Remodeling history

Let’s see, four walls and a roof. Front yard and backyard. Sounds like a house. Looks like a house.

Well, that’s what most of us would see.

But three years ago, Steven, formerly known as Steffan, Wachholtz had another vision.

After years spent living in Southern California and teaching design at UCLA, Wachholtz moved back to Spokane, the city where he grew up.

He purchased a dilapidated house in the West Central neighborhood. Within those walls, Wachholtz saw a blank canvas. He saw 1,000 square feet of potential.

The small cottage, in the neighborhood known for decades by the unflattering name of Felony Flats, was built in 1906. A fire destroyed the upper story in 1970, and the house was a rental for years after that.

“It was the fire that determined the direction the structure would go,” Wachholtz said. “I was able to take it exactly where I wanted.”

What Wachholtz wanted was a contemporary, compact, living space that would showcase his own artwork, as well as his art collection.

“This was built as a working man’s house,” Wachholtz said. “And it’s still a working man’s home.”

Drawing on his expertise with metal crafting and sculpture, Wachholtz created a clean space that would fit his lifestyle now and as he ages.

“I tried to think about how my needs would change as I got older,” he said. With that in mind, Wachholtz did things like putting a urinal in the bathroom and a shower instead of a bathtub. “They’re both easier to clean,” he said.

To further his dedication to recycling and reusing found materials, Wachholtz crafted a series of metal totems that are not only decorative, but act as structural supports for the house.

An ornate steel fence enhances the exterior.

“I originally made that fence for my house in Venice, California.” he said. “When they developed the property they called to ask me if I wanted it back.”

He did, and with the help of a few hired hands, managed to disassemble the heavy fencing and bring it back to Spokane.

“My focus has always been on the redesign before you recycle,” Wachholtz said. “That’s how I approach things.”

Wachholtz has taught local youths to weld and work with metal, and in exchange they’ve contributed time and energy to the restoration and remodeling project.

His latest endeavor has been to create a set of decorative markers for the Nettleton’s Addition Historic District. The first marker is in place at Dutch Jake’s Park which is at West Broadway Avenue and North Chestnut Street.

Nettleton Addition, named for William Nettleton, a prominent figure in Spokane history, was added to the Washington State Heritage Register in 2005 and to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

“This is my home now, and I want it to be known as Nettleton’s Addition,” Wachholtz said. “No more Felony Flats.”