Download Washington Historic Property Inventory Forms

APPENDIX F
Washington Historic Property Inventory
Forms
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 14
DAHP No.
Historic Name:
Common Name: Reprographics Northwest
Property Address: 616 8th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 8592900080
Plat/Block/Lot Plat Block: 2 Plat Lot: 6 THRU 8
Acreage .46
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T24R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
05
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1190873
Northing: 830710
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 10/02/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: HC ID LLLP
Owner Address: 2200 6TH AVE #520
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 7
98121
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Business
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Concrete - Block
Stories: 1
Commerce/Trade - Business
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Moderate
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Other - Utilitarian
Concrete - Block
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Commercial
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Block
Utilitarian
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1955 Built Date
Other
Builder:
1959 Built Date
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The Seattle Chinatown Historic District/International Special Review District developed as the cultural
center for Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and African American immigrants (Seattle.gov, 2014).
The neighborhood’s history illustrates the perseverance of Seattle’s immigrant community, which
flourished despite the racial bigotry faced by Asian immigrants in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries:
“In essence, the district’s history is the story of the efforts of Asian-Americans to build a stable community
in the midst of a society that was often hostile” (Kreisman, 1986). During its early years, Seattle attracted
a large number of Chinese immigrants thanks to its position on the Pacific coast and the opportunities for
work in mining, lumber, fishing, and railroads (Kreisman, 1986). Seattle’s original Chinatown was built on
boggy land near Washington Street south of downtown and was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1889.
Between 1907 and 1910, a massive regrading project filled in the tide flat areas along South Jackson
Street and South King Street, which emerged as the focal point for the new, rebuilt Chinatown. The
Chinese, mostly male community established hotels, commercial businesses and benevolent social groups
to assist their fellow countrymen who faced numerous challenges including rampant racism. There were
about 250 permanent residents and 300 temporary laborers in the neighborhood by 1876 (Kreisman,
1986). However, the national financial crisis that occurred at the end of the nineteenth century resulted in
the closure of mines and factories. At the same time, construction of several railroad lines had been
halted and the number of unemployed men in the Pacific Northwest skyrocketed. Chinese immigrants
suffered the brunt of the rage expressed by this growing unemployed class; violence and rioting ensued,
followed by the federal government’s series of “exclusion acts” that stopped further immigration of
Chinese workers and limited the rights of Chinese residents. These discriminatory restrictions on Chinese
immigration were lifted after World War II, initiating another influx of new settlers in the area. Although
the number of Chinese immigrants increased, the population in Chinatown decreased during the midtwentieth century as restrictions for Chinese immigrants and racism in Seattle lessened. There were 6,261
Chinese residents in Seattle in 1970 (Kreisman, 1986).
After the Chinese “exclusion acts,” the Japanese were the next large group to arrive in the late-nineteenth
century and by 1910, Seattle had 6,127 Japanese inhabitants (Kreisman, 1986). They opened businesses in
the vicinity of Main Street, just north of Chinatown, establishing NihoMachi or Japantown (Seattle.gov,
2014a). The 1920s brought a rapid rise in anti-Japanese sentiments and the establishment of federal laws
that made it illegal for Japanese to become citizens. Washington State also established laws that denied
Japanese immigrants the right to own, lease, or operate farms, devastating the Japanese community in
Seattle. The situation became increasingly dire for Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor during World
War II when President Roosevelt issued an executive order that expelled or interned all Japanese and
Japanese-Americans on the west coast. As a result of this mass imprisonment, many buildings in
Japantown were abandoned or demolished. After World War II, the district was physically divided as a
result of the construction of Interstate 5 in the 1960s which razed residences and businesses and bisected
the neighborhood. Remnants of old NihoMachi, however, do remain despite the destructive history
(Kreisman, 1986). Other immigrants also settled in the neighborhood including Filipinos and African
Americans (Seattle.gov, 2014a). The local International Special Review District was established in 1973.
Thirteen years later in 1986, the Seattle Chinatown Historic District, which is located just east of Pioneer
Square within the International Special Review District, was listed in the NRHP. The district is roughly
bounded by Main and Jackson Streets, Weller Street, 5th Avenue, and Interstate 5. Architecturally, the
district is “characterized by three- to six-story brick hotels, one- and two-story commercial buildings, and
automobile garages from the period” primarily between 1907 and 1936 (Kreisman, 1986).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 616 8th Avenue S in Seattle, Washington, which contains two, attached commercial
buildings constructed in 1955 and 1959 respectively, is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. The property is
not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion A, which applies to buildings that are associated with events that
have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history, as no significant events are
associated with this property. To be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly
associated with a person considered significant within a historic context whose specific contribution to
history has been both identified and documented. No such person who meets that definition is linked to
these buildings. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C as it contains altered,
unremarkable mid-twentieth century commercial buildings and does not embody the distinctive
characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction; the buildings are not the work of a master
and do not possess high artistic value. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for
information potential because the materials and construction methods of the buildings do not convey
important information that could contribute to understanding history or prehistory. Therefore, the
property is not eligible for listing in the NRHP because it does not meet any of the eligibility criteria.
Alterations to the buildings include the replacement of the original windows and doors. As a result, the
property has lost integrity of materials and workmanship. The buildings retain integrity of design, feeling,
setting, location, and association.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
616 8th Avenue S contains two commercial buildings: a one-story, concrete block building that faces S
Lane Street constructed in 1955 and a one-story, solid masonry building that faces 8th Avenue South
constructed in 1959. The 1955 building has painted concrete block exterior walls and a flat, built up roof
with a low, rectangular parapet on the side (west and east) elevations. The front (south) elevation
contains a vehicle bay with a retractable metal door, and two replacement pedestrian doors, one of which
his shaded by a triangular plastic overhang. Two, large, 12-light windows are located between the two
doors and appear original. One of the lights has been replaced with an air-conditioning unit. A
replacement, two-light horizontal sliding window is located at the top of the east side of the front
elevation, and may provide light for an attic or storage level. The 1959 building is attached to the west
elevation of the 1955 building and is occupied by several commercial businesses including Reprographics
Northwest. The building has a flat, built up roof that extends into an overhang, shading the front (west)
elevation. The rectangular plan, vertical board-formed, concrete building sits on a concrete foundation.
The front elevation contains a long row of 17 fixed, single-light, mirrored replacements windows.
Entrances are located on either side of the long row of windows: the north end of the façade contains a
replacement pedestrian door flanked by fixed, single-light windows and the south end of the façade
contains a pedestrian door and a vehicle bay that are accessed via concrete steps and a concrete loading
dock. The side (south) elevation contains three bays that contain a row of three, six, and three windows
respectively. These windows on the south elevation appear to be original and are fixed, single-light
windows placed over smaller awning windows. One of the awning windows has been replaced with an AC
unit. Paved parking lots are located in front of each building.
Page 5 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kreisman, Lawrence. 1986. Seattle Chinatown Historic District. National Register of Historic Places
Inventory – Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Ed.
Leonard Garfield, Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Urban Conservation Specialist.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Seattle.gov. 2014a. International Special Review District: History of the International District. Department
of Neighborhoods: Historic Districts.
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/id_history.htm. Accessed September 22, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Photo courtesy of the King County Assessor's website.
http://info.kingcounty.gov/Assessor/eRealProperty/pictures.
aspx?ParcelNbr=8592900080&View=1
Front (south) elevation, 1955 building
2005
Front (west) elevation, 1959 building
2014
Southwest corner, 1959 building
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 24
DAHP No.
Historic Name:
Common Name: 700 S Dearborn St
Property Address: 700 S Dearborn St, Seattle, WA 98134
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 5247802560
Plat/Block/Lot PLat Block: 52 Plat Lot: 4
Acreage .14
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T24R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
05
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1190517
Northing: 830380
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 10/02/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: LI FAMILY REAL ESTATE TRUST
Owner Address: 700 S DEARBORN ST
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 8
98134
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Business
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Unreinforced Masonry
Stories: 1
Commerce/Trade - Business
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Moderate
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Commercial
Veneer - Brick
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1929 Built Date
Other
Builder:
1965 Built Date
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
The Seattle Chinatown Historic District/International Special Review District developed as the cultural
center for Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and African American immigrants (Seattle.gov, 2014).
The neighborhood’s history illustrates the perseverance of Seattle’s immigrant community, which
flourished despite the racial bigotry faced by Asian immigrants in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries:
“In essence, the district’s history is the story of the efforts of Asian-Americans to build a stable community
in the midst of a society that was often hostile” (Kreisman, 1986). During its early years, Seattle attracted
a large number of Chinese immigrants thanks to its position on the Pacific coast and the opportunities for
work in mining, lumber, fishing, and railroads (Kreisman, 1986). Seattle’s original Chinatown was built on
boggy land near Washington Street south of downtown and was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1889.
Between 1907 and 1910, a massive regrading project filled in the tide flat areas along South Jackson
Street and South King Street, which emerged as the focal point for the new, rebuilt Chinatown. The
Chinese, mostly male community established hotels, commercial businesses and benevolent social groups
to assist their fellow countrymen who faced numerous challenges including rampant racism. There were
about 250 permanent residents and 300 temporary laborers in the neighborhood by 1876 (Kreisman,
1986). However, the national financial crisis that occurred at the end of the nineteenth century resulted in
the closure of mines and factories. At the same time, construction of several railroad lines had been
halted and the number of unemployed men in the Pacific Northwest skyrocketed. Chinese immigrants
suffered the brunt of the rage expressed by this growing unemployed class; violence and rioting ensued,
followed by the federal government’s series of “exclusion acts” that stopped further immigration of
Chinese workers and limited the rights of Chinese residents. These discriminatory restrictions on Chinese
immigration were lifted after World War II, initiating another influx of new settlers in the area. Although
the number of Chinese immigrants increased, the population in Chinatown decreased during the midtwentieth century as restrictions for Chinese immigrants and racism in Seattle lessened. There were 6,261
Chinese residents in Seattle in 1970 (Kreisman, 1986).
After the Chinese “exclusion acts,” the Japanese were the next large group to arrive in the late-nineteenth
century and by 1910, Seattle had 6,127 Japanese inhabitants (Kreisman, 1986). They opened businesses in
the vicinity of Main Street, just north of Chinatown, establishing NihoMachi or Japantown (Seattle.gov,
2014a). The 1920s brought a rapid rise in anti-Japanese sentiments and the establishment of federal laws
that made it illegal for Japanese to become citizens. Washington State also established laws that denied
Japanese immigrants the right to own, lease, or operate farms, devastating the Japanese community in
Seattle. The situation became increasingly dire for Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor during World
War II when President Roosevelt issued an executive order that expelled or interned all Japanese and
Japanese-Americans on the west coast. As a result of this mass imprisonment, many buildings in
Japantown were abandoned or demolished. After World War II, the district was physically divided as a
result of the construction of Interstate 5 in the 1960s which razed residences and businesses and bisected
the neighborhood. Remnants of old NihoMachi, however, do remain despite the destructive history
(Kreisman, 1986). Other immigrants also settled in the neighborhood including Filipinos and African
Americans (Seattle.gov, 2014a). The local International Special Review District was established in 1973.
Thirteen years later in 1986, the Seattle Chinatown Historic District, which is located just east of Pioneer
Square within the International Special Review District, was listed in the NRHP. The district is roughly
bounded by Main and Jackson Streets, Weller Street, 5th Avenue, and Interstate 5. Architecturally, the
district is “characterized by three- to six-story brick hotels, one- and two-story commercial buildings, and
automobile garages from the period” primarily between 1907 and 1936 (Kreisman, 1986).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 700 S Dearborn Street in Seattle, Washington, which contains two, attached commercial
buildings constructed in 1929 and 1965 respectively, is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. The property is
not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion A, which applies to buildings that are associated with events that
have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history, as no significant events are
associated with this property. To be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly
associated with a person considered significant within a historic context whose specific contribution to
history has been both identified and documented. No such person who meets that definition is linked to
these buildings. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C as it contains altered,
unremarkable early- and mid-twentieth century commercial buildings and does not embody the
distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction; the buildings are not the work of a
master and do not possess high artistic value. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D
for information potential because the materials and construction methods of the buildings do not convey
important information that could contribute to understanding history or prehistory. Therefore, the
property is not eligible for listing in the NRHP because it does not meet any of the eligibility criteria.
Alterations to the buildings include the replacement of the original siding, windows, and doors. As a
result, the property has lost integrity of materials, design, and workmanship. The buildings retain integrity
of feeling, setting, location, and association.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 5 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
700 S Dearborn Street contains two, rectangular plan, commercial buildings: a one-story, masonry office
building that was constructed in 1929 and a two-story, concrete block retail space that was constructed in
1965. Both buildings have flat, built up roofs with low rectangular parapets and front the sidewalk on S
Dearborn Street. The 1929 office building is clad in a light brick veneer, some of which has been replaced.
A repeating pattern of decorative diamond shapes formed from dark red stretcher bricks are located
along the top of the exterior walls on the front (south) and side (west) elevations. A soldier course of
alternating tan and red bricks forms the building’s cornice. The windows are primarily contemporary,
fixed, single-light replacements. Each of the primary (south and west) elevations contains an entrance.
Recessed double metal and glass replacement doors are located east of center on the front (south)
elevation. A row of three, fixed, single-light window are located east of this entrance and two individual
windows in the same style are located west of the entrance. The west end of the front elevation contains
another row of three, fixed, single-light windows, and an adjacent, single window in the same style. It is
likely that originally, the front elevation was defined by four large bays, each of which contained large,
commercial style windows below a row of transoms. At an unknown date, these windows were replaced
with the much smaller, existing, fixed, single-light versions. Wood boards painted red now cover the
original row of transoms and the exterior walls below the existing windows have been filled in with a red
brick that does not match the original brick veneer. Original brick pilasters still visually divide the façade
into four large bays and a narrow central bay. Another recessed entrance is located on the west elevation
and contains a metal and glass pedestrian door with a wide sidelight. Some of the brickwork around the
entrance appears to have been replaced, including the solder course that defines the lintel. A pair of fixed,
single-light windows below boarded up transoms is located south of the west elevation entrance. North of
the entrance is a row of three, narrow, four-light windows with vertical muntins. These windows are likely
original transoms. The windows below the transoms have been removed and the openings covered in red
brick.
Adjacent to the east wall of the 1929 building is a 1965 two-story retail building that is currently occupied
by Elizabeth Beauty and Slimming. The exterior walls of the ground floor of the building are clad in
unpainted concrete blocks while the exterior walls of the second floor are smooth concrete stucco. The
windows are contemporary replacements. A full-width, vinyl awning with a central arch shades two front
entrances on the front (south) elevation: centered, double mirrored, metal and glass replacement doors
and an adjacent single, metal and glass pedestrian door to the east. The second floor of the front
elevation contains a fixed, single-light window flanked by two, two-light horizontal sliding windows.
Another two-light horizontal sliding window is located on the north end of the side (east) elevation and
appears to be the only fenestration on that elevation. A small paved parking lot is located east of the 1965
building.
Page 6 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kreisman, Lawrence. 1986. Seattle Chinatown Historic District. National Register of Historic Places
Inventory – Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Ed.
Leonard Garfield, Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Urban Conservation Specialist.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Seattle.gov. 2014a. International Special Review District: History of the International District. Department
of Neighborhoods: Historic Districts.
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/id_history.htm. Accessed September 22, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Page 7 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Southwest corner, 1965 building
2014
1929 building on left, 1965 building on right.
Southeast corner, full property.
2014
Southwest corner, 1929 building
2014
1965 building visible on far right.
South (front) elevation, 1929 building
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 8 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 26
DAHP No.
Historic Name:
Common Name: Arts of China
Property Address: 710 7th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 5247802540
Plat/Block/Lot Plat Block: 52 Plat Lot: 1-2-3
Acreage .50
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T24R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
05
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1190533
Northing: 830494
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 10/02/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: MACDOUGALL THOMAS LLC
Owner Address: 117 E LOUISA ST #507
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 7
98102
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Warehouse
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 2
Commerce/Trade - Warehouse
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Moderate
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Other - Utilitarian
Concrete
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Veneer - Stucco
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Utilitarian
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1960 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The Seattle Chinatown Historic District/International Special Review District developed as the cultural
center for Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and African American immigrants (Seattle.gov, 2014).
The neighborhood’s history illustrates the perseverance of Seattle’s immigrant community, which
flourished despite the racial bigotry faced by Asian immigrants in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries:
“In essence, the district’s history is the story of the efforts of Asian-Americans to build a stable community
in the midst of a society that was often hostile” (Kreisman, 1986). During its early years, Seattle attracted
a large number of Chinese immigrants thanks to its position on the Pacific coast and the opportunities for
work in mining, lumber, fishing, and railroads (Kreisman, 1986). Seattle’s original Chinatown was built on
boggy land near Washington Street south of downtown and was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1889.
Between 1907 and 1910, a massive regrading project filled in the tide flat areas along South Jackson
Street and South King Street, which emerged as the focal point for the new, rebuilt Chinatown. The
Chinese, mostly male community established hotels, commercial businesses and benevolent social groups
to assist their fellow countrymen who faced numerous challenges including rampant racism. There were
about 250 permanent residents and 300 temporary laborers in the neighborhood by 1876 (Kreisman,
1986). However, the national financial crisis that occurred at the end of the nineteenth century resulted in
the closure of mines and factories. At the same time, construction of several railroad lines had been
halted and the number of unemployed men in the Pacific Northwest skyrocketed. Chinese immigrants
suffered the brunt of the rage expressed by this growing unemployed class; violence and rioting ensued,
followed by the federal government’s series of “exclusion acts” that stopped further immigration of
Chinese workers and limited the rights of Chinese residents. These discriminatory restrictions on Chinese
immigration were lifted after World War II, initiating another influx of new settlers in the area. Although
the number of Chinese immigrants increased, the population in Chinatown decreased during the midtwentieth century as restrictions for Chinese immigrants and racism in Seattle lessened. There were 6,261
Chinese residents in Seattle in 1970 (Kreisman, 1986).
