginning Monday, the Index has published a profile of each endangered property, as compiled by Washington Trust.

Here is what the Washington Trust had to say about the Bettinger House in Edmonds.

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William & Ina Bettinger built this Queen Anne-style house in 1917. As one of the older houses in the downtown core of Edmonds, the structure is identifiable for typical Queen Anne details such as multiple gables, a wraparound porch, fish-scale shingles, and decorative woodwork. The house is considered eligible for the local register.

The Bettinger House sits within the commercially zoned core of downtown Edmonds and is subject to the intense real estate pressures many cities are experiencing throughout the Puget Sound area. The building recently changed hands and while the new owners appreciate the historic value of the house, they purchased the site for its prominent downtown location and plan to erect a structure for business purposes. The owners are actively working with the city and other preservation advocates to identify a suitable site for relocation of the house, ideally within Edmonds.

For more information, visit http://www.wa-trust.org .