A citizens group that spent four years trying to save the historic Masonic Home property in Des Moines will not file another appeal after losing in King County Superior Court, the group’s president said in a July 23 update to supporters.
Lloyd Elliott Lytle Jr., president of Citizens for the Protection of Des Moines Historic Resources, said the group reviewed several options but decided it could not pursue a third appeal because of the financial risk.
“So we’ve taken it as far as we can go,” Lytle wrote.
The update follows a June decision by King County Superior Court Judge Joe Campagna dismissing the group’s legal challenge seeking to halt demolition of the nearly century old property overlooking Puget Sound. The ruling followed a December 2025 hearing examiner decision that upheld the City of Des Moines’ approval of a demolition permit for the former Masonic Home site.
Lytle said the first two appeals cost about $100,000 in legal and attorney fees. He said that under Washington state law, filing a third appeal and losing could make the group liable for the other side’s attorney fees, which he estimated could bring total costs to roughly $250,000 to $300,000, including the group’s own attorney fees.
“Finances were a significant factor,” Lytle wrote. “I spent all my savings and my IRA, so I personally have nothing left to spend.”
The Masonic Home property at 23660 Marine View Drive South has been at the center of a long-running preservation dispute in Des Moines. The former retirement home was completed in 1926 and has been identified as eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, though the Masons never applied for that designation.
Zenith Properties LLC has owned the site since November 2019, when it purchased the property from the Masons for $11.5 million. The company has applied for a demolition permit but has not publicly released specific redevelopment plans for the site.
In his June order, Campagna concluded that the city’s environmental review was not required to analyze hypothetical redevelopment plans that had not been proposed. He also wrote that requiring such review would involve speculation about a future project’s size, layout and impacts.
Lytle thanked supporters for their financial contributions, time and advocacy, saying many had given significantly during the effort.
“So many others have given tremendously financially and time wise and in many other ways to save this outstanding architectural wonder and cultural inheritance,” Lytle wrote. “You’re an amazing community. Keep that magic alive in other ways.”
Text of Lytle’s Statement
Below is full text of Lytle’s July 23 statement:
“Hi Everyone,
“I want to thank everyone for supporting the Masonic Home and the effort to save it over the last four years. We are not able to file a third appeal after the judge decided against us in the King County Superior Court appeal. We looked at a number of options and had discussions on multiple scenarios. Finances were a significant factor. The first two appeals cost around $100,000 in legal and attorney fees. Under Washington State law, if you file a third appeal and lose, you’re liable for the other side’s attorney fees, and they have 4 attorneys, so that could be around $200,000 plus our own attorney fees, so maybe $250,000 to $300,000 total.
“So we’ve taken it as far as we can go. I spent all my savings and my IRA, so I personally have nothing left to spend. So many others have given tremendously financially and time wise and in many other ways to save this outstanding architectural wonder and cultural inheritance. You’re an amazing community. Keep that magic alive in other ways. Thanks to everyone.
“Best wishes,
“Lloyd Elliott Lytle Jr.
“President of Citizens for the Protection of Des Moines Historic Resources”
