A King County court appeal involving the future of the historic Masonic Home property in Des Moines is scheduled for this Friday morning, May 22, according to Lloyd Lytle Jr..
The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Judge Campagna’s courtroom at the King County Courthouse in Seattle. Supporters may also attend remotely through Zoom, Lytle said.
Lytle – president of Citizens for the Protection of Des Moines’ Historic Resources – said the preservation group believes it has presented “a strong case forward on appeal” and praised attorneys from Bricklin & Newman for their work representing the organization.
“It’s thanks to all your support that we’ve been able to hire such excellent attorneys,” Lytle said in an update shared with supporters.
According to Lytle, three legal briefs have been filed since the appeal process began in January 2026. He said the petitioners filed the first and third briefs, while the city and developer filed the second brief as respondents in the case.
The hearing is open to the public, and organizers are encouraging supporters to attend either in person or online. Those attending by Zoom were asked to identify themselves by first and last name and indicate they are members of the public, while keeping audio muted during proceedings.
Court Hearing Info
- In- person: 9 a.m., but be there by 8:30 a.m. to get through security: King County Courthouse Room E762 Judge Campagna Court 516 3rd Ave. Seattle, WA 98104
- Via Zoom: 9 a.m. here: https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/89132548853 Meeting ID: 891 3254 8853 Passcode: 945543 For those attending by Zoom, the court asks that you have your Zoom profile state your first and last name and that you’re a member of the public, and also to please have your audio turned off throughout the proceedings, thank you.
As we previously reported, in December 2025, the Hearing Examiner made a decision in favor of the City of Des Moines and upheld their issuance of the demolition permit.
Lytle also noted that local journalist Agueda Pacheco Flores recently published an article about the appeal on her Substack newsletter here.
In addition to preparing for the hearing, the preservation group has launched another round of fundraising to help cover legal expenses tied to the appeal (donate online here). Lytle said supporters previously raised approximately $7,000 earlier this year, which helped fund filing fees, records transfers, transcripts and legal representation.
He said additional legal costs for March through May are expected to total about $20,000.
“The Masonic Home’s day in court is happening because of you,” Lytle said.
The Masonic Home property has become a focal point for preservation advocates in Des Moines who have worked for years to protect the historic site.
