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New owners of Sequim Granary clash with Verizon over plans to add more equipment to the landmark

Verizon wants to add to its equipment on a Clallam County landmark.

SEQUIM, Wash. — At 97 feet tall, it towers over the city of Sequim.

The town's 100-year-old landmark granary is beloved by its people.

"It's affectionately called Sequim's skyscraper," said co-owner Ryan Schaafsma.

The old granary was built in 1923 and shuttered in the 1970s.

Artifacts recalling the building's history remain strewn about like some sort of time capsule.

The granary has operated as several different businesses since its closure.

The latest incarnation was as a Mexican restaurant.

For the past 20 or so years it has been home to a set of cell phone antennae.

Now, Verizon wants to do major upgrades, including installing a cooling system and expanding the number of panels on the outside of the structure.

The building's new owners, however, are planning to restore the granary to its former glory.

A massive cooling system and additional outdoor cell panels don't fit with their plans.

"For our goal to restore the building to its original aesthetic, it makes it really difficult when you're pushing back against a goliath," said Schaafsma.

The owners hope Verizon will see the structure's historical significance and pull back on its plans.

So far, though, the telecom giant hasn't indicated it's willing to do so.

"It would be nice if we could work together to come up with a solution," said co-owner Jason Hoffman.

"I think this is just another number and site on their map to them," added Schaafsma.

The developers say Verizon actually has another tower barely a mile away, but that location doesn't seem to be under consideration.

At this point, Schaafsma and Hoffman are taking their communications with the company with a grain of salt.

"I hope they'll start to look under the microscope a little more and see that the impact is greater than the value added and decide to relocate," said Schaafsma.

KING 5 News has reached out to Verizon on several occasions for comment on this story but they have not responded.

    

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