After the Chinese “exclusion acts,” the Japanese were the next large group to arrive in the late-nineteenth
century and by 1910, Seattle had 6,127 Japanese inhabitants (Kreisman, 1986). They opened businesses in
the vicinity of Main Street, just north of Chinatown, establishing NihoMachi or Japantown (Seattle.gov,
2014a). The 1920s brought a rapid rise in anti-Japanese sentiments and the establishment of federal laws
that made it illegal for Japanese to become citizens. Washington State also established laws that denied
Japanese immigrants the right to own, lease, or operate farms, devastating the Japanese community in
Seattle. The situation became increasingly dire for Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor during World
War II when President Roosevelt issued an executive order that expelled or interned all Japanese and
Japanese-Americans on the west coast. As a result of this mass imprisonment, many buildings in
Japantown were abandoned or demolished. After World War II, the district was physically divided as a
result of the construction of Interstate 5 in the 1960s which razed residences and businesses and bisected
the neighborhood. Remnants of old NihoMachi, however, do remain despite the destructive history
(Kreisman, 1986). Other immigrants also settled in the neighborhood including Filipinos and African
Americans (Seattle.gov, 2014a). The local International Special Review District was established in 1973.
Thirteen years later in 1986, the Seattle Chinatown Historic District, which is located just east of Pioneer
Square within the International Special Review District, was listed in the NRHP. The district is roughly
bounded by Main and Jackson Streets, Weller Street, 5th Avenue, and Interstate 5. Architecturally, the
district is “characterized by three- to six-story brick hotels, one- and two-story commercial buildings, and
automobile garages from the period” primarily between 1907 and 1936 (Kreisman, 1986).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 710 7th Avenue S in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial building
constructed in 1960, is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under
Criterion A, which applies to buildings that are associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of history, as no significant events are associated with this property. To
be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly associated with a person
considered significant within a historic context whose specific contribution to history has been both
identified and documented. No such person who meets that definition is linked to this building. The
property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C as it is an unremarkable mid-twentieth century
commercial building and does not embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of
construction; it is not the work of a master and does not possess high artistic value. The property is not
eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for information potential because the materials and construction
methods of the building do not convey important information that could contribute to understanding
history or prehistory. Therefore, the property is not eligible for listing in the NRHP because it does not
meet any of the eligibility criteria. The building has undergone minor changes including the replacement
of some original doors and windows. As a result, it has lost some integrity of materials. Overall, however,
the building retains its integrity of workmanship, design, feeling, setting, location, and association.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
710 7th Avenue S is a concrete commercial warehouse and retail space with a rectangular plan composed
of two sections: a two-story, 17,100-square foot distribution warehouse and retail store and a 2,250square foot parking deck. Currently occupied by a company called Arts of China and constructed in 1960,
the building has a poured concrete foundation, a flat, built up roof with a low parapet, and smooth
concrete panel exterior walls. The front (west) elevation is defined by two levels: an open-air, ground
floor loading area and an enclosed second floor. The ground floor loading area is covered by the building’s
second floor which is supported by three rectangular concrete columns. The ground floor of the front
elevation is recessed to the rear of the loading area and contains five vehicle bays with retractable metal
doors and several pedestrian entrances. Some of the pedestrian doors appear to be replacement metal
and glass doors. The transom windows above the pedestrian doors have been covered with wood panels.
Adjacent to the pedestrian doors are pairs of fixed, single-light metal windows placed over small awning
windows. The second floor of the front elevation contains four bays of windows, each of which contains
two fixed, single light windows placed above two smaller windows, one of which is an operable awning
window. The center of the façade, between the four window bays, are two, small, one-over-one windows
where the lower light is an awning window. Two vehicle bays with retractable garage doors are located in
the center of the north elevation, and open onto the parking deck, which is raised on concrete pillars and
extends from the north elevation of the primary section of the building. A metal railing delineates the
boundaries of the parking deck’s top level, accessed via a ramped driveway entrance on S Lane Street. The
north elevation vehicle bays are flanked on either side by replacement pedestrian doors and shaded by a
flat roof overhang. A concrete loading dock extends from the north elevation, in front of the vehicle and
pedestrian entrances. Two window openings are located on the west end of the north elevation and
contain fixed, single-light windows over two smaller awning windows.
Page 5 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kreisman, Lawrence. 1986. Seattle Chinatown Historic District. National Register of Historic Places
Inventory – Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Ed.
Leonard Garfield, Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Urban Conservation Specialist.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Seattle.gov. 2014a. International Special Review District: History of the International District. Department
of Neighborhoods: Historic Districts.
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/id_history.htm. Accessed September 22, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Southwest corner
2014
Northwest corner
2014
West elevation, closer
2014
West elevation
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 28
DAHP No.
Historic Name:
Common Name: 615 8th Ave S
Property Address: 615 8th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 5247802630
Plat/Block/Lot Plat Block: 53 Plat Lot: 5-6
Acreage .31
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T24R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
05
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1190684
Northing: 830710
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 10/02/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: MACDOUGALL THOMAS LLC
Owner Address: 117 E LOUISA ST #507
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 7
98102
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Warehouse
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Concrete - Block
Stories: 1
Commerce/Trade - Warehouse
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Slight
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Other - Utilitarian
Concrete - Block
Flat with Parapet
Commercial
Veneer - Brick
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Utilitarian
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1952 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The Seattle Chinatown Historic District/International Special Review District developed as the cultural
center for Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and African American immigrants (Seattle.gov, 2014).
The neighborhood’s history illustrates the perseverance of Seattle’s immigrant community, which
flourished despite the racial bigotry faced by Asian immigrants in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries:
“In essence, the district’s history is the story of the efforts of Asian-Americans to build a stable community
in the midst of a society that was often hostile” (Kreisman, 1986). During its early years, Seattle attracted
a large number of Chinese immigrants thanks to its position on the Pacific coast and the opportunities for
work in mining, lumber, fishing, and railroads (Kreisman, 1986). Seattle’s original Chinatown was built on
boggy land near Washington Street south of downtown and was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1889.
Between 1907 and 1910, a massive regrading project filled in the tide flat areas along South Jackson
Street and South King Street, which emerged as the focal point for the new, rebuilt Chinatown. The
Chinese, mostly male community established hotels, commercial businesses and benevolent social groups
to assist their fellow countrymen who faced numerous challenges including rampant racism. There were
about 250 permanent residents and 300 temporary laborers in the neighborhood by 1876 (Kreisman,
1986). However, the national financial crisis that occurred at the end of the nineteenth century resulted in
the closure of mines and factories. At the same time, construction of several railroad lines had been
halted and the number of unemployed men in the Pacific Northwest skyrocketed. Chinese immigrants
suffered the brunt of the rage expressed by this growing unemployed class; violence and rioting ensued,
followed by the federal government’s series of “exclusion acts” that stopped further immigration of
Chinese workers and limited the rights of Chinese residents. These discriminatory restrictions on Chinese
immigration were lifted after World War II, initiating another influx of new settlers in the area. Although
the number of Chinese immigrants increased, the population in Chinatown decreased during the midtwentieth century as restrictions for Chinese immigrants and racism in Seattle lessened. There were 6,261
Chinese residents in Seattle in 1970 (Kreisman, 1986).
After the Chinese “exclusion acts,” the Japanese were the next large group to arrive in the late-nineteenth
century and by 1910, Seattle had 6,127 Japanese inhabitants (Kreisman, 1986). They opened businesses in
the vicinity of Main Street, just north of Chinatown, establishing NihoMachi or Japantown (Seattle.gov,
2014a). The 1920s brought a rapid rise in anti-Japanese sentiments and the establishment of federal laws
that made it illegal for Japanese to become citizens. Washington State also established laws that denied
Japanese immigrants the right to own, lease, or operate farms, devastating the Japanese community in
Seattle. The situation became increasingly dire for Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor during World
War II when President Roosevelt issued an executive order that expelled or interned all Japanese and
Japanese-Americans on the west coast. As a result of this mass imprisonment, many buildings in
Japantown were abandoned or demolished. After World War II, the district was physically divided as a
result of the construction of Interstate 5 in the 1960s which razed residences and businesses and bisected
the neighborhood. Remnants of old NihoMachi, however, do remain despite the destructive history
(Kreisman, 1986). Other immigrants also settled in the neighborhood including Filipinos and African
Americans (Seattle.gov, 2014a). The local International Special Review District was established in 1973.
Thirteen years later in 1986, the Seattle Chinatown Historic District, which is located just east of Pioneer
Square within the International Special Review District, was listed in the NRHP. The district is roughly
bounded by Main and Jackson Streets, Weller Street, 5th Avenue, and Interstate 5. Architecturally, the
district is “characterized by three- to six-story brick hotels, one- and two-story commercial buildings, and
automobile garages from the period” primarily between 1907 and 1936 (Kreisman, 1986).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 615 8th Avenue S in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial building
constructed in 1952, is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under
Criterion A, which applies to buildings that are associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of history, as no significant events are associated with this property. To
be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly associated with a person
considered significant within a historic context whose specific contribution to history has been both
identified and documented. No such person who meets that definition is linked to this building. The
property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C as it is an unremarkable mid-twentieth century
commercial building and does not embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of
construction; it is not the work of a master and does not possess high artistic value. The property is not
eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for information potential because the materials and construction
methods of the building do not convey important information that could contribute to understanding
history or prehistory. Therefore, the property is not eligible for listing in the NRHP because it does not
meet any of the eligibility criteria. The building has undergone minor, superficial alterations including the
addition of a metal vent on the roof and the replacement of several windows. As a result, the building
lacks some integrity of materials. Overall, however, the building retains its integrity of workmanship,
design, feeling, setting, location, and association.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
615 8th Avenue S is a one-story, rectangular plan, concrete block building with a flat, built up roof and low
parapet. The exterior walls of the building are primarily painted concrete block, with the exception of
strips of narrow brick veneer that are located around the main recessed entrance and between each bay
of windows on the front (east) elevation. The building is constructed on a poured concrete foundation
and fronts 8th Avenue S, which slopes downhill to the south, making the height of the exterior wall on the
south end of the front elevation taller than the height of the exterior wall on the north end of the
elevation. Two sections compose the building: a 6,780-square foot storage warehouse area on the north
end of the building and a 3,340-square foot office space on the south end of the building. The main
entrance to the warehouse section is recessed and located south of center on the front elevation. A
curved, red vinyl awning shades the entrance. The windows on the front elevation primarily alternate
between metal casement windows and fixed, single-light, metal windows placed below a row of fixed,
single-light transoms. Three bays that contain two, six, and two windows, respectively, are located north
of the entrance and two bays that contain four and three windows, respectively, are located south. Each
bay is separated by a strip of brick veneer. The entrance to the office space is also recessed and on the
south end of the east elevation, accessed by a short flight of stairs due to the change in grade of the land.
Two, fixed, single-light windows that may be replacements, are located just south of the entrance,
wrapping around the corner of the recessed entryway. Three more window bays are located south of the
replacement windows and wrap around the southeast corner of the building. These three window bays,
which are also divided by strips of brick veneer, contain two, four, and three windows, respectively, in the
same style as those on the north end of the elevation. The side (south) elevation contains another
window opening that contains two windows in the same style as those on the façade along with four
smaller window openings. The smaller windows contain three or four lights each and have vertical
muntins. The rear (west) elevation contains several large vehicle bays with retractable garage doors. A
large, part barrel-vaulted, part flat, metal vent protrudes from the center of the roof and may not be
original to the building. A large paved parking lot is located behind the building on the west side.
Page 5 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kreisman, Lawrence. 1986. Seattle Chinatown Historic District. National Register of Historic Places
Inventory – Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Ed.
Leonard Garfield, Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Urban Conservation Specialist.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Seattle.gov. 2014a. International Special Review District: History of the International District. Department
of Neighborhoods: Historic Districts.
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/id_history.htm. Accessed September 22, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Southeast corner
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
East elevation
2014
Page 7 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 31
DAHP No.
Historic Name:
Common Name: 605 8th Ave S
Property Address: 605 8th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 5247802665
Plat/Block/Lot PLat Block: 53 Plat Lot: 7-8
Acreage .11
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T24R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
05
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1190724
Northing: 830878
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 10/02/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: AIY CHAN LLC C/O GDC CONSULTING
Owner Address: 11100 NE 8TH ST #380
City: BELLEVUE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 7
98004
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Business
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Concrete - Block
Stories: 1
Commerce/Trade - Warehouse
Changes to Plan: Slight
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Intact
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Other - Utilitarian
Concrete - Block
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Block
Utilitarian
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1958 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The Seattle Chinatown Historic District/International Special Review District developed as the cultural
center for Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and African American immigrants (Seattle.gov, 2014).
The neighborhood’s history illustrates the perseverance of Seattle’s immigrant community, which
flourished despite the racial bigotry faced by Asian immigrants in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries:
“In essence, the district’s history is the story of the efforts of Asian-Americans to build a stable community
in the midst of a society that was often hostile” (Kreisman, 1986). During its early years, Seattle attracted
a large number of Chinese immigrants thanks to its position on the Pacific coast and the opportunities for
work in mining, lumber, fishing, and railroads (Kreisman, 1986). Seattle’s original Chinatown was built on
boggy land near Washington Street south of downtown and was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1889.
Between 1907 and 1910, a massive regrading project filled in the tide flat areas along South Jackson
Street and South King Street, which emerged as the focal point for the new, rebuilt Chinatown. The
Chinese, mostly male community established hotels, commercial businesses and benevolent social groups
to assist their fellow countrymen who faced numerous challenges including rampant racism. There were
about 250 permanent residents and 300 temporary laborers in the neighborhood by 1876 (Kreisman,
1986). However, the national financial crisis that occurred at the end of the nineteenth century resulted in
the closure of mines and factories. At the same time, construction of several railroad lines had been
halted and the number of unemployed men in the Pacific Northwest skyrocketed. Chinese immigrants
suffered the brunt of the rage expressed by this growing unemployed class; violence and rioting ensued,
followed by the federal government’s series of “exclusion acts” that stopped further immigration of
Chinese workers and limited the rights of Chinese residents. These discriminatory restrictions on Chinese
immigration were lifted after World War II, initiating another influx of new settlers in the area. Although
the number of Chinese immigrants increased, the population in Chinatown decreased during the midtwentieth century as restrictions for Chinese immigrants and racism in Seattle lessened. There were 6,261
Chinese residents in Seattle in 1970 (Kreisman, 1986).
After the Chinese “exclusion acts,” the Japanese were the next large group to arrive in the late-nineteenth
century and by 1910, Seattle had 6,127 Japanese inhabitants (Kreisman, 1986). They opened businesses in
the vicinity of Main Street, just north of Chinatown, establishing NihoMachi or Japantown (Seattle.gov,
2014a). The 1920s brought a rapid rise in anti-Japanese sentiments and the establishment of federal laws
that made it illegal for Japanese to become citizens. Washington State also established laws that denied
Japanese immigrants the right to own, lease, or operate farms, devastating the Japanese community in
Seattle. The situation became increasingly dire for Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor during World
War II when President Roosevelt issued an executive order that expelled or interned all Japanese and
Japanese-Americans on the west coast. As a result of this mass imprisonment, many buildings in
Japantown were abandoned or demolished. After World War II, the district was physically divided as a
result of the construction of Interstate 5 in the 1960s which razed residences and businesses and bisected
the neighborhood. Remnants of old NihoMachi, however, do remain despite the destructive history
(Kreisman, 1986). Other immigrants also settled in the neighborhood including Filipinos and African
Americans (Seattle.gov, 2014a). The local International Special Review District was established in 1973.
Thirteen years later in 1986, the Seattle Chinatown Historic District, which is located just east of Pioneer
Square within the International Special Review District, was listed in the NRHP. The district is roughly
bounded by Main and Jackson Streets, Weller Street, 5th Avenue, and Interstate 5. Architecturally, the
district is “characterized by three- to six-story brick hotels, one- and two-story commercial buildings, and
automobile garages from the period” primarily between 1907 and 1936 (Kreisman, 1986).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 605 8th Avenue S in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial building
constructed in 1958, is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under
Criterion A, which applies to buildings that are associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of history, as no significant events are associated with this property. To
be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly associated with a person
considered significant within a historic context whose specific contribution to history has been both
identified and documented. No such person who meets that definition is linked to this building. The
property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C as it is an unremarkable mid-twentieth century
commercial building and does not embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of
construction; it is not the work of a master and does not possess high artistic value. The property is not
eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for information potential because the materials and construction
methods of the building do not convey important information that could contribute to understanding
history or prehistory. Therefore, the property is not eligible for listing in the NRHP because it does not
meet any of the eligibility criteria. The building has undergone minor alterations including a small rear
addition. As a result, the building lacks some integrity of design. Overall, however, the building retains its
integrity of materials, workmanship, feeling, setting, location, and association.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
605 8th Avenue S contains a one-story, rectangular plan, concrete block warehouse constructed in 1958.
The 1,403-square foot, double-height building is unadorned and has a flat, built-up roof with a low
parapet and painted concrete block exterior walls. The front (north) elevation contains a nearly full width,
double-height vehicle bay with a retractable, 16-light, paneled garage door. Four Asian language
characters painted on circular signs shapes is attached to the east end of the façade’s exterior wall. There
is no fenestration on the side (east and west) elevations of the main building. A pedestrian door is located
on the south end of the west elevation and is shaded by an angled awning. Two vertical concrete support
posts also protrude from the west elevation. A smaller, flat roof, concrete block addition with a
significantly lower roof height extends from the rear (south) elevation. Three windows covered by metal
security grates overlook the roof of the rear addition from the upper level of the main building’s south
elevation. A large, fixed, single-light window also covered by a metal grate is located on the east elevation
of the addition. The west elevation of the addition contains a pedestrian door. The building is located on a
corner parcel, adjacent to a paved parking lot to the west. The design of the building, with little
fenestration and a very large vehicle entrance on the front elevation, indicates it was perhaps originally
used as a fire station or a similar use. No record of its original use was found.
Page 5 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kreisman, Lawrence. 1986. Seattle Chinatown Historic District. National Register of Historic Places
Inventory – Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Ed.
Leonard Garfield, Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Urban Conservation Specialist.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Seattle.gov. 2014a. International Special Review District: History of the International District. Department
of Neighborhoods: Historic Districts.
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/id_history.htm. Accessed September 22, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Southeast corner
2014
Northwest corner
2014
Northeast corner
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 35
DAHP No.
