News and Events

-- Season's Greetings
-- Kayaking Carollers
-- Argosy Christmas Cruise Dates
-- Holiday Houseboatique!
-- U District Food Bank
-- Follow Up: Vancouver Float House Zastrozzi
-- FHA Annual Meeting! April 26th, 2012

Hello FHA members,

Someone in the community suggested I write an occasional blog for our website to relate news in between print issues of the FHA newsletter. So, welcome to WaterBlog.

Governor Chris Gregoire signs FHA bill into law on April 29, 2011. From l to r : Tom Clingman, Department of Ecology, Nick Federici, FHA Lobbyist, and Lake Union houseboaters, Marty Greer, Amalia Walton with daughter Lilian, Lon Marie Walton and Melissa Ahlers. Photo courtesy of the Washington State House of Representatives

Last year, the City of Seattle undertook to revise its Shoreline Management Plan.  The FHA was involved from the beginning, and though the City was receptive to FHA's concerns, the potential impact of some of the changes spurred the FHA to further action.  Lead by Amalia Walton and the Association's Legislative Committee, the FHA drafted a bill seeking to revise Washington's law to ensure the long-term vitality of our floating community.  Working with the City, the State, and thanks to the strong support of legislators Jamie Pederson, Ed Murray, Frank Chopp, Dave Upthegrove, Jeanne Kohl-Wells and others, the bill passed both the house and the senate!  The bill, which makes explicit the legislature's goal of allowing the "continued use, improvement and replacement" of houseboats, becomes law on July 22, 2011.

Erin Feeney introduces history project idea at Annual Meeting 28 April 2011. Photo by Caroline Johnston

In May 2013, the history and evolution of Seattle's floating homes community will be shared in the new community gallery at the South Lake Union location of the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI)! UW architecture graduate student Erin Feeney is in the process of coordinating and designing the exhibit, so please look for upcoming opportunities to share your stories and get involved.  Here are a couple of ways you can participate:

Oral History Project

Erin is looking for houseboaters who have stories, photos or other interesting information to share related to the life in the community, from past to present.  She also needs images of homes built anywhere from 100 years ago to those just finished yesterday.

July 2011

Howard Droker Talks about Early 1900s Seattle Houseboats.

All Photos by Caroline Johnston

An enthusiastic crowd of houseboaters from around Lake Union and Portage Bay gathered April 28th at the Puget Sound Yacht Club for the 49th Annual FHA meeting.

Members began arriving about 615pm to enjoy wine, a varied selection of foods and conversation. There was plenty to talk about. Only a day earlier the community learned the state had passed a bill protecting the houseboat community.  Jamie Pederson, District 43 Representative, one of the legislators who was the main sponsor of the bill, dropped in to join in the celebration. And, Howard Droker, the meeting's main speaker arrived early to chat with member and autograph copies of his book, Seattle's Unsinkable Houseboats.

2011 Agenda

Here is the up-to-date 49th Annual meeting agenda. After the 2010 Annual meeting a number of people complained about the paper waste. We have heard you. One of the ways we can save on the paper excess is to ask you to print your own agenda, if you so desire.

Bios of New Candidates for FHA Board

Reminder: Elections will be held during the first half hour of the Annual Meeting.