Historic Name:
Common Name: Four Seas Restaurant
Property Address: 714 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 5247802745
Plat/Block/Lot Plat Block: 55 Plat Lot: 5-6
Acreage .35
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T24R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
05
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1190686
Northing: 831331
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 10/02/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: 714 KING LLC
Owner Address: 655 S KING ST
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? Yes
Contributing? No
National Register: Seattle Chinatown Historic District
Local District: International Special Review District
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 7
98104
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Restaurant
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 1
Commerce/Trade - Restaurant
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Slight
Changes to Windows: Intact
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Modern - Contemporary
Veneer - Brick
Gable - Gable-on-Hip
Concrete
Gable
Asphalt / Composition Rolled
Wood - Vertical
Flat with Eaves
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1962 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect: Benjamin McAdoo
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): Yes
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The Seattle Chinatown Historic District/International Special Review District developed as the cultural
center for Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and African American immigrants (Seattle.gov, 2014).
The neighborhood’s history illustrates the perseverance of Seattle’s immigrant community, which
flourished despite the racial bigotry faced by Asian immigrants in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries:
“In essence, the district’s history is the story of the efforts of Asian-Americans to build a stable community
in the midst of a society that was often hostile” (Kreisman, 1986). During its early years, Seattle attracted
a large number of Chinese immigrants thanks to its position on the Pacific coast and the opportunities for
work in mining, lumber, fishing, and railroads (Kreisman, 1986). Seattle’s original Chinatown was built on
boggy land near Washington Street south of downtown and was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1889.
Between 1907 and 1910, a massive regrading project filled in the tide flat areas along South Jackson
Street and South King Street, which emerged as the focal point for the new, rebuilt Chinatown. The
Chinese, mostly male community established hotels, commercial businesses and benevolent social groups
to assist their fellow countrymen who faced numerous challenges including rampant racism. There were
about 250 permanent residents and 300 temporary laborers in the neighborhood by 1876 (Kreisman,
1986). However, the national financial crisis that occurred at the end of the nineteenth century resulted in
the closure of mines and factories. At the same time, construction of several railroad lines had been
halted and the number of unemployed men in the Pacific Northwest skyrocketed. Chinese immigrants
suffered the brunt of the rage expressed by this growing unemployed class; violence and rioting ensued,
followed by the federal government’s series of “exclusion acts” that stopped further immigration of
Chinese workers and limited the rights of Chinese residents. These discriminatory restrictions on Chinese
immigration were lifted after World War II, initiating another influx of new settlers in the area. Although
the number of Chinese immigrants increased, the population in Chinatown decreased during the midtwentieth century as restrictions for Chinese immigrants and racism in Seattle lessened. There were 6,261
Chinese residents in Seattle in 1970 (Kreisman, 1986).
After the Chinese “exclusion acts,” the Japanese were the next large group to arrive in the late-nineteenth
century and by 1910, Seattle had 6,127 Japanese inhabitants (Kreisman, 1986). They opened businesses in
the vicinity of Main Street, just north of Chinatown, establishing NihoMachi or Japantown (Seattle.gov,
2014a). The 1920s brought a rapid rise in anti-Japanese sentiments and the establishment of federal laws
that made it illegal for Japanese to become citizens. Washington State also established laws that denied
Japanese immigrants the right to own, lease, or operate farms, devastating the Japanese community in
Seattle. The situation became increasingly dire for Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor during World
War II when President Roosevelt issued an executive order that expelled or interned all Japanese and
Japanese-Americans on the west coast. As a result of this mass imprisonment, many buildings in
Japantown were abandoned or demolished. After World War II, the district was physically divided as a
result of the construction of Interstate 5 in the 1960s which razed residences and businesses and bisected
the neighborhood. Remnants of old NihoMachi, however, do remain despite the destructive history
(Kreisman, 1986). Other immigrants also settled in the neighborhood including Filipinos and African
Americans (Seattle.gov, 2014a). The local International Special Review District was established in 1973.
Thirteen years later in 1986, the Seattle Chinatown Historic District, which is located just east of Pioneer
Square within the International Special Review District, was listed in the NRHP. The district is roughly
bounded by Main and Jackson Streets, Weller Street, 5th Avenue, and Interstate 5. Architecturally, the
district is “characterized by three- to six-story brick hotels, one- and two-story commercial buildings, and
automobile garages from the period” primarily between 1907 and 1936 (Kreisman, 1986).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 714 S King Street in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial restaurant building
constructed in 1962, is not individually eligible for listing in the NRHP. The property was determined to
not contribute to the NRHP-listed Seattle Chinatown Historic District in 1986. The property is not eligible
for the NRHP under Criterion A, which applies to buildings that are associated with events that have made
a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history, as no significant events are associated with this
property. To be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly associated with a
person considered significant within a historic context whose specific contribution to history has been
both identified and documented. While this building was designed by the prominent Washington State
architect Benjamin McAdoo, he was primarily recognized for his residential buildings and advocacy for
issues related to low-income housing. This restaurant is not a significant example of his work and
therefore is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under
Criterion C as it is an unremarkable mid-twentieth century commercial building and does not embody the
distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction; it is not the work of a master and
does not possess high artistic value. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for
information potential because the materials and construction methods of the building do not convey
important information that could contribute to understanding history or prehistory. Therefore, the
property is not eligible for listing in the NRHP because it does not meet any of the eligibility criteria. The
building has undergone minor alterations including the replacement of some roof and siding materials. As
a result, the building lacks some integrity of materials. Overall, however, the building retains its integrity
of design, workmanship, feeling, setting, location, and association.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
714 S King Street is a rectangular plan, one-story, commercial restaurant building constructed in 1962 and
designed by Benjamin McAdoo, a prominent African-American architect in Washington State. Originally,
the parcel on which the building was located served as a playground that was sponsored by the local
Chinese community. The playground was eventually demolished to construct the wood frame and
concrete building with a concrete foundation, currently occupied by the Four Seas restaurant (Kreisman,
1986). Set back on the corner parcel, the property includes a large paved parking lot that runs along the
front (east) elevation of the building. Three main types of roof shelter the building: a large, low-pitch,
gable-on-hip roof covers the majority of the rear (west) section of the building, a series of low-pitch, front
gabled roofs cover the front (east) section of the building, and a flat roof with a low parapet covers the
north section of the building and wraps around the northwest corner of the hip-on-gable roof. Rolled
roofing material (some of which has been replaced) clads the various sections of the roof while a
decorative, flared, ridge beam runs along the top seam. A recessed main entrance, which is covered by a
small gable-on-hip roof with exposed wood rafter tails that extend at an exaggerated angle, shades
double glazed doors with fixed sidelights. The north end of the façade, which has smooth concrete
exterior walls, is covered in a series of three, contemporary style, open front gable roofs with flush eaves.
The gable ends are recessed and contain geometric, fixed, five-light windows. A wide concrete coping
runs along the top of the exterior wall, just below the roof, which is flat between each gable. Rows of
three, fixed, single-light windows are located on the ground floor, below each gabled roof. The exterior
wall of the façade south of the main entrance is clad in orange brick veneer. The side (south) elevation is
clad in vertical wood siding.
Page 5 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kreisman, Lawrence. 1986. Seattle Chinatown Historic District. National Register of Historic Places
Inventory – Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Ed.
Leonard Garfield, Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Urban Conservation Specialist.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Seattle.gov. 2014a. International Special Review District: History of the International District. Department
of Neighborhoods: Historic Districts.
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/id_history.htm. Accessed September 22, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Front (east) elevation
2014
Southeast corner
2014
Southeast corner
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 36
DAHP No.
Historic Name:
Common Name: House of Hong
Property Address: 409 8th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 5247802755
Plat/Block/Lot Plat Block: 55 Plat Lot: 7-8
Acreage .31
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T24R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
05
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1190714
Northing: 831457
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 10/02/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: BRLD L L C
Owner Address: 9948 SE 38TH ST
City: MERCER ISLAND
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? Yes
Contributing? No
National Register: Seattle Chinatown Historic District
Local District: International Special Review District
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 7
98040
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Business
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 1
Commerce/Trade - Restaurant
Changes to Plan: Extensive
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Extensive
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Commercial
Veneer - Stucco
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Art Deco - PWA Moderne Concrete - Block
Concrete - Poured
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1941 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): Yes - National
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The Seattle Chinatown Historic District/International Special Review District developed as the cultural
center for Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and African American immigrants (Seattle.gov, 2014).
The neighborhood’s history illustrates the perseverance of Seattle’s immigrant community, which
flourished despite the racial bigotry faced by Asian immigrants in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries:
“In essence, the district’s history is the story of the efforts of Asian-Americans to build a stable community
in the midst of a society that was often hostile” (Kreisman, 1986). During its early years, Seattle attracted
a large number of Chinese immigrants thanks to its position on the Pacific coast and the opportunities for
work in mining, lumber, fishing, and railroads (Kreisman, 1986). Seattle’s original Chinatown was built on
boggy land near Washington Street south of downtown and was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1889.
Between 1907 and 1910, a massive regrading project filled in the tide flat areas along South Jackson
Street and South King Street, which emerged as the focal point for the new, rebuilt Chinatown. The
Chinese, mostly male community established hotels, commercial businesses and benevolent social groups
to assist their fellow countrymen who faced numerous challenges including rampant racism. There were
about 250 permanent residents and 300 temporary laborers in the neighborhood by 1876 (Kreisman,
1986). However, the national financial crisis that occurred at the end of the nineteenth century resulted in
the closure of mines and factories. At the same time, construction of several railroad lines had been
halted and the number of unemployed men in the Pacific Northwest skyrocketed. Chinese immigrants
suffered the brunt of the rage expressed by this growing unemployed class; violence and rioting ensued,
followed by the federal government’s series of “exclusion acts” that stopped further immigration of
Chinese workers and limited the rights of Chinese residents. These discriminatory restrictions on Chinese
immigration were lifted after World War II, initiating another influx of new settlers in the area. Although
the number of Chinese immigrants increased, the population in Chinatown decreased during the midtwentieth century as restrictions for Chinese immigrants and racism in Seattle lessened. There were 6,261
Chinese residents in Seattle in 1970 (Kreisman, 1986).
After the Chinese “exclusion acts,” the Japanese were the next large group to arrive in the late-nineteenth
century and by 1910, Seattle had 6,127 Japanese inhabitants (Kreisman, 1986). They opened businesses in
the vicinity of Main Street, just north of Chinatown, establishing NihoMachi or Japantown (Seattle.gov,
2014a). The 1920s brought a rapid rise in anti-Japanese sentiments and the establishment of federal laws
that made it illegal for Japanese to become citizens. Washington State also established laws that denied
Japanese immigrants the right to own, lease, or operate farms, devastating the Japanese community in
Seattle. The situation became increasingly dire for Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor during World
War II when President Roosevelt issued an executive order that expelled or interned all Japanese and
Japanese-Americans on the west coast. As a result of this mass imprisonment, many buildings in
Japantown were abandoned or demolished. After World War II, the district was physically divided as a
result of the construction of Interstate 5 in the 1960s which razed residences and businesses and bisected
the neighborhood. Remnants of old NihoMachi, however, do remain despite the destructive history
(Kreisman, 1986). Other immigrants also settled in the neighborhood including Filipinos and African
Americans (Seattle.gov, 2014a). The local International Special Review District was established in 1973.
Thirteen years later in 1986, the Seattle Chinatown Historic District, which is located just east of Pioneer
Square within the International Special Review District, was listed in the NRHP. The district is roughly
bounded by Main and Jackson Streets, Weller Street, 5th Avenue, and Interstate 5. Architecturally, the
district is “characterized by three- to six-story brick hotels, one- and two-story commercial buildings, and
automobile garages from the period” primarily between 1907 and 1936 (Kreisman, 1986).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 409 8th Avenue S in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial restaurant
building constructed in 1941, is not individually eligible for listing in the NRHP. The property was
determined to not contribute to the NRHP-listed Seattle Chinatown Historic District in 1986. The property
is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion A, which applies to buildings that are associated with events
that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history, as no significant events are
associated with this property. To be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly
associated with a person considered significant within a historic context whose specific contribution to
history has been both identified and documented. No such person who meets that definition is linked to
this building. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C as it is an unremarkable early- to
mid-twentieth century commercial building and does not embody the distinctive characteristics of a type,
period, or method of construction; it is not the work of a master and does not possess high artistic value.
The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for information potential because the
materials and construction methods of the building do not convey important information that could
contribute to understanding history or prehistory. Therefore, the property is not eligible for listing in the
NRHP because it does not meet any of the eligibility criteria. The building is heavily altered including two
large additions, the replacement of windows, doors and siding, and the obstruction of the original facade.
As a result, the building lacks integrity of materials and design and some integrity of workmanship and
feeling. The building retains integrity of setting, location, and association.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
409 8th Avenue S contains a rectangular plan, masonry commercial restaurant building with a flat, built
up roof and low parapet. Constructed in 1941, the building, which originally operated as a grocery store,
has undergone numerous alterations that have obscured the original design. House of Hong restaurant
currently occupies the building, which has a double roof height, fixed replacement windows, and exterior
walls primarily clad in rough stucco. Double glazed doors are located south of center on the front (east)
elevation and are flanked on either side by rows of replacement windows. The north row is longer than
the south row, although both rows contain a series of fixed, single-light windows with a repeating pattern
of mullions that form a geometric, Asian-inspired appearance. Fluted concrete pillars, that have a vaguely
art deco style, are located on the front (northeast and southeast) corners of the original section of the
building and a simple frieze runs along the top of the exterior wall. A full width, flat overhang with flared
edges extends between the two columns and shades the main entrance. The side (south) elevation of the
original section of the building has a series of concrete block support pilasters. The lower third of the east
end of the south elevation exterior wall is horizontal board formed concrete. The rest of the exterior wall
is concrete block. It is likely the west end of the south elevation, where the board formed concrete ends,
marks the location of a rear addition that was constructed at an unknown date. A large, flat roof, twostory full length addition extends from the north elevation. The addition is clad in rough stucco and has
four window openings that match the style of those on the front elevation. A flared metal parapet wraps
around the primary elevations of the addition and a paved parking lot is located north of the building.
Page 5 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kreisman, Lawrence. 1986. Seattle Chinatown Historic District. National Register of Historic Places
Inventory – Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Ed.
Leonard Garfield, Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Urban Conservation Specialist.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Seattle.gov. 2014a. International Special Review District: History of the International District. Department
of Neighborhoods: Historic Districts.
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/id_history.htm. Accessed September 22, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Northeast corner, with large north addition visible.
2014
Southeast corner
2014
East elevation
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 39
DAHP No.
Historic Name:
Common Name: 7th Ave Auto Rebuild
Property Address: 710 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 5247802775
Plat/Block/Lot Plat Block: 56 Plat Lot: 3-4
Acreage .31
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T24R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
05
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1190578
Northing: 831658
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 10/02/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: 700 JACKSON LLC
Owner Address: 655 S KING ST
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 7
98104
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Business
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Unreinforced Masonry
Stories: 1
Commerce/Trade - Business
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Moderate
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Other - Utilitarian
Brick
Flat with Parapet
Commercial
Concrete
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Veneer - Brick
Wood - Vertical
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Utilitarian
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1916 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The Seattle Chinatown Historic District/International Special Review District developed as the cultural
center for Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and African American immigrants (Seattle.gov, 2014).
The neighborhood’s history illustrates the perseverance of Seattle’s immigrant community, which
flourished despite the racial bigotry faced by Asian immigrants in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries:
“In essence, the district’s history is the story of the efforts of Asian-Americans to build a stable community
in the midst of a society that was often hostile” (Kreisman, 1986). During its early years, Seattle attracted
a large number of Chinese immigrants thanks to its position on the Pacific coast and the opportunities for
work in mining, lumber, fishing, and railroads (Kreisman, 1986). Seattle’s original Chinatown was built on
boggy land near Washington Street south of downtown and was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1889.
Between 1907 and 1910, a massive regrading project filled in the tide flat areas along South Jackson
Street and South King Street, which emerged as the focal point for the new, rebuilt Chinatown. The
Chinese, mostly male community established hotels, commercial businesses and benevolent social groups
to assist their fellow countrymen who faced numerous challenges including rampant racism. There were
about 250 permanent residents and 300 temporary laborers in the neighborhood by 1876 (Kreisman,
1986). However, the national financial crisis that occurred at the end of the nineteenth century resulted in
the closure of mines and factories. At the same time, construction of several railroad lines had been
halted and the number of unemployed men in the Pacific Northwest skyrocketed. Chinese immigrants
suffered the brunt of the rage expressed by this growing unemployed class; violence and rioting ensued,
followed by the federal government’s series of “exclusion acts” that stopped further immigration of
Chinese workers and limited the rights of Chinese residents. These discriminatory restrictions on Chinese
immigration were lifted after World War II, initiating another influx of new settlers in the area. Although
the number of Chinese immigrants increased, the population in Chinatown decreased during the midtwentieth century as restrictions for Chinese immigrants and racism in Seattle lessened. There were 6,261
Chinese residents in Seattle in 1970 (Kreisman, 1986).
After the Chinese “exclusion acts,” the Japanese were the next large group to arrive in the late-nineteenth
century and by 1910, Seattle had 6,127 Japanese inhabitants (Kreisman, 1986). They opened businesses in
the vicinity of Main Street, just north of Chinatown, establishing NihoMachi or Japantown (Seattle.gov,
2014a). The 1920s brought a rapid rise in anti-Japanese sentiments and the establishment of federal laws
that made it illegal for Japanese to become citizens. Washington State also established laws that denied
Japanese immigrants the right to own, lease, or operate farms, devastating the Japanese community in
Seattle. The situation became increasingly dire for Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor during World
War II when President Roosevelt issued an executive order that expelled or interned all Japanese and
Japanese-Americans on the west coast. As a result of this mass imprisonment, many buildings in
Japantown were abandoned or demolished. After World War II, the district was physically divided as a
result of the construction of Interstate 5 in the 1960s which razed residences and businesses and bisected
the neighborhood. Remnants of old NihoMachi, however, do remain despite the destructive history
(Kreisman, 1986). Other immigrants also settled in the neighborhood including Filipinos and African
Americans (Seattle.gov, 2014a). The local International Special Review District was established in 1973.
Thirteen years later in 1986, the Seattle Chinatown Historic District, which is located just east of Pioneer
Square within the International Special Review District, was listed in the NRHP. The district is roughly
bounded by Main and Jackson Streets, Weller Street, 5th Avenue, and Interstate 5. Architecturally, the
district is “characterized by three- to six-story brick hotels, one- and two-story commercial buildings, and
automobile garages from the period” primarily between 1907 and 1936 (Kreisman, 1986).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 710 S Jackson Street in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial building
constructed in 1916, is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under
Criterion A, which applies to buildings that are associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of history, as no significant events are associated with this property. To
be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly associated with a person
considered significant within a historic context whose specific contribution to history has been both
identified and documented. No such person who meets that definition is linked to this building. The
property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C as it is an unremarkable early-twentieth century
commercial building and does not embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of
construction; it is not the work of a master and does not possess high artistic value. The property is not
eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for information potential because the materials and construction
methods of the building do not convey important information that could contribute to understanding
history or prehistory. Therefore, the property is not eligible for listing in the NRHP because it does not
meet any of the eligibility criteria. The building is heavily altered including the historically insensitive
replacement of original windows, doors, and siding. As a result, the building lacks integrity of materials,
design, and workmanship. The building retains its integrity of feeling, setting, location, and association.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
710 S Jackson Street contains a rectangular plan, masonry, commercial building with a flat, built up roof
and a low parapet. Constructed in 1916, the building sits on a poured concrete foundation and contains a
6,000-square foot retail space on the west side and a 6,900-square foot automobile repair garage on the
east side of the building. The front (south) elevation faces S Jackson Street and is built on land that steeply
changes grade to the north. As a result, the rear (north) side of the building is set into a hill. The exterior
walls of the utilitarian building are clad in a mix of original light brick veneer, replacement brick veneer,
concrete, and some vertical wood siding. Seven bays, separated by protruding brick support pilasters,
define the front elevation. The top of the exterior walls of each bay are decorated by a large rectangle
formed by protruding brick headers. The three bays on the façade’s east side are occupied by 7th Ave
Auto Rebuild. The central bay of the business’ front elevation contains a sliding metal door used as a
vehicle entrance flanked on either side by commercial window bays. Each commercial window opening
contains a row of four, four-over-one sash windows, some of which may be original. West of the 7th Ave
Auto Rebuilt is a large vehicle bay with a retractable metal door and an adjacent replacement pedestrian
door, followed by a storefront that is obscured by a retractable metal security grate. Behind the grate, the
storefront appears to be heavily altered. The two bays on the far west side of the front elevation contain
retail space and are covered by an angled vinyl awning. A vehicle bay with a retractable metal door, a
replacement pedestrian door, and two, fixed, single-light replacement windows are shaded by the
awning. The side (east and west) elevations of the building are covered in large sections of concrete and
vertical wood siding and contain only a few small window openings.
Page 5 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kreisman, Lawrence. 1986. Seattle Chinatown Historic District. National Register of Historic Places
Inventory – Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Ed.
Leonard Garfield, Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Urban Conservation Specialist.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Seattle.gov. 2014a. International Special Review District: History of the International District. Department
of Neighborhoods: Historic Districts.
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/id_history.htm. Accessed September 22, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Southeast corner
2014
Garage business (7th Ave Auto Rebuild)
East end of front (south) elevation
2014
West end of front (south) elevation, retail space
2014
Southwest corner
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 48
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Seattle First National Bank - International District Branch
Common Name: Bank of America
Property Address: 525 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 5247801640
Plat/Block/Lot Plat Block: 34 Plat Lot: 6-7-8
Acreage .45
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T24R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
05
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1189745
Northing: 831498
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 10/02/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: C AND H FAMILY LIMITED PART
Owner Address: 101 N TRYON ST NC10010381
City: CHARLOTTE
State: NC
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? Yes
Contributing? No
National Register: Seattle Chinatown Historic District
Local District: International Special Review District
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Determined Eligible - SHPO
Determination Date: 10/8/2015
Determination Comments: 120314-12-FTA determined on 10/8/2015
Monday, October 19, 2015
Page 1 of 6
28255
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Financial Institution
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Steel
Stories: 1
Commerce/Trade - Financial Institution
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Slight
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Modern - Contemporary
Veneer - Brick
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Glass - Curtain Wall
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1959 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect: Durham, Anderson & Freed
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:Yes
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): Yes
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Monday, October 19, 2015
Page 2 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Statement of
Significance:
The Seattle Chinatown Historic District/International Special Review District developed as the cultural
center for Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and African American immigrants (Seattle.gov, 2014).
The neighborhood’s history illustrates the perseverance of Seattle’s immigrant community, which
flourished despite the racial bigotry faced by Asian immigrants in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
(Kreisman, 1986). The district is roughly bounded by Main and Jackson Streets, Weller Street, 5th Avenue,
and Interstate 5. Architecturally, the district is “characterized by three- to six-story brick hotels, one- and
two-story commercial buildings, and automobile garages from the period” primarily between 1907 and
1936 (Kreisman, 1986).
The property at 525 S Jackson Street in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial building
constructed in 1959, was determined to not contribute to the NRHP-listed Seattle Chinatown Historic
District in 1986 and was described on the nomination form to be “a clearly contemporary building that
does not successfully blend with its neighbors. The parking lot at the rear disturbs the continuous street
wall that provides harmony to the district” (Kreisman, 1986). However, in the nearly 30 years since the
district nomination was written, the property has gained eligibility and is now eligible for the NRHP under
Criterion C for being characteristic of its Mid-Century period and its distinctive architectural style. It is also
the work of a prolific Seattle architectural firm lead by a recognized leader in the field of architecture in
the Northwest (Robert Durham). The building appears largely unaltered on the exterior with only a few
superficial changes including the replacement of some façade windows with ATM machines. As a result,
the building lacks some integrity of materials and feeling, but retains integrity of design, workmanship,
setting, location, and association. Most importantly, the stylized metal screen across the front facade
remains intact. This is the most notable element of the building, integrating art into architecture in a
modern way.
Mr. Durham (1912-1998) formed this firm in 1954 with David R. Anderson and Aaron Freed. They
designed a number of commercial and institutional buildings in the greater Seattle area, many of which
won prestigious awards. In 1967-68 Mr. Durham "served as the AIA 44th President - only the fourth West
Coast architect to hold the highest elected office in the AIA. To date he is the only Northwesterner to have
served as the National AIA President. Robert Durham served as Chancellor of the AIA College of Fellows in
1980, and in 1981 received the prestigious Edward Kemper Award for outstanding service to the Institute
- becoming the only person to have served as President, Chancellor, and Kemper Award recipient in the
AIA's 141-year history. In 1985, he received the AIA Seattle Medal, the highest local honor to an architect,
recognizing outstanding lifetime achievement" (Houser 2015).
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
525 S Jackson Street contains a contemporary style, one-story, essentially rectangular plan, steel frame,
commercial bank building that was constructed in 1959. Designed by the architectural firm of Durham,
Anderson and Freed, the building is currently occupied by Bank of America but was historically the Seattle
First National Bank. The building has a flat, built up roof with a very low parapet. There are two visually
distinct sections to the building: the east section, which has little fenestration and is clad in very narrow,
red roman brick veneer and the west section, which has a glass curtain wall façade on the front (north)
elevation. As a result, when looking at the façade, the structure appears half brick, half glass. The north
end of the east elevation has a vertical strip of patterned brickwork composed of horizontal rows of
protruding stretcher bricks alternating with horizontal rows of stretcher bricks that are flush with the rest
of the elevation. The main entrance area is recessed in the center of the front elevation and is entirely
composed of a glass curtain wall. Double glass and metal doors are located west of center within the
recessed entrance along with two ATM machines and a stone sculpture. An abstract, metal sculptural
screen that is painted various colors hangs down from the ceiling in the recessed entryway. The west
elevation is clad in brick veneer and contains no windows or doors. The bank is located on a corner parcel
and a paved parking lot wraps around the building’s southwest corner. Aerial images indicate that a long
overhang extends from the rear (south) elevation.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Page 3 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
King County Department of Assessments. 2015. eReal Property report.
http://info.kingcounty.gov/Assessor/eRealProperty/Detail.aspx?ParcelNbr=5247801640
Kreisman, Lawrence. 1986. Seattle Chinatown Historic District. National Register of Historic Places
Inventory – Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Ed.
Leonard Garfield, Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Urban Conservation Specialist.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Houser, Michael C. 2015. DOCOMOMOwewa. "Durham, Robert L." http://www.docomomowewa.org/architects_detail.php?id=23
Monday, October 19, 2015
Page 4 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Northwest corner
2014
Metal sculptural screen above entrance, north elevation
2014
Front (north) elevation
2014
1959
Monday, October 19, 2015
Page 5 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
East elevation
2014
Monday, October 19, 2015
Page 6 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 100
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Silver Hotel/Pioneer Drug Company
Common Name: 7-Eleven
Property Address: 627 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 8591400055
Plat/Block/Lot
Acreage
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T24R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
06
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187833
Northing: 832824
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 10/03/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: 7-ELEVEN C/O RYAN LLC
Owner Address: 13155 NOEL RD STE 100 LB73
City: DALLAS
State: TX
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? Yes
Contributing? No
National Register: Pioneer Square--Skid Road Historic District (Including Boundary Increases)
Local District: Pioneer Square Historic District
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 6
75240
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Business
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Unreinforced Masonry
Stories: 2
Commerce/Trade - Business
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Extensive
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other: Extensive
Other (specify): Removal of 3 stories and replacement of original facade.
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Commercial
Veneer - Stucco
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Brick
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1908 Built Date
Other
Builder:
1952 Remodel
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): Yes - National
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1852, pioneers established Seattle, claiming land on Elliott Bay that would eventually develop as the
commercial focal point of early Seattle, now known as Pioneer Square (Corley, 1970). During the early
years of settlement, Seattle’s economy was dependent on the steam-powered lumber mill owned and
operated by Henry Yesler, located on Mill Street (now Yesler Way) within what is now the Pioneer Square
area. The mill was constructed in 1853 and produced lumber that was primarily shipped to San Francisco.
In order to transport the lumber from the mill to the docks, it was necessary to drag logs down a hill. Due
to the muddy topography, Mill Road from the mill to the waterfront became known as Skid Road
(Morgan, 1982). After the Great Fire of 1889 destroyed so much of the fledgling city, the area around Skid
Road required complete reconstruction and many improvements were made. The new city was built
higher than the old city, leaving remnants of the old infrastructure below street level (Corley, 1970).
Stricter building codes stipulated construction techniques including material types (stone, iron, and brick)
and foundation depths. As a result of the swift rebuilding effort and the strong design influence of the
architect Elmer H. Fisher, many of the new buildings shared a similar aesthetic, “modeled after the then
popular Richardsonian Romanesque buildings in Chicago and on the East Coast… [with] a heavy masonry
base, use of the Roman arch, and varied architectural details on each floor” (Seattle.gov, 2014a). The focal
point of Pioneer Square, (which is in fact a triangular piece of land), was the iron pergola that was
constructed at the intersection of Yesler Way and First Avenue (Corley, 1970). Overlooking the triangular
park is the iconic Pioneer Building (1892). Pioneer Square flourished during the Klondike gold rush as
businesses in the area benefited from the population increase. At the start of the twentieth century,
however, Pioneer Square’s reputation took a turn for the worse; as the city’s business district shifted
north, Pioneer Square became the city’s red light district (Corley, 1970). The neighborhood continued to
decline into the 1960s, at which point its very survival was threatened by several urban renewal projects.
Architects Ralph Anderson and Victor Steinbrueck initiated a preservation movement to revitalize the
historic character of the neighborhood. In 1970, Pioneer Square – Skid Road National Historic District,
which is roughly delineated by the Viaduct, Railroad Avenue S, King Street, 4th and 5th Avenues, James
and Columbia Streets, and the 500 block of 1st avenue, was listed in the NRHP for its significance under
Criteria A and C. The boundaries of the historic district were revised in 1978 and 1988. Also in 1970, the
local Pioneer Square Historical District and the Pioneer Square Preservation Board were established to
ensure the conservation and protection of the district.
The property at 627 1st Avenue in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial building constructed
in 1908, is not individually eligible for listing in the NRHP. The property was determined to not contribute
to the NRHP-listed Pioneer Square/Skid Road Historic District in 1970. The property is not individually
eligible for the NRHP under Criterion A, which applies to buildings that are associated with events that
have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history, as no significant events are
associated with this property. To be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly
associated with a person considered significant within a historic context whose specific contribution to
history has been both identified and documented. No such person who meets that definition is linked to
this building. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C as it is a heavily altered, currently
unremarkable mid-twentieth century commercial building and does not embody the distinctive
characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction; it is not the work of a master and does not
possess high artistic value. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for information
potential because the materials and construction methods of the building do not convey important
information that could contribute to understanding history or prehistory. Therefore, the property is not
eligible for listing in the NRHP because it does not meet any of the eligibility criteria. The building is
heavily altered including the removal of three entire floors and the loss of the original façade. The NRHP
Inventory Nomination Form for the Pioneer Square/Skid Road Historic District stats that the “present
remodel of the façade may have been inspired by [the original historic features], but does not retain the
shape or sense of the original ornament or architectural elements” (Corley, 1970). As a result, the building
lacks integrity of design, materials, workmanship, and feeling. The property retains integrity of setting,
location, and association.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
627 1st Avenue contains a two-story, rectangular plan, masonry commercial building. Constructed in
1908, the original building was five stories and known as the Silver Hotel and subsequently as the Pioneer
Drug Company. Since its original construction, the building has been heavily altered including the removal
of the three upper floors before 1952 and the removal and replacement of the façade (Corley, 1970). The
NRHP Inventory Nomination Form completed for the Pioneer Square – Skid Road District in 1970
conjectures that the removal of the three floors was “probably a result of the 1949 Earthquake” (Corley,
1970). The form also mentions that a historic photograph from the 1960s “indicates that the extant
portion of the original 1900s façade was then considerably altered, particularly at the ground level” and
concludes that the property is not a contributing resource to the historic district (Corley, 1970). Currently,
the building, which has a flat, built up roof with a low rectangular parapet, is occupied by a 7-Eleven store.
The front (east) elevation is defined by a two-level storefront that is not original. The ground floor
contains two bays: one with a recessed entrance and one with a large, two-over-two, fixed, commercial
window. The bays are separated by heavy concrete piers with recessed rectangular moldings. A spherical
light fixture is attached to each pier. The recessed entrance contains two glazed pedestrian doors that are
surrounded by fixed, single-light windows. A large, fixed, single-light window flanked by smaller, fixed,
single-light windows spans the width of the building’s second floor on the front elevation. Three, fixed
transoms are located above the center window and one transom is located above each of the flanking
windows. Three recessed rectangular moldings define the cornice of the façade. The building directly
abuts the sidewalk.
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Corley, Margaret A. 1970. Pioneer Square – Skid Road District. National Register of Historic Places
Inventory – Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Prepared
by the King County Liaison, Seattle Historical Society.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Morgan, Murray. 1982. Skid Road: An Information Portrait of Seattle. University of Washington Press:
Seattle.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014a. Pioneer Square Historical District History. Seattle Department of Neighborhoods:
Historic Districts. http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/pioneersquare_history.htm.
Accessed September 19, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 5 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Front (east) elevation
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Southeast corner
2014
Page 6 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 121
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Washington Mutual Bank main office
Common Name: SDL Office Building
Property Address: 1101 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 0942000025
Plat/Block/Lot Plat Block: 13 Plat Lot: 5-7-8
Acreage .50
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
31
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187357
Northing: 834045
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 10/03/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: SECOND & SENECA OFFICE LLC
Owner Address: 1425 4TH AVE STE 500
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 6
98101
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Professional
Current Use:
Plan: L-Shape
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 8
Commerce/Trade - Professional
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Intact
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Modern
Veneer - Marblecrete
Flat with Eaves
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1968 Built Date
Other
Builder:
2014 Remodel
Engineer:
Architect: Paul Albert Thiry
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:Yes
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 1101 2nd Avenue in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial building
constructed in 1968 known historically as the Washington Mutual Bank Main Office and referred to
currently as the SDL office building, is individually eligible for listing in the NRHP. The building is eligible
under Criterion C as an important example of modernist architecture designed by the architect Paul Albert
Thiry. Thiry was a prolific architect who is often recognized for bringing European Modernism to Seattle
and the Northwest region of the United States (Docomomo WEWA, 2014). Originally from Alaska, Thiry
studied architecture at the University of Washington and at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Fountainbleau. His
early designs included primarily residential properties, although over time his work included more
military, commercial, educational, ecclesiastical, governmental, and civic properties (Docomomo WEWA,
2014). In 1954, Thiry assumed the role of president of the Washington State American Institute of
Architects. Thiry is perhaps best known for his role as the principle architect for the 1962 World’s Fair in
Seattle, the Century 21 Exposition Grounds and Seattle Center. A trip abroad to Europe, Japan, India,
China, Egypt, and Central America during the early 1930s greatly influenced Thiry’s work. During this time,
he was introduced to European Modernism and the work of Le Corbusier and Antonin Raymond
(Docomomo WEWA, 2014). When Thiry returned to Seattle, he brought with him a modernist aesthetic
that had never before been seen in Washington state. The SDL office building which was constructed in
1968, consumes half of a city block in downtown Seattle and is a significant example of modernist
architectural design. While it is not one of Thiry’s best known buildings, its character-defining features,
including a flat roof, a reinforced concrete superstructure, extensive use of glass, and clean lines, embody
the typical characteristics of modernist architecture that ultimately defined his work and an important
mid-century trend in architectural history. Vacant since 2008, the building is currently undergoing a
comprehensive renovation to become the new offices for the firm of MulvannyG2 Architecture. According
to the King County Assessor’s website, the current remodel involves interior non-structural repairs,
substantial alterations and an addition to the existing building. The assessor’s website also indicates that
permits were acquired for alterations to the building’s interior at various times between 2006 and 2009.
However, when the property was surveyed in 2014, the building appeared to maintain integrity of
materials, design, workmanship, location, setting, feeling, and association. Therefore, the building is
eligible for listing in the NRHP under Criterion C for its architectural significance and retains sufficient
integrity to convey that significance.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
1101 2nd Avenue is a reinforced concrete, essentially L-shaped plan, eight-story, commercial building
constructed in 1968. The building was designed by the well-known architect Paul Albert Thiry and is a
significant example of modernist, commercial architecture. It has a flat, built up roof, interior parking
garage, clean lines, concrete clad in marblecrete, and expanses of glass. Constructed between 1st and 2nd
avenues on the steeply sloping Spring Street, only five floors are visible from the front (east) elevation
where the primary entrance is located behind a row of rectangular concrete columns. These columns
connect to a geometric, concrete superstructure that wraps around the primary (east, south, and west)
elevations. While the lower floors of the building along 1st Avenue contain a multi-level parking garage,
the upper floors of the building contain commercial office space. The concrete superstructure supports
wrap-around balconies on the upper floors. Expansive glass windows line the interior structure, behind
the concrete superstructure, and give the illusion that the interior of the building is exposed to the
elements. The pattern of vertical and horizontal concrete lines are broken up along the fifth floor by a row
of large fixed, single-light, windows that wrap around the west and south elevations of the building’s
superstructure. The concrete superstructure continues below the fifth floor, down to the ground level,
and creates a uniform shell that encompasses utilitarian space (the garage) and commercial space (the
offices) alike. The building is covered by a flat roof with eaves and a wide concrete coping. The primary
elevations of the building abut the sidewalk while the north elevation abuts a large, commercial high-rise.
Page 4 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Docomomo WEWA. 2014. Paul Thiry (1904-1993). Documentation and Conservation of the Modern
Movement, Western Washington (DOCOMOMO WEWA): Embracing Northwest Modernism.
http://www.docomomo-wewa.org/architects_detail.php?id=50. Accessed October 28, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Stiles, Marc. 2014. “MulvannyG2 Architecture leaving Bellevue for Seattle.” Puget Sound Business Journal.
February 6. http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2014/02/06/mulvannyg2-architectureleaving.html. Accessed October 28, 2014.
Page 5 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Southwest corner
2014
South elevation
2014
Southeast corner
2014
Main entrance, view to the northwest
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 6 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 158-42
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Bergonian Hotel
Common Name: Mayflower Park Hotel
Property Address: 405 Olive, Seattle, WA 98101
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 0659000030
Plat/Block/Lot PLat Block: 1 Plat Lot: 5-6
Acreage .19
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
31
County
King
Quadrangle
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187057
Northing: 836364
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 12/09/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: MAYFLOWER HOTEL
Owner Address: ATTN: DIXON RANDY 405 OLIVE WY
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Other (HABS, HAER)
member of the Historic Hotels of America
program
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 7
98101
Historic Inventory Report
Determination Comments:
Description
Historic Use: Domestic - Hotel
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 12
Domestic - Hotel
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Slight
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Commercial
Veneer - Terra Cotta
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial - Three-Part
Vertical Block
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1927 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect: Stuart and Wheatley Architects and
Engineers
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:Yes
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
The property at 405 Olive Way in Seattle, Washington, historically known as the Bergonian Hotel and
currently known as the Mayflower Park Hotel, contains a commercial hotel eligible for listing in the NRHP
under Criterion C. Constructed in 1927, the building was designed by Bertram Dudley Stuart and Arthur
Wheatley of the architectural firm of Stuart and Wheatley Architects and Engineers. The firm was
commissioned by Stephen Berg, a prominent hotel and real estate developer who had emigrated from
Norway to Boston, Massachusetts in 1905, before relocating to Seattle in 1907. Stuart and Wheatley
primarily designed commercial buildings, including a number of hotels, and residential apartment
buildings, including the Exeter Apartment House (19127) and Marlborough Apartments (1926-27) among
others. Their designs often employed reinforced concrete structural systems with brick and terra cotta
cladding that incorporated elements of the Italian Renaissance or English Tudor styles. During the course
of the firm’s career, records show that Stuart and Wheatley designed three other buildings for Berg (two
hotels and an apartment building) in addition to the Bergonian Hotel (Krafft and LaFever, 2006). Originally
the Bergonian Hotel included 240 rooms for patrons and retail stores along with other amenities including
a barber shop, coffee shop, and formal dining room (Krafft and LaFever, 2006).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Alterations to the building are primarily located near the main entrances to the hotel where canopies and
awnings have replaced the original glass and metal marquee and the original vestibules have been
modernized. Changes have also been made to the storefronts, including the replacement of several
commercial windows with solid walls. These alterations were primarily made in the 1950s and 1970s
(Krafft and LaFever, 2006). The building is a good example of a commercial hotel that was constructed in
the city’s downtown core during a period of economic prosperity and commercial development in Seattle
in the early 1920s. Although the building has undergone some alterations, the building remains a
“noteworthy example of hotel design exhibiting distinctive terra cotta materials and understated
handsomely detailed architectural elements drawn from Italian Renaissance architecture” (Krafft and
LaFever, 2006). Therefore, the Bergonian Hotel is eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C for its
architectural significance. Presently, the Mayflower Park Hotel is a member of the Historic Hotels of
America program, which is organized and sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
405 Olive Way contains a 12-story, reinforced concrete, three-part vertical block commercial building
constructed in 1927. Although historically the building was known as the Bergonian Hotel, the building is
currently occupied by the Mayflower Park Hotel and is divided into three sections: a 160-room hotel
(72,978 square feet), a 7,560-square foot retail area, and a 7,896-square foot unfinished basement. A flat
roof covers the building, which sits on a concrete foundation with a dark granite base wall. Located on a
corner parcel, the primary (north and west) elevations are divided into seven bays and three bays,
respectively, and are primarily clad in tan glazed terra cotta brick with detailing in cream terra cotta. The
base of the building, which contains the main entrance to the hotel and the retail storefronts, is entirely
clad in cream terra cotta panels, mimicking stone blocks. Due to a change in grade of the land, the base of
the building contains two floors on the east side of the building, but only one floor on the west side of the
building facing 4th Avenue. A recessed entrance is located in the center of the north elevation, below an
intricate balconet. Original window openings that were directly adjacent to the main entrance have been
covered. Several commercial window openings with replacement, single-light windows and the entrance
to the hotel’s restaurant are located east of the recessed entrance. Two large window openings with
several multi-light windows are located west of the recessed entrance. An identical, multi-light window
opening is also located on the north end of the west elevation. Above the larger window openings, a
pineapple is engraved into the keystone. Another entrance is located on the west elevation, along with
two bays that likely contained window openings originally, but have been subsequently covered. An
intermediate cornice with an egg-and-dart motif below a geometric wave pattern separates the base from
the second floor, while a second intermediate cornice separates the second floor from the shaft of the
building. Elaborate terra cotta detailing surrounds the windows on the second floor and a terra cotta band
horizontally connects the tops of the second floor windows. The windows on the third to ninth floors are
more simple, with very little ornamentation. The two-floor building cap and the stepped parapet are also
decorated with terra cotta spandrels, banding and detailing, as well as balconets. Terra cotta
ornamentation around the windows, coping, and parapet are in the Italian Renaissance style.
Page 5 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Krafft, Katheryn H. and Alison LaFever. 2006. Bergonian Hotel/Mayflower Hotel/ Mayflower Park Hotel:
405 Olive Way. Landmark Nomination Application. Krafft and Krafft Architecture/CRM.
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/LPBCurrentNom_MayflowerNom.pdf. Accessed
November 19, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Northwest corner
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 166
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Lloyd Building
Common Name: Lloyd Building
Property Address: 601 Stewart St, Seattle, WA 98101
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 0659000350
Plat/Block/Lot PLat Block: 6 Plat Lot: 4
Acreage .15
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
31
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187425
Northing: 836906
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 10/03/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: COMPRISE VENTURE LLC
Owner Address: 1809 7TH AVE STE 300
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Local Register
Seattle Landmark
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 7
98101
Historic Inventory Report
Determination Comments:
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Business
Current Use:
Plan: L-Shape
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 10
Commerce/Trade - Business
Changes to Plan: Slight
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Slight
Changes to Windows: Slight
Changes to Other: Slight
Other (specify): Alterations to storefront configurations
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Beaux Arts - Italian
Renaissance Revival
Veneer - Brick
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Rolled
Veneer - Terra Cotta
Veneer - Stucco
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1926 Built Date
Other
Builder:
1951 Remodel
Engineer:
Architect: Victor Voorhees
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:Yes
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 601 Stewart Street in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial building
constructed in 1926 known as the Lloyd Building, is a designated Seattle Landmark and is individually
eligible for listing in the NRHP. The building was commissioned in 1926 by Joseph Vance, a real estate
developer in Seattle who owned the Vance Lumber Company. Vance hired Victor Voorhees, who had also
designed the nearby Vance Hotel, as the architect. Voorhees was a well-known and versatile architect
who had gained particular notoriety for his residential designs in the Pacific Northwest. After moving from
the Midwest to Seattle in 1904, he started publishing plans for residential houses in a catalog entitled the
Western Home Builder: “the city [Seattle] estimates that hundreds ‘—possibly thousands—‘ of homes in
Seattle and the surrounding area were built using his plans” (Antique Home Style, 2011). Later on in
Voorhees career he was commissioned by Vance to build several buildings, including the Lloyd Building
and Vance Hotel. Voorhees utilized elements of the Beaux Arts style for both buildings, making them
excellent examples of his classically influenced designs. The Report on Designation for the Lloyd Building
completed by the Landmarks Preservation Board describes the building as a “beautiful example of Beaux
Arts design as applied to a large office block” (2010). The report goes on to note that “within this portion
of downtown, the Lloyd Building was one of the first office towers and one of the first constructed in the
present Denny Triangle area” (Landmarks Preservation Board, 2010). The Lloyd Building’s history is
inextricably linked to Seattle’s Zoning Ordinance of 1923 which was the first set of regulations that
governed buildings uses. The Denny Triangle was part of a designated commercial district that allowed for
a variety of building uses, but encouraged “more elegantly designed [buildings] than similar buildings
erected in the 1910s,” often with a commercial storefronts lining the ground floor (Landmarks
Preservation Board, 2010). The Lloyd Building is eligible under Criterion C as a significant example of the
early, twentieth century Beaux Arts Renaissance Revival style adapted for a taller office building. The
Lloyd Building, is also significant as an important example of the architect Victor Voorhees work. The new
zoning laws and his knowledge of concrete allowed Voorhees to design a tall office building with Beaux
Arts detailing executed in terra cotta. While some changes were made to the storefronts during the midtwentieth century including the replacement of some windows and doors and the slight alteration of
several storefront configurations, the building overall retains integrity of materials, design, workmanship,
feeling, association, setting and location. Therefore, the building is eligible for listing in the NRHP under
Criterion C and retains sufficient integrity to convey that significance.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
601 Stewart Street is a 10-story, essentially L-shaped plan, office building located on the corner of 6th
Avenue and Stewart Street and constructed in 1926. The concrete building, designed by Victor Voorhees,
is clad in golden-buff brick with trim details in off-white terra cotta siding. Topped by a flat roof covered in
rolled roofing material with a low, rectangular parapet, the building includes a basement level and directly
fronts the sidewalk. Many of the windows are original, however some have been replaced. Storefronts
line the front (north) and side (west) elevations on the ground floor. The front elevation, which faces
Stewart Street, is defined by six bays, while the side elevation that faces 6th Avenue is defined by three
bays. The other side (east) elevation also contains three bays; however, only one bay is clad in brick while
the other two, which are not meant to be seen from the street, have concrete exterior walls. The rear
(south) elevation, which is clad in concrete, faces a parking lot and protrudes out on the west end,
creating the building’s slightly L-shaped floor plan. Voohrees designed the building in the Beaux Arts
Renaissance Revival style. The façade is remarkable for its “proportion and careful organization of its parts
and because of the detailing of its cladding and delicate ornamentation… [including] typical Beaux Arts
Renaissance inspired floral and leaf motifs, [that] is more extensive at the ground levels and also become
increasingly intricate toward the top of the façade” (Landmarks Preservation Board, 2010).
Page 4 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The ground floor bays on the primary elevations are separated by engaged piers clad in terra cotta. Each
pier has a granite base and the shaft contains a recessed rectangular shape. An incised V, in honor of
Joseph Vance who commissioned the building, is located in the top of the rectangular area. The molding
on the capital of each pier contains several motifs, including rectangular shapes, egg and darts, florettes,
and wave shapes. The main entrance, which is recessed and contains replacement metal doors, is located
in the second bay from the west on the front elevation. The main entrance is marked with the words
“Lloyd Building” above the door. Each ground floor bay contains large fixed commercial windows or glass
doors surrounded by large, fixed, commercial windows. Below each commercial window, the exterior
walls of the storefront bays are clad in small, square, ceramic tiles glazed black. The upper section of each
bay, which originally contained glass transoms, was replaced with “new black glass veneer” in 1951
(Landmarks Preservation Board, 2010).
The exterior walls of the building between the first and second floors are clad in terra cotta along with a
protruding cornice clad in ornamental terra cotta. The second floor bays are separated by terra cotta
pilasters that continue from the first floor piers. The pilasters are defined by recessed triangular shapes on
the shaft. Each bay on the second floor features a single window opening that contains a fixed, single-light
window flanked on either side by a one-over-one sash window, below three rectangular transoms. A
projecting band of decorative terra cotta runs above the second floor windows, and divides the second
and third floors. The pilasters continue up to the ninth floor of the primary elevations but are clad in brick
between the third and ninth stories, with only the pilaster base on the third story clad in terra cotta. Each
bay on these upper floors contain a pair of one-over-one sash windows. Simple ionic capitals are located
at the top of the ninth floor and are placed above thick terra cotta bands with three florettes that define
the top of the seven-story pilasters. A terra cotta band also wraps around the primary elevations dividing
the ninth and tenth stories. This band is decorated with a series of small circular shapes. The bays on the
tenth floor are separated by protruding panels of terra cotta that are decorated with a bass relief. The
relief displays a “typical Renaissance Revival plant motif, topped by a shield” (Landmarks Preservation
Board, 2010). Above the windows on the tenth floor is an “overhanging roll molding” and a terra cotta
frieze that are composed of “squares above the pilasters, each with an inset floral motif and between
them long rectangles, with a central florette and stylized foliage to each side” (Landmarks Preservation
Board, 2010). Above the frieze, various layers of decorative, projecting terra cotta occur: a band with an
egg and dart motif, a classical cornice, and a low parapet (Landmarks Preservation Board, 2010).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 5 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Antique Home Style. 2011. Western Home Building: House Plans By Victor W. Voorhees of Seattle.
Architecture and Design: Commercial and Residential Buildings and Interiors.
http://www.antiquehomestyle.com/plans/voorhees/index.htm. Accessed October 30, 2014.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Landmarks Preservation Board. 2010. Lloyd Building: 601 Stewart Street. City of Seattle, King County.
Report on Designation. The City of Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Northwest corner
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Southwest corner
2014
Page 7 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 167
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Plaza Building
Common Name: Plaza Building
Property Address: 600 Stewart St, Seattle, WA 98101
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 0659000555
Plat/Block/Lot Plat Block: 11 Plat Lot: 1 THRU 5
Acreage .49
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
31
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187285
Northing: 837046
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 10/03/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: PLAZA 600 LLC
Owner Address: C/O URBAN RENAISSANCE PROP C
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 6
98191
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Professional
Current Use:
Plan: T-Shape
Structural System: Steel
Stories: 20
Commerce/Trade - Professional
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Intact
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Modern - Curtain Wall
Glass - Curtain Wall
Flat with Parapet
Modern - Corporate
Modern/Slick Skin
Metal
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1969 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:Yes
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 600 Stewart Street in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial building
constructed in 1969 known as the Plaza 600 Building, is individually eligible for listing in the NRHP. The
building is eligible under Criterion C as a significant example of mid-twentieth century corporate design
that incorporates both the Curtain Wall style and the subsequent Corporate Modern style, demonstrating
a transition from one to the other. The Curtain Wall style was characterized by the use of large,
prefabricated glass and panel systems to clad a building’s exterior walls. The style was made possible by
certain technological advancements including air conditioning and developments in structural steel design
that allowed glass to replace a structural wall. Examples of the style can be found in commercial,
government, or institutional buildings and was most popular during the 1950s and early 1960s. By the late
1960s, stronger glass and more efficient assembly methods for construction allowed the Corporate
Modern style to emerge as an offshoot of the Curtain Wall style. Smaller window framing units, reflective
glass, and little separation between each floor of a building created a new “Slick Skin” look that remained
popular through the 1990s for corporate offices and skyscrapers. The Plaza 600 Building’s exterior walls
are formed by repetitive glass and panel systems typical of the Curtain Wall style. However, the building’s
smaller window framing and tinted, reflective glass incorporates elements of the Corporate Modern or
“Slick Skin” style. In this way, the Plaza 600 Building is an important example of corporate architectural
design in the mid to late twentieth century, exhibiting aspects of two, closely linked styles. Although the
building has undergone some interior alterations according to the King County Assessor’s website, the
building’s exterior retains integrity of materials, design, workmanship, feeling, association, setting and
location. Therefore, the Plaza 600 Building is eligible for listing in the NRHP under Criterion C for its
architectural significance and retains sufficient integrity to convey that significance.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
600 Stewart Street is a steel-frame, 20-story office building located between Denny Triangle and the
South Lake Union neighborhood. The modern, T-plan building was constructed in 1969 and has a flat, built
up roof with a low parapet. A basement parking lot is located under the building and is a feature typical of
mid-century modern office buildings. Aspects of both the Curtain Wall style and the Corporate Modern
style are apparent in the building with its repetitive vertical pattern of tinted glass panels that define the
building’s exterior walls. Vertical, steel structural beams that are painted a light tan color run nearly the
full height of the building, separating the vertical glass panels and creating a vertical striped effect.
Between the concrete beams, each floor of the building contains two, fixed, single-light windows placed
over two, brown glass panels or “spandrels” typical of the Curtain Wall style. However, the building has
smaller window framing and tinted glass that “gives the building a slippery or wet look” typical of the
Corporate Modern style or Slick Skin style (DAHP, 2014). For these reasons, the building is a good example
of the transition between two prominent corporate design trends in the mid-twentieth century. The
center of the front (west) elevation protrudes out and creates the bottom of the T shape. The ground
floor under this protruding section is open air and braced by wide, concrete and steel plate supports that
form a covered entrance area. The north and south wings (the top ends of the T shape) contain
commercial space on the ground floor with large, fixed, single-light commercial windows. A wide,
horizontal concrete panel wraps around the exterior elevation between the ground floor and the second
floor and reinforces the sharp distinction between the horizontal ground level and the vertical thrust of
glass section that soars to the sky above. The steel supports creates the illusion that the building is raised
off the ground and that the 19-stories of glass are supported merely by steel legs, adding a feeling of
lightness and airiness to the tower structure. The area in front of the building is landscaped. According to
the King County Assessor’s website, the building has undergone several interior alterations including a
series of remodels that involved interior non-structural alterations circa 2013-2014.
Page 4 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP). 2014. Styles and Forms: 1860 – 1990.
Architectural Style Guide. http://www.dahp.wa.gov/learn-and-research/architectural-style-guide.
Accessed October 30, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Page 5 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Southwest corner
2014
West elevation
2014
South elevation
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 6 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 168
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Washington Plaza Hotel
Common Name: Westin Hotel
Property Address: 1900 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 0659000475
Plat/Block/Lot Plat Block: 10 Plat Lot: 1 THRU 12
Acreage 1.65
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
31
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187000
Northing: 836889
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 10/03/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: STARWOOD HOTEL& RESORTS C/O EPROPERTY TAX-DEPT 206
Owner Address: PO BOX 4900
City: SCOTTSDALE
State: AZ
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 8
85261
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Business
Current Use:
Plan: Round
Structural System: Steel
Stories: 40
Commerce/Trade - Business
Changes to Plan:
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Intact
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Modern
Glass - Curtain Wall
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition
Metal
Veneer - Stucco
Concrete
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Hotel/Motel - Downtown
Commercial Hotel
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1969 Built Date
Other
Builder:
1982 Built Date
Engineer:
Architect: John Graham, Jr
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:Yes
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 1900 5th Avenue in Seattle, Washington, which contains the Westin Hotel Towers
constructed in 1969 and 1982 respectively, is individually eligible for listing in the NRHP. The building,
which was known as the Washington Plaza Hotel at the time of the first tower’s construction in 1969, is
eligible under Criterion C as a unique and significant example of mid-century modern designs. The
unusual, cylindrical towers were both designed by Seattle based architect John Graham, Jr. of the firm
John Graham and Associates. Graham’s best known designs include the Northgate Regional Shopping
Center in Seattle in 1950 that established the norm for mall designs around the country and Seattle’s
iconic Space Needle as part of the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962 (Gelernter, 1999). Construction started on
the Washington Plaza Hotel (now the Westin Hotel) in 1967 and required demolition of Seattle’s historic
Orpheum Theater. Completed in 1969, the hotel tower has a diameter of 96 feet and embodies distinctive
characteristics of modernism in the late 1960s; the cylindrical building rejects traditional styles through
technologically advanced construction techniques that allows for expansive use of glass and the building
unusual plan. The evocative shape of the building and the repetitive pattern of windows and balconies on
its exterior walls earned it the nickname of the Curling Irons among local residents. Graham’s steel frame
1969 tower is formed from three concentric steel rings. While the innermost ring and the middle ring are
connected by radial beams, the middle ring and the third ring are unexpectedly connected by concrete
slabs that form the floor (Emporis, 2014). The 1982 tower is nearly identical to the original 1969 tower,
but has an additional seven stories. Over the years, the buildings have become an iconic hotel within the
city. According to the King County Assessor’s website, the buildings have been remodeled several times
between circa 1998 and 2013, including alterations to the interior and changes to the use of certain
interior areas. Overall, however, the buildings retain integrity of materials, design, workmanship, feeling,
association, setting and location. Therefore, the Westin Hotel Towers are eligible for listing in the NRHP
under Criterion C for their architectural significance and as important examples of architect John
Graham’s work.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
1900 5th Avenue contains two adjacent, structural steel towers with circular floor plans that are currently
occupied by the Westin Hotel. Designed by the Seattle-based architect John Graham, Jr. of the firm John
Graham and Associates, the modern hotel consumes nearly an entire city block and includes three distinct
sections: the original 40-story Washington Plaza Hotel towerm, constructed in 1969; a six-story, 164,277
square foot “parking structure” that consists of the Westin garage and ballroom also constructed in 1969;
and a second, 47-story tower constructed in 1982. The parking structure connects the 1969 tower on the
south end of the property with the 1982 tower on the north end of the property. Nearly identical despite
the gap between their years of construction, the cylindrical towers are defined by flat roofs with a flared
metal parapet and exterior walls composed of a continuous pattern of balconies separated by thick
concrete vertical supports. The vertical supports are formed by parallel concrete beams that are
connected by panels of recessed concrete exterior wall. These vertical beams run the full height of the
building. The repeating pattern of balconies, alternating with sections of concrete, wraps around the
entire shaft of the towers. Each balcony is overlooked by a row of five, floor-to-ceiling, single-light, glass
panes, two of which are likely sliding doors. Simple metal railings delineate the edge of each balcony.
Metal panels that float parallel to the concrete-clad exterior wall sections horizontally connect the sides
of each balcony to the neighboring balcony. These metal panels, which line up with the balcony railings,
create a repeating horizontal line that contrasts with the strong vertical thrust of the towers. Structurally,
the towers are formed by stacking three concentric steel rings; the innermost ring and the middle ring are
connected by radial beams, the middle ring and the third ring are unexpectedly connected by concrete
slabs that form the floor (Emporis, 2014).
The main entrance to the hotel is located on the west side of the 1969 tower, and is surrounded by walls
clad in thick granite blocks. A wide, concrete overhang extends from the tower’s curved exterior wall and
creates a large shaded area for arriving guests. The first several floors of each tower are primarily
composed of rows of long, vertically oriented, single-light, fixed windows that are separated by narrow
steel beams. Although referred to as the parking structure, the six-story building with a flat asphalt roof
that connects the two towers contains restaurants, a ballroom, and lobby areas in addition to a nearly 300
-space parking garage. The exterior wall of the parking structure’s front (west) elevation is defined by
three main sections: a central curtain wall section composed nearly entirely of mirrored glass flanked on
either side by an expansive wall of thick concrete. The concrete sections lack fenestration but protruding
vertical seams add visual interest. The ground floor level of the west elevation, below the expansive
concrete panels, is clad in thick granite blocks. Several pedestrian doors are located on the ground level of
the west elevation, below the concrete cladding. The south elevation of the parking structure is also clad
in an expanse of concrete with protruding vertical seams. Thick concrete columns support an open-air
ground floor area that serves as a turnaround entrance for guests arriving by vehicle and the car valet
service. The concrete parking garage is located in the east side of the parking structure. The primary
elevations of the Westin Hotel directly abut the sidewalk, although the front elevation is largely blocked
by the elevated monorail track structure that runs down the center of 5th Avenue.
Page 5 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Emporis. 2014. Westin Seattle South Tower. Building Directory: Seattle. Emporis GMBH.
http://www.emporis.com/building/westin-seattle-south-tower-seattle-wa-usa. Accessed October 31,
2014.
Gelernter, Mark. 1999. A History of American Architecture: Building in Their Cultural and Technological
Context. University Press of New England: Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Southeast corner, "parking structure" with towers
2014
1969 tower, view to the east
2014
(1969 building is in the foreground)
View to the northwest
2014
1969 tower, view to the northwest
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
"Parking structure" - front (west) elevation
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Main entrance, west elevation
2014
Page 8 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 184
DAHP No. 17-03057
Historic Name: Troy Laundry
Common Name: 307-311 Fairview Ave N
Property Address: 307-311 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 1986200480
Plat/Block/Lot Plat Block: 109 Plat Lot: POR
Acreage 2.16
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
29
County
King
Quadrangle
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1188032
Northing: 839551
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 11/06/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: TB TS/RELP LLC
Owner Address: 9830 COLONNADE BLVD STE 600
City: SAN ANTONIO
State: TX
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Demolished/Destroyed
2013
Local Register
Seattle Landmark 1995
National Register
Determined eligible 2006
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 7
78230
Historic Inventory Report
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Business
Current Use:
Plan: None
Structural System: None
Stories: 1
Vacant/Not in Use
Changes to Plan: Extensive
Changes to Interior: Extensive
Changes to Original Cladding: Extensive
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other: Extensive
Other (specify): Most demolished. Only two elevations remain standing.
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Other - Industrial
Veneer - Brick
None
None
Veneer - Terra Cotta
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
None
Narrative
Study Unit
Community Planning/Development
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1927 Built Date
Other
Builder:
1948 Addition
1960 Addition
1968 Addition
Engineer: Charles E. Kitchin
Architect: Victor Voorhees & Henry Bittman
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 2 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 307-311 Fairview Avenue N in Seattle, Washington, which contained a commercial
laundry building constructed in 1927 that was demolished in 2013, is no longer eligible for listing in the
NRHP. In 2013, the 1927 building, which was designed by local architects Victor Voorhees and Henry
Bittman and was known as the Troy Laundry Building, was demolished as part of a large development
project. Only the facades that compose the southeast corner of the building remain. In 1995, the building
was designated a Seattle Landmark by the City of Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board (Gordon, 1995).
On February 7, 2006, the property was determined eligible for listing in the NRHP (Boyle and Hamel,
2005). The building was significant within the South Lake Union area under Criteria A and C as an early
example of a laundry building that was closely linked to the industrial development of the area. The
neighborhood was home to several such laundries and the Troy Laundry Building “represent[s] the
development and history of labor-intensive industries in the area and the city in the early 20th
century” (Boyle and Hamel, 2005). Additionally, the building’s form was architecturally significant as a
typical brick laundry building with extensive fenestration to allow for maximum light that “express[es] a
craft tradition in construction” (Boyle and Hamel, 2005). Classical detailing and cream-colored terra cotta
cladding made the building an exceptional example of its type. The original property was expanded three
times, in 1948, 1960, and 1965, respectively. What remains of the property does not retain sufficient
physical integrity to remain eligible for listing in the NRHP. Although the property was formerly eligible for
the NRHP under Criteria A and C as representative of historical events significant within South Lake Union
and Seattle and for being a remarkable example of an early-twentieth century industrial laundry building,
the demolished building has lost integrity of materials, design, workmanship, feeling and association. As a
result, the building does not retain enough integrity to convey its historical or architectural significance or
to embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction. Therefore, the
property is no longer eligible for listing in the NRHP because it has been mostly demolished and no longer
retains physical integrity.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
307-311 Fairview Avenue N was the location of the historic Troy Laundry Building, which was a designated
Seattle Landmark and had been determined eligible for listing in the NRHP. In 2013, the building was
almost entirely demolished as part of a large residential development project. Only the elevations that
compose the southeast corner of the building remain. The two-story, dark red brick veneer, front (east)
elevation and the one-story, dark red brick veneer, side (south) elevation are currently held up by steel
supports. The remaining elevations are defined by rows of bays separated by red brick pilasters, visually
anchored by a concrete at-grade wall along the foundation. Large window openings fill the space between
each pilaster. Many of the remaining windows contain the original, multi-light, steel-sash windows,
although much of the glass is damaged or removed. A band of terra cotta runs along the tops of the
windows on the south elevation, parallel to the cornice, which is also clad in terra cotta. The front (east)
elevation retains the gabled parapet with a cornice clad in terra cotta. A two-story, arched opening is
located in the center of the east elevation where the main entrance once was located. The opening is
surrounded by decorative terra cotta.
Page 5 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Boyle, Susan and Matt Hamel. 2005. Troy Laundry: 307-311 Fairview Ave N. South Lake Union Streetcar.
Historic Property Inventory Report. Washington Information System for Architectural and Archaeological
Records Data. Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. October 20.
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Gordon, Karen. 1995. Troy Laundry Building. Report on Designation. The City of Seattle Landmarks
Preservation Board.
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/documents/DesRptTroyLaundryDesReport_000.pdf.
Accessed November 6, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Southeast corner
2014
South elevation
2014
View to the northwest
2014
Front (east) elevation
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 187
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Addressograph - Multigraph Company
Common Name: Schultz-Miller
Property Address: 405 Fairview N, Seattle, WA 98109
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 1983200625
Plat/Block/Lot DT Denny's 1st Addition, Block 108, eastern 120' o
Acreage .27
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
30
SE
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187958
Northing: 840026
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 11/03/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: 405 FAIRVIEW PROPERTIES LLC251902
Owner Address: 405 FAIRVIEW AVE N
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
National Register
Determined not eligible 2006
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 6
98109
Historic Inventory Report
Determination Comments:
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Business
Current Use:
Plan: L-Shape
Structural System: Concrete - Block
Stories: 1
Commerce/Trade - Professional
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Intact
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Modern
Concrete - Block
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Veneer - Brick
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1954 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect: Herbert J. Bittman
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
The property at 405 Fairview Ave N in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial office building
constructed in 1954, is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. In 2006, the property was determined not
eligible for listing in the NRHP (Boyle, 2005). The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion A,
which applies to buildings that are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the
broad patterns of history, as no significant events are associated with this property. To be eligible for the
NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly associated with a person considered significant
within a historic context whose specific contribution to history has been both identified and documented.
No such person who meets that definition is linked to this building. The property is not eligible for the
NRHP under Criterion C as it is an unremarkable mid-twentieth century commercial building and does not
embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction; it is not the work of a
master and does not possess high artistic value. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion
D for information potential because the materials and construction methods of the building do not
convey important information that could contribute to understanding history or prehistory. Therefore,
the property remains not eligible for listing in the NRHP because it does not meet any of the eligibility
criteria. The building retains integrity of materials, workmanship, design, feeling, setting, location, and
association.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
405 Fairview Ave N contains a one-story, L-shaped, concrete office building that was constructed in 1954.
The building, which was originally occupied by the Addressograph- Multigraph Company, was designed by
architect Herbert J. Bittman and built by the Poll Brothers (Boyle, 2005). Currently, the building is
occupied by Schultz-Miller and has a flat, built up roof with a low parapet. The exterior walls are clad in
narrow brick veneer. Metal-frame ribbon windows wrap around the primary (east and south) elevations
and are shaded by a flat, concrete overhang. The ribbon windows, concrete overhang, and a wide,
continuous concrete window sill create a strong horizontal emphasis across the building. Each individual
window contains three lights with horizontal muntins. Every other bottom light in the row of ribbon
windows is an awning window. A recessed entrance area is located in the center of the front (east)
elevation and is composed of double metal and glass doors surrounded by fixed, single-light windows. The
north end of the rear (west) elevation projects outwards and contains a garage and concrete loading
dock. The office building abuts the sidewalk on the east and south elevations and a paved parking area is
located behind the building, on the west side of the property.
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Boyle, Susan. 2005. Adressograph – Multigraph Company: 405 Fairview N. South Lake Union Streetcar.
Historic Property Inventory Report. Washington Information System for Architectural and Archaeological
Records Data. Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. October 20.
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 5 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Southeast corner
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Southeast corner
2014
Page 6 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 190
DAHP No.
Historic Name:
Common Name: 318 Fairview Ave N
Property Address: 318 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 2467400065
Plat/Block/Lot Plat Block: 3 Plat Lot: 1-2
Acreage .33
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
29
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1188146
Northing: 839812
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 11/03/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: SEATTLE CITY OF SDOT 180820
Owner Address: 700 5TH AVE STE 3900 PO BOX 34996
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 6
98124
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Business
Current Use:
Plan: Square
Structural System: Steel
Stories: 2
Commerce/Trade - Business
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Moderate
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Modern
Veneer - Ceramic Tile
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Veneer - Brick
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1959 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
The property at 318 Fairview Ave N in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial office building
constructed in 1959, is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under
Criterion A, which applies to buildings that are associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of history, as no significant events are associated with this property. To
be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly associated with a person
considered significant within a historic context whose specific contribution to history has been both
identified and documented. No such person who meets that definition is linked to this building. The
property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C as it is an unremarkable mid-twentieth century
office building and does not embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of
construction; it is not the work of a master and does not possess high artistic value. The property is not
eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for information potential because the materials and construction
methods of the building do not convey important information that could contribute to understanding
history or prehistory. Therefore, the property is not eligible for listing in the NRHP because it does not
meet any of the eligibility criteria. The building has undergone some minor alterations including the
replacement of windows that has compromised its integrity of materials. The building retains integrity of
workmanship, design, feeling, setting, location, and association.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
318 Fairview Ave N contains a two-story, steel frame, square-plan building that was constructed in 1959.
The 8,488-square foot building has a flat, built up roof with a low parapet. The exterior walls are clad in
brick veneer and the building sits on a slightly raised, poured concrete foundation. Positioned on a corner
parcel at the intersection of Harrison Street and Fairview Avenue N, more than half of the south end of
the front (west) elevation is covered by four, connected, two-story decorative concrete screen panels. The
screen panels block a clear view of double, metal and glass pedestrian doors on the south end of the front
elevation, which appears to be the main entrance. The north end of the front elevation is open air and
provides a view of an exterior staircase with an open framework handrail that is covered by the primary
roof and is separated from the sidewalk by the concrete screen. The U-shape stairwell with one landing
accesses a second floor balcony that is also covered by the primary flat roof. Behind the screen, the
second floor of the front elevation exterior wall is clad in small ceramic tiles. The side (north) elevation
contains two rows of fixed, single-light replacement windows: one row on the first floor and one row on
the second floor. There is no fenestration on the south elevation. A paved parking lot is located south of
the building.
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 5 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Northwest corner
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Southwest corner
2014
Page 6 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 193
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Forde Motion Picture Labs
Common Name: Firmani and Associates
Property Address: 306 Fairview N, Seattle, WA 98109
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 2467400085
Plat/Block/Lot Fairview Homestead Association, Block 2, southern
Acreage .11
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
29
SW
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1188143
Northing: 839588
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 11/03/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: 2467400085
Owner Address: 306 FAIRVIEW AVE N
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
National Register
Determined not eligible 2005
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 6
98109
Historic Inventory Report
Determination Comments:
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Professional
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Platform Frame
Stories: 1
Commerce/Trade - Professional
Changes to Plan: Slight
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Extensive
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other: Extensive
Other (specify): Front elevation is substantially altered.
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Modern
Concrete - Block
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition
Veneer - Brick
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1948 Built Date
Other
Builder:
1970 Remodel
2011 Remodel
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
The property at 306 Fairview Ave N in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial office building
constructed in 1948, is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. In 2005, the property was determined not
eligible for listing in the NRHP (Boyle, 2005). The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion A,
which applies to buildings that are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the
broad patterns of history, as no significant events are associated with this property. To be eligible for the
NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly associated with a person considered significant
within a historic context whose specific contribution to history has been both identified and documented.
No such person who meets that definition is linked to this building. The property is not eligible for the
NRHP under Criterion C as it is an unremarkable and heavily altered mid-twentieth century commercial
building and does not embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction;
it is not the work of a master and does not possess high artistic value. The property is not eligible for the
NRHP under Criterion D for information potential because the materials and construction methods of the
building do not convey important information that could contribute to understanding history or
prehistory. Therefore, the property remains not eligible for listing in the NRHP because it does not meet
any of the eligibility criteria. The building was remodeled circa 1970 and circa 2010. These changes have
greatly altered the appearance of the west elevation and the building lacks integrity of materials and
design and some integrity of workmanship and feeling. The building retains integrity of setting, location,
and association.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
306 Fairview Ave N contains a one-story, essentially rectangular plan, wood frame, commercial office
building that was constructed in 1948. The building has undergone several renovations since its original
construction and has been occupied by various businesses. The Forde Motion Picture Labs occupied the
building for the longest period roughly 1958 to 2005. Currently, the building is occupied by Firmani and
Associates, a public relations firm. The 4,248-square foot, concrete block building has a flat roof with a
low parapet. The first major renovations to the building occurred circa 1970 and significantly altered the
original modern front (west) elevation. During this renovation, the original front entry, display area, office
area, and five-foot-deep overhang were replaced by a new, angled, double pedestrian door entry and a
continuous wall clad in brick veneer that is covered by a shed roof composed of a row of skylights (Boyle,
2005). The shed roof is a lower height than the primary flat roof. A non-original decorative metal screen
adjacent to the new angled entrance covers the north end of the front elevation. The north elevation
contains no fenestration. The building abuts the sidewalk on the west elevation.
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Boyle, Susan. 2005. Forde Motion Picture Labs (Firmani and Associates): 306 Fairview N. South Lake Union
Streetcar. Historic Property Inventory Report. Washington Information System for Architectural and
Archaeological Records Data. Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. October 24. Boyle
Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and Monitoring
Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 5 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Northwest corner, closer
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Northwest corner
2014
Page 6 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 194
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Packard Bell Company
Common Name: 300 Fairview Ave N
Property Address: 300 Fairview N, Seattle, WA 98109
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 2467400090
Plat/Block/Lot Fairview Homestead Association Addition, Block 3,
Acreage .14
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
29
SW
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1188142
Northing: 839543
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 11/03/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: FAIRVIEW PROPERTIES LLC 91S026
Owner Address: 6542 PALATINE AVE N
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
National Register
Determined not eligible 2006
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 6
98103
Historic Inventory Report
Determination Comments:
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Business
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Concrete - Block
Stories: 1
Commerce/Trade - Business
Changes to Plan: Moderate
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Slight
Changes to Windows: Moderate
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Modern
Stone - Ashlar/Cut
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition
Veneer - Stucco
Concrete - Block
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1954 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect: Kenneth S. Ripley
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
The property at 300 Fairview Ave N in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial building, is not
eligible for listing in the NRHP. In 2006, the property was determined not eligible for listing in the NRHP
(Boyle and Hamel, 2005). Constructed in 1954 and designed by local architect Kenneth S. Ripley about
which little is known, the modern building was originally known as the Packard Bell Company and
contained a TV repair shop, service facility and warehouse (Boyle and Hamel, 2005). The property is not
eligible for the NRHP under Criterion A, which applies to buildings that are associated with events that
have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history, as no significant events are
associated with this property. To be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly
associated with a person considered significant within a historic context whose specific contribution to
history has been both identified and documented. No such person who meets that definition is linked to
this building. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C as it is an unremarkable and
altered mid-twentieth century commercial building and does not embody the distinctive characteristics of
a type, period, or method of construction; it is not the work of a master and does not possess high artistic
value. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for information potential because the
materials and construction methods of the building do not convey important information that could
contribute to understanding history or prehistory. Therefore, the property remains not eligible for listing
in the NRHP because it does not meet any of the eligibility criteria. The building has been altered including
the alteration of original windows and a very large, utilitarian warehouse addition that extends from the
east elevation, significantly altering the floor plan. As a result, the building lacks integrity of feeling,
materials and design. The building retains integrity of workmanship, setting, location, and association.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
300 Fairview Ave N contains a rectangular plan, concrete block, modern commercial building that was
constructed in 1954. Designed by Kenneth S. Ripley, the building is defined by strong horizontal lines,
ribbon windows, a flat roof, and textured exterior walls. The front (south) elevation contains centered,
,double, metal and glass doors with a large, fixed, single-light transom in a recessed entryway. A section of
non-original smooth concrete exterior wall that covered a large, original commercial window, is located
west of the main entrance. The exterior wall east of the entrance is painted concrete block. Four large,
fixed, single-light transoms, two of which contain small awning windows, are located above the concrete
block exterior wall. The original large, fixed, one-over-one, wood-frame ribbon windows wrap around the
southwest corner of the building and extend along the length of the west elevation. Ashlar sandstone
veneer, painted black, clads the exterior walls surrounding the ribbon windows. Several of the ribbon
windows contain small, narrow, replacement awning windows within the bottom light. A large concrete
block warehouse addition extends from the east elevation and doubles the size of the building. The
warehouse has a flat roof that is a higher height than the primary building’s roof. Painted concrete block
exterior walls and plain metal, double pedestrian doors on the south elevation are the only features of the
otherwise unadorned, utilitarian warehouse addition. The building is situated on a corner parcel and
fronts the sidewalk along Fairview Avenue N and Thomas Street.
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Boyle, Susan and Matt Hamel. 2005. Packard Bell Company: 300 Fairview N. South Lake Union Streetcar.
Historic Property Inventory Report. Washington Information System for Architectural and Archaeological
Records Data. Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. October 20.
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 5 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Southwest corner
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
West elevation
2014
Page 6 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 200
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Van Hoeter Bakeries
Common Name: Taco Del Mar
Property Address: 1165-1167 Harrison, Seattle, WA 98109
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 2467400116
Plat/Block/Lot Fairview Homestead Association, Block 3, Lot 12 le
Acreage .07
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
29
SW
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1188249
Northing: 839846
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 11/03/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: MUNRO FAMILY TRUST
Owner Address: 10622 44TH AVE SE
City: EVERETT
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 7
98208
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Business
Current Use:
Plan: Irregular
Structural System: Platform Frame
Stories: 2
Commerce/Trade - Restaurant
Changes to Plan: Moderate
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Extensive
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other: Extensive
Other (specify): Large, boxy, second story addition.
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
None
Wood - Clapboard
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition
Wood - Vertical
Veneer - Stucco
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1946 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
The property at 1165 Harrison Street in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial building
constructed in 1946 currently occupied by the restaurant Taco del Mar, is not eligible for listing in the
NRHP. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion A, which applies to buildings that are
associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history, as no
significant events are associated with this property. To be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a
property must be directly associated with a person considered significant within a historic context whose
specific contribution to history has been both identified and documented. No such person who meets that
definition is linked to this building. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C as it is an
unremarkable, heavily altered mid-twentieth century commercial building and does not embody the
distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction; it is not the work of a master and
does not possess high artistic value. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for
information potential because the materials and construction methods of the building do not convey
important information that could contribute to understanding history or prehistory. Therefore, the
property is not eligible for listing in the NRHP because it does not meet any of the eligibility criteria. The
building is heavily altered including a large second floor addition and the replacement of original
windows, doors, and siding. As a result, the building lacks integrity of materials, design, workmanship and
feeling. The building retains integrity of setting, location, and association.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
1165 Harrison Street contains a two-story, wood frame, irregular plan building that was originally
constructed in 1946. Currently occupied by several businesses including the restaurant Taco Del Mar,
substantial alterations made to the building have completely obscured the original 1946 design. The
northwest corner of the building contains the entrance to the restaurant, while a separate commercial
storefront entrance is located on the east end of the front (north) elevation. According to fairly recent
photographs available on the King County Assessor’s website, at one time a vehicle bay with a retractable
door was located where the commercial storefront is now located. The storefront is clad in non-original
vertical wood siding and currently composed of a metal and glass pedestrian door surrounded by fixed,
single-light replacement windows. A concrete ramp with a simple metal pipe handrail leads to the
pedestrian door from the sidewalk. East of the storefront is a one-story concrete addition that runs the
full width of the east elevation. At one time, the front (west) elevation of this addition also contained a
vehicle bay. At an unknown date, the vehicle bay was replaced with a large, two-light window, although
the outline of the bay is still visible as it is clad in vertical wood siding while the rest of the addition’s west
elevation exterior wall is clad in concrete stucco. A large, boxy, rectangular second floor addition with a
flat roof extends from the center of the façade, creating a slight second floor overhang that shades the
non-original storefront entrance. The front (north) elevation of this central addition only contains
windows on the second floor. These include: one, three-light horizontal sliding window on the east end
and a row of four, single-light windows of various sizes on the west end. Between the corner restaurant
entrance and the commercial entrance, the exterior front (north) elevation of the second floor addition,
which is clad in vertical wood siding, extends down to the ground creating a central section that protrudes
from the rest of the façade. The non-original pedestrian entrance to the restaurant is located on the west
elevation of this protruding addition. Just west of this entrance, on the far west end of the front elevation
is a large, fixed, single-light replacement window that is shaded by an angled vinyl awning. The west
elevation of the building is clad in non-original horizontal clapboard and contains a large, three-light
horizontal sliding replacement window along with three, smaller, two-light horizontal sliding windows. A
window opening that contains three small rectangular windows is located on the second floor of the west
elevation, at the very top of the exterior wall. The rear (south) end of the building has a slightly lower roof
height than the front end of the building. The building abuts buildings on the east and south elevations. A
paved concrete driveway is located on the west elevation.
Page 5 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Front (north) elevation
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Northwest corner
2014
Page 7 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 201
DAHP No.
Historic Name:
Common Name: 1175 Harrison St
Property Address: 1175 HARRISON, SEATTLE, WA
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 2467400115
Plat/Block/Lot FAIRVIEW HOMESTEAD ASSNE 70 FT
Acreage .10
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
29
SW
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1188304
Northing: 839844
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 11/03/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: GAVIGLIO JAMES L SR
Owner Address: 7959 7TH AV SW
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 6
98101
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Warehouse
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 1
Commerce/Trade - Warehouse
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other: Slight
Other (specify): 3 rooftop shed additions
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Other - Utilitarian
Concrete - Block
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Rolled
Other - Industrial
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Block
Utilitarian
Industrial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1951 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
The property at 1175 Harrison Street in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial warehouse
constructed in 1951, is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under
Criterion A, which applies to buildings that are associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of history, as no significant events are associated with this property. To
be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly associated with a person
considered significant within a historic context whose specific contribution to history has been both
identified and documented. No such person who meets that definition is linked to this building. The
property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C as it is an unremarkable, heavily altered midtwentieth century utilitarian commercial warehouse and does not embody the distinctive characteristics
of a type, period, or method of construction; it is not the work of a master and does not possess high
artistic value. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for information potential
because the materials and construction methods of the building do not convey important information
that could contribute to understanding history or prehistory. Therefore, the property is not eligible for
listing in the NRHP because it does not meet any of the eligibility criteria. The building has been altered,
including the replacement of original windows and a rooftop addition. As a result, the building lacks
integrity of materials, workmanship, and some integrity of design. The building retains integrity of feeling,
setting, location, and association.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
1175 Harrison Street contains a one-story, concrete block, rectangular plan light industrial warehouse that
was constructed in 1951. The warehouse, which has a concrete foundation and a flat roof covered in
rolled roofing material, is utilitarian and unadorned. Situated on a corner parcel that abuts the sidewalk
along Harrison Street and Minor Avenue N, the exterior walls of the building are painted concrete block
and all of the windows on the primary (north and east) elevations have been replaced with tinted and
mirrored glass. There are four large window openings, two pedestrian doors, and one vehicle bay located
on the front (north) elevation. Two, large, two-light windows are located on the east end of the front
(north) elevation. Directly west of the windows there is a vehicle bay with a retractable metal door
followed by a metal pedestrian door with a transom and two adjacent rectangular, fixed, single-light
windows. The west end of the façade contains a second metal pedestrian door flanked on the east by two
windows and flanked on the west by one window. The three window openings on either side of the
pedestrian door on the west end of the façade contain large fixed, single-light windows above two-light
horizontal sliding windows. The east elevation contains three, two-light horizontal sliding windows. Three
small shed additions, two with gabled roofs and one with a shed roof, project from the east side of the
roof. The rooftop sheds are clad in vertical wood siding.
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 5 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Northeast corner
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 6 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 204
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Sherman Clay and Co.
Common Name: Buffalo Wild Wings
Property Address: 1624 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 0659000025
Plat/Block/Lot Plat Block: 1 Plat Lot: 5
Acreage .12
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
31
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187105
Northing: 836287
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 11/03/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: 819 WK LLC
Owner Address: 817 5TH AVE N
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 7
98109
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Specialty Store
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 4
Commerce/Trade - Restaurant
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Extensive
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Commercial
Glass - Curtain Wall
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition
Concrete
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1926 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 1624 4th Avenue in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial building
constructed in 1926 currently occupied by the restaurant Buffalo Wild Wings, is not eligible for listing in
the NRHP. From 1926 until September of 2013, the property was continuously occupied by the wellestablished and iconic piano retail store Sherman Clay and Co. – often referenced as the only place in
Seattle to buy used and new Steinway pianos (Chan, 2013b). Over the course of its history, the store was
visited by such notables as classical pianist Arthur Rubenstein and the Beatles, who rehearsed in the store
before one of their concerts in Seattle (Davila, 2013). The company closed their 4th street location in
2013, at which time the building was remodeled to accommodate a restaurant. In an article published in
the Seattle Times about the store’s closing, the author described the shop as historically “supporting the
birth and growth of local symphonies and performing-arts groups” (Chan, 2013a). However, as a result of
the remodeling that occurred in 2013, the use and appearance of the building have both been drastically
altered. Although the building has a significant association with the local arts, culture, and history of
Seattle, the building no longer retains sufficient physical integrity to convey that significance. In 2013, the
entire façade was significantly altered, including the removal of the original storefront and the large,
modern concrete screen the covered the upper three floors of the four story building. The significance of
the building was intrinsically linked to its use as a piano retail store. The change of use combined with the
physical alterations has compromised the building’s integrity of materials, design, workmanship, feeling,
and association. The building retains integrity of location and setting. Therefore the building no longer
retains enough integrity to be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion A or B, which applies to buildings that
are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history or
are directly associated with a person considered significant within a historic context whose specific
contribution to history has been both identified and documented. The property is not eligible for the
NRHP under Criterion C as it is a very heavily altered, currently unremarkable early-twentieth century
commercial building and does not embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of
construction; it is not the work of a master and does not possess high artistic value. The property is not
eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for information potential because the materials and construction
methods of the building do not convey important information that could contribute to understanding
history or prehistory. Therefore, the property is not eligible for listing in the NRHP because it lacks
integrity and no longer meets any of the eligibility criteria.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
1624 4th Avenue contains a four-story, rectangular plan, reinforced concrete building that was originally
constructed in 1926. Historically, the building was home to Sherman Clay & Co. – an iconic and locally
significant piano retail store that had been in operation in Seattle for over a century (Miller, 2013). In
1926, the store moved to 1624 4th Avenue where they remained until closing in 2013, at which point the
building was remodeled to accommodate the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant. The most common image of
the Sherman Clay store features the front (west) elevation of the building defined by a double entry
storefront surrounded by large, plate glass windows. The ground floor storefront was shaded by a flat
overhang. A large, concrete screen covered the upper three floors of the building. It is likely that the store
was remodeled in the mid-twentieth century at which time the screen was added. No photographs were
found of the original 1926 design. The circa 2013 remodel removed the concrete screen and completely
changed the storefront. The flat overhang shading the ground floor entrance is the only feature of the
façade that remains from the Sherman Clay store. Currently, replacement double metal and glass doors
with fixed transoms are located on the far north end of the front elevation. The south end of the ground
floor contains a loading bay. The upper three stories are defined by rows of large, fixed, single-light
windows. The windows on the second and third floors are rectangular while the tops of the windows on
the third floor are pointed arches. A metal frame that mirrors the outline of the windows is attached to
the façade and provides a multi-dimensional effect. The building has a flat roof covered in rolled roofing
material and is attached to buildings on the north and south elevations.
Page 5 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Chan, Sharon Pian. 2013a. Editorial Notebook: Sherman Clay Seattle Store closes, Steinway dream dims.
The Seattle Times. August 16.
http://seattletimes.com/html/editorials/2021629646_shermanclayclosingnotebooksharonpianchan17xml
.html. Accessed November 6, 2014.
Chan, Sharon Pian. 2013. Reader memories of Sherman Clay piano store. Editorials/Opionions. The Seattle
Times. September 3. http://blogs.seattletimes.com/opinionnw/2013/09/03/sherman-clay-seattle-storememories/. Accessed November 5, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Davila, Florangela. 2013. After More Than a Centruy, Sherman Clay Store Closing Doors. KPLU 88.5 News
for Seattle and the Northwest. National Public Radio. August 6. http://www.kplu.org/post/after-morecentury-sherman-clay-store-closing-doors. Accessed November 6, 2014.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Northwest corner
2014
West elevation
2014
Photo courtesy of the King County Assessor's website.
Sherman Clay (west elevation) building before the 2013
remodel
2004
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 205
DAHP No.
Historic Name:
Common Name: Wells Fargo Bank
Property Address: 1620 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 0659000020
Plat/Block/Lot PLat Block: 1 Plat Lot: 4
Acreage .15
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
31
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187113
Northing: 836188
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 11/03/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: FIRST INTERSTATE BANK
Owner Address: C/O THOMSON PROPERTY TAX PO BOX 2609
City: CARLSBAD
State: CA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 6
92018
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Business
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 2
Commerce/Trade - Financial Institution
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Slight
Changes to Windows: Intact
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Modern
Concrete
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1964 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
The property at 1620 4th Avenue in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial building
constructed in 1964, is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under
Criterion A, which applies to buildings that are associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of history, as no significant events are associated with this property. To
be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly associated with a person
considered significant within a historic context whose specific contribution to history has been both
identified and documented. No such person who meets that definition is linked to this building. The
property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C as it is an unremarkable, heavily altered midtwentieth century utilitarian commercial warehouse and does not embody the distinctive characteristics
of a type, period, or method of construction; it is not the work of a master and does not possess high
artistic value. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for information potential
because the materials and construction methods of the building do not convey important information
that could contribute to understanding history or prehistory. Therefore, the property is not eligible for
listing in the NRHP because it does not meet any of the eligibility criteria. The building has been altered,
including the replacement of original panels that divided the ground floor from the second floor. As a
result, the building lacks integrity of materials. The building retains integrity of design, workmanship,
feeling, setting, location, and association.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
1620 4th Avenue contains a two-story, rectangular plan, reinforced concrete commercial building
currently occupied by a Wells Fargo bank. Originally constructed in 1964, the building has a flat, built up
roof. The front (west) elevation is divided into two symmetrical storefront bays. Each storefront contains
double metal and glass doors with two, large, fixed, single-light, adjacent windows. Two large, fixed, single
-light transoms are located above the door and adjacent windows. The commercial bays are bordered by
narrow, two-story concrete supports that are clad in small, rectangular, concrete panels. Originally, a row
of four opaque panels were located above each storefront and created a horizontal divide between the
first and second floors. The panels have been removed (or possible covered) and replaced by two signs for
Wells Fargo and two angled metal and vinyl awnings that shade the storefronts. Each bay on the second
story of the front elevation contains a row of four, fixed, single-light windows. A row of square concrete
panels in various shades of grey form the cornice at the top of the front elevation. The building is attached
on the side (north and south) elevations to the Westlake Center, which appears to wrap around the Wells
Fargo building. An entrance to the Westlake Center is located to the north of the Wells Fargo building and
is a new construction building. Wells Fargo abuts the sidewalk along 4th Avenue.
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 5 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
View to the northeast
2014
Southwest corner
2014
View to the northeast, Westlake Center visible on either side
of building
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 6 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 206-41
DAHP No.
Historic Name: McGraw Square
Common Name: McGraw Square Park
Property Address: N/A 5th and Stewart, Seattle, WA 98101
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 0659000381
Plat/Block/Lot Bell Heirs of Sarah A Add Blk 7 Lot POR
Acreage 0.02
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
31
NE
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187166
Northing: 836653
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 12/09/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: SEATTLE CITY OF DPR
Owner Address: PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 800 MAYNARD AVE S 3RD FL
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Site
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
National Register
Determined Not Eligible 2008
Local Register
Seattle Landmark 1985
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 6
98134
Historic Inventory Report
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Description
Historic Use: Recreation and Culture Monument/Marker
Current Use:
Plan: Triangular
Structural System: None
Stories: N/A
Recreation and Culture - Monument/Marker
Changes to Plan: Extensive
Changes to Interior: Not Applicable
Changes to Original Cladding: Not Applicable
Changes to Windows: Not Applicable
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
None
None
None
None
Foundation:
Form/Type:
None
Other
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1911 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
McGraw Square is a park located at the intersection of 5th Avenue, Westlake Avenue N and Stewart
Street in Seattle, Washington and is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. The land for the park was acquired
by Seattle in 1911 for use as a public square and as a memorial to John Harte McGraw. McGraw arrived in
Seattle in 1876 and served as a city police officer. He quickly climbed the ranks becoming City Marshall
before he was named Chief of Police in 1880. From 1882 to 1890 he acted as the Sheriff of King County
and was eventually elected as governor in 1893. He served in that position for four years (Seattle Parks
and Recreation, 2014). He is remembered for his role during the anti-Chinese riots that occurred in 1886,
when McGraw was Sheriff. During this time, McGraw “showed commendable efforts to halt the antiChinese vigilantes and was able to maintain law and order” (Cheney, 1983). In 1913, the park was
dedicated to McGraw and a statue by the artist Richard Edwin Brooks was erected in McGraw’s likeness:
“At the dedication which was attended by most of the prominent citizens, he was referred to as ‘Seattle’s
foremost citizen’” (Cheney, 1983). Originally, the setting for the statue and park was designed by the
Olmsted Brothers. The park, however, has been substantially altered, including renovations that occurred
circa 2010. At that time, changes were made in an attempt to make the square more pedestrian and bike
friendly. Streets in the area were closed off and the immediate setting of the McGraw statue was
completely changed, replacing the original landscaping for pavement and removing traces of the original
Olmstead designs. McGraw Park was designated a Seattle Landmark in 1985. In 2008, however, the park
was determined not eligible for listing in the NRHP. Although the park is historically associated with
events that have made a significant contribution to Seattle history and is also associated with people
considered significant within Seattle’s historic context, the property has been heavily altered and no
longer is able to convey its significance. The statue is the only vestige of the park’s original form. McGraw
Square lacks integrity of materials, workmanship, design, feeling, association, and setting. It retains
integrity of location. Therefore, the property is not eligible for listing in the NRHP because it is heavily
altered and lacks sufficient integrity to convey its original significance.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Located at the intersection of 5th Avenue, Westlake Avenue N and Stewart Street, McGraw Square is an
essentially triangular, 658-square foot (.02-acre) park. The park is entirely paved, with several sections of
a low, curved, concrete wall separating the park from the adjacent sidewalks. Some landscaping occurs in
the areas in front of the low wall segments. Granite salvaged from Westlake Park is incorporated into the
park’s design (Stroupe Group, 2014). Overall, however, the park is unadorned. The primary focus of the
park is the large statue of John Harte McGraw that was created by the artist Richard Edwin Brooks in
1913. Several semicircular steps lead to the statue and form a slight pedestal for the figure, located on the
northwest corner of the park. A Seattle streetcar line terminates on the northeast side of the park and
includes two adjacent station platforms, marked by simple glass and metal canopies. The park is
surrounded by several important buildings, including the Westin Hotel towers, Plaza 600 Building, and the
Medical Dental Building. The elevated monorail passes along the west side of the park.
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Cheney, John S. 1983. “McGraw Square (McGraw Place).” Report on Designation. Landmarks Preservation
Board. City of Seattle.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Seattle Parks and Recreation. 2014. McGraw Square. Seattle.gov.
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=339#history. Accessed December 9, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Stroupe Group. 2010. “McGraw Square Renovation Underway.” Stroupe Condo Blog.
http://www.stroupe.com/mcgraw-square-renovation-underway/. Accessed December 9, 2014.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 5 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
View to the south
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Northwest corner
2014
Page 6 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 218-35
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Frederick and Nelson Building
Common Name: Nordstrom Downtown
Property Address: 512 pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 0659000070
Plat/Block/Lot
Acreage
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
31
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187469
Northing: 836353
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 12/09/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: NORDSTROM INC/ATTN: TAX DEP
Owner Address: PO BOX 2229
City: Seattle
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Local Register
Seattle Landmark 1997
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 8
98111
Historic Inventory Report
Determination Comments:
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Department Store
Current Use:
Plan: Irregular
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 10
Commerce/Trade - Department Store
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Extensive
Changes to Original Cladding: Moderate
Changes to Windows: Moderate
Changes to Other: Moderate
Other (specify): Building was originally 5-stories with a 6th story penthouse. Additional stories added in the 1950s.
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Commercial
Veneer - Terra Cotta
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Community Planning/Development
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1918 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Black Masonry & Construction Company
Engineer:
Architect: John Graham, Sr.
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:Yes
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
The property at 512 Pine Street in Seattle, Washington, historically known as the Frederick Nelson
building, contains a commercial building that is eligible for listing in the NRHP under Criteria A and C.
Currently occupied by Nordstrom Downtown, the building was designated a Seattle Landmark in 1997 for
significance under local Criteria B, C, and F. The Frederick and Nelson department store was originally
founded by D.E. Frederick and James Mecham in 1890 and operated out of a building near the corner of
1st Avenue and Pike Street. Nels B. Nelson eventually joined the team, just before Mecham sold his share
of the business. Originally, the store sold second-hold household items and furniture. Over the next
several decades the business grew and operated out several storefronts, expanding the store’s
merchandise to include new and used wares, clothing, millinery, yardage, lingerie, luggage, cosmetics, and
sportswear: “The subsequent success and expansion of the store over the next many years mirrored the
changes in Seattle’s population and the health, as well as the weaknesses, of its economic
environment” (Gordon, 1996).
In 1918, the business moved into a new building on the corner of 5th Avenue and Pine Street. The
distinguished architect John Graham, Sr. designed the building, which was constructed by Black Masonry
& Construction Company between the years of 1916 and 1918. Prior to construction, Graham, Sr. traveled
around the country researching department stores in order to emulate the most efficient and effective
design techniques to produce an optimal retail experience. When construction started, Frederick boasted
of his new building: “It has been our aim in planning the new building and arranging for its construction to
make for architectural beauty as well as convenience for our patron and employees, and we believe that
when the new building is finished it will be a structure of which the city may well be proud” (Gordon,
1996). The store opened at its new location on September 3, 1918 to 25,000 eager customers. Graham,
Sr. gained notoriety for his commercial retail designs around the city, including the Bon Marche
Department Store, which he designed in 1928.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
The original Neo-Renaissance building was only five stories tall with a sixth story penthouse (Gordon,
1996). The building’s interior contained a number of modern amenities including freight elevators, an
elaborate telephone and communication system, a men’s grill room, tearoom, restrooms, a nursery,
reading and writing rooms, and an auditorium. Special services for the department store staff were also
available within the building, including a medical facility with a physician and dentist. The building was
substantially renovated from 1950 to 1952, at which point five floors were added and certain changes
were made to the exterior elevations: the window bays on the end of the primary elevations were
covered with clay tile and clad in glazed terra cotta and the original cornice was removed. The alterations,
which were completed by the firm of John Graham and Company with John Graham, Jr. leading the
project, simplified the appearance of the ornate building and the building’s interior was rearranged to
accommodate a more modern shopper. The Report on Designation for the Seattle Landmark states that
although these alterations “significantly altered the original architectural character and the appearance of
the building…these changes are indicative of important broad societal changes and reflect the evolving
role of the store as both a commercial and social institution” (Gordon, 1996). The designation report also
notes the department store’s important cultural role: during the late twentieth century, “the store
continued to be a supporter and exhibition place of Seattle arts organizations and arts events, and a
meeting place for thousands of Seattleites for civic, art and education purposes” (Gordon, 1996).
Although the building lacks some integrity of materials and design as a result of the mid-twentieth century
renovations, overall it retains integrity of workmanship, feeling, setting, location, and association. The
building is eligible for the NRHP under Criteria A and C for the important role it played in Seattle’s
commercial development and for its association with Graham, Sr. and his commercial retail designs.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Located at 512 Pine Street, the Frederick and Nelson Building is a 10-story, reinforced concrete
department store that encompasses nearly a full city block in the downtown retail core of Seattle. The
building has a flat roof with a low parapet and is almost entirely clad in off-white, glazed, terra cotta tile.
The original Neo-Renaissance style building was only five stories tall with a sixth story penthouse. Postrenovation, aspects of the Neo-Renaissance style remain, particularly in the terra cotta detailing and the
symmetry of the primary elevations, although the alterations to the building that occurred in the 1950s
simplified the overall appearance of the building. Located on Pine Street between 5th Avenue and 6th
Avenue, the department store’s primary (south, east, and west) elevations are currently defined by a
series of vertical piers that alternate with recessed window bays. Each bay contains three windows – oneover-one sash windows below single-light transoms – bordered by ornate terra cotta detailing. Some
transoms have been replaced with louvered vents. The terra cotta detailing around the windows mainly
includes repeating patterns of circular disk shapes of varying sizes – larger disks define the horizontal lines
while smaller, overlapping disks defined the vertical lines. Decorative oval and scroll motifs mark the
intersections of the horizontal and vertical lines. The window bays on the end of the primary elevations
were covered with clay tile during the 1950s renovation and were clad in glazed terra cotta.
The ground floor of the store includes large, fixed, single-light replacement commercial windows shaded
by a flat roof overhang. Due to a change in grade, the overhang is stair stepped on the side (east and
west) elevations. Modern, arched marquees define the various entrances on the primary elevations, and
shade replacement glazed-door storefronts with fixed, single-light transoms. The exterior walls on the
ground floor are clad in white-veined marble blocks. A dark granite base walls runs around the primary
elevations. Presently, a modern, enclosed glass bridge extends from the fourth floor of the east elevation,
crosses 6th Avenue and connects with the building across the street. The rear (north) elevation contains a
large light shaft located adjacent to the neighboring Medical Dental Building.
Page 5 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Gordon, Karen. 1996. Frederick & Nelson Building: 500-524 Pine Street. Report on Designation. Landmarks
Preservation Board. Administered by the Office of Urban Conservation, The Seattle Department of
Neighborhoods.
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/documents/DesRptFrederickNelsonBuilding.pdf.
Accessed November 18, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
East elevation
2014
West elevation
2014
Southwest corner
2014
View to the west, northwest
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
South elevation
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 8 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 219-36
DAHP No.
Historic Name: American Hotel/Stimson Building
Common Name: Westlake Place
Property Address: 1516 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 1975700195
Plat/Block/Lot Plat Block 19, Plat Lot: 5-8
Acreage .11
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
31
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187359
Northing: 835933
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 12/09/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: STELLAR CASCADE LLC
Owner Address: 5350 CARILLON POINT
City: KIRKLAND
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 7
98033
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Business
Current Use:
Plan: Triangular
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 6
Commerce/Trade - Business
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Moderate
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Commercial
Veneer - Terra Cotta
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1907 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
The property at 1516 4th Avenue in Seattle, Washington, which contains a large commercial building
constructed in 1907, is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under
Criterion A, which applies to buildings that are associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of history, as no significant events are associated with this property. To
be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a property must be directly associated with a person
considered significant within a historic context whose specific contribution to history has been both
identified and documented. No such person who meets that definition is linked to this building. The
property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C as it is an unremarkable, heavily altered earlytwentieth century commercial building and no longer embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type,
period, or method of construction; it is not the work of a master and does not possess high artistic value.
The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for information potential because the
materials and construction methods of the building do not convey important information that could
contribute to understanding history or prehistory. Therefore, the property is not eligible for listing in the
NRHP because it does not meet any of the eligibility criteria. The building is heavily altered including the
replacement of original windows and substantial alterations to the cladding, cornice, and storefront. As a
result, the building lacks integrity of materials, workmanship, feeling, and design. The building retains
integrity of setting, location, and association.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
1516 4th Avenue contains a six-story, masonry, triangular plan commercial building constructed in 1907.
The building includes three primary sections: a 24,250-square foot office building, a 6,000-square foot
basement/storage area, and a 4,950-square foot retail space. The building is heavily altered and “exhibits
minimal original historic building fabric or features” (Seattle Historical Sites, 2006). Upper level windows
have been replaced, along with the original cornice and some original cladding. Additionally, the ground
floor storefronts have been extensively altered. According to the King County assessor’s website, the
building was remodeled and part of the building’s use was changed from office space to a restaurant.
Historically known as the American Hotel/Stimson Building, the building is situated at an angle,
overlooking Westlake Park adjacent to Pine Street and 4th Avenue. The building is topped by a flat roof
covered in rolled roofing material and a low parapet. Terra cotta tiles clad most of the primary exterior
walls (west and north elevations). A blue, glazed, concave, terra cotta course runs horizontally between
each floor and also used to form a pattern of horizontal stripes across the exterior walls of the ground
floor storefronts. Just below a plain, terra cotta cornice on the primary (west) elevation, is a pattern of
small, square, angled, terra cotta tiles that create a multidimensional border, that wraps around onto the
narrow north elevation (essentially, the tip of the triangle). Original windows have been replaced with a
variety of contemporary styles, including fixed, single-light windows and horizontal sliding windows. The
windows between the fifth and sixth floor are separated by corrugated metal panels that are not likely
original to the building. Sculptural metal pieces that form a fan shape are attached to the corrugated
panels. These are also likely not original to the building. Some of the sculptural fans appear to have been
removed or are warped. The replacement ground floor storefronts, which are shaded by a flat overhang,
include glazed pedestrian doors surrounded by or adjacent to large, fixed, single-light commercial
windows. The south elevation of the building abuts another large commercial building and an alley runs
along the east elevation.
Page 5 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Seattle Historical Sites. 2006. Summary for 1516 4th Ave/ Parcel ID 1975700195. Seattle Department of
Neighborhoods. Seattle.gov http://web6.seattle.gov/DPD/HistoricalSite/QueryResult.aspx?ID=-42033208.
Accessed December 8, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
North corner
2014
West elevation
2014
West elevation, upper floors
2014
View to the southeast
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 220-37
DAHP No.
Historic Name: F.W. Woolworth Store
Common Name: Ross Dress for Less
Property Address: 301 Pike, Seattle, WA 98111
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 1975700300
Plat/Block/Lot PLat Block: 21 Plat Lot: 1 & 4-5
Acreage .46
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
32
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187188
Northing: 835429
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 12/09/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: SCOTT WARREN PROP MGEMNT
Owner Address: C/O ROSS DRESS FOR LESS 352 4440 ROSEWOOD DRIVE
City: PLEASANTON
State: CA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 7
94588
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Department Store
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 3
Commerce/Trade - Department Store
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Slight
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Art Deco - Streamlined
Moderne
Veneer - Terra Cotta
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Community Planning/Development
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1940 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect: Harold B. Hillman Woolworth Construction
Department
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:Yes
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
The property at 301 Pike Street in Seattle, Washington, historically known as the F.W. Woolworth
Company Store, contains a commercial building that is eligible for listing in the NRHP under Criteria A and
C. Constructed in 1940, the property is currently occupied by Ross Dress For Less. Designed by the
architect Harold B. Hillman who was employed as part of the Woolworth Construction Department in San
Francisco, the building is defined by a chamfered corner entrance topped by a stepped corner parapet.
The exterior walls of the building are clad in cream and salmon colored terra cotta tiles and incorporate
elements of the Art Deco/Streamline Moderne style. The building was constructed during World War II at
a time when the economic depression had stalled commercial construction projects as money was
redirected to the war effort. In Seattle, only three downtown buildings were constructed during this time
including the Federal Office Building (1932), the US Federal Courthouse (1940) and the F.W. Woolworth
Company Store.
The Woolworth Company was founded in 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth as a “five-and-dime” store
where everything cost under ten cents. The company soon transformed into a multi-million dollar retail
empire and eventually became the largest retail chain store in the U.S. Two previous Woolworth stores
had opened in Seattle before the Pike Street location opened in 1940 (Seattle Historical Sites, 2006). The
Seattle location incorporated many of the typical architectural features of Woolworth stores around the
country, including “Its cream and salmon colored terra cotta facades, stepped vertical corner tower
feature, distinctive ornamentation and original gilded lettering and later red illuminated signage (now
removed)” (Seattle Historical Sites, 2006).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
The F.W. Woolworth Company Store building has undergone alterations that have particularly affected
the primary (north and west) elevation storefronts. However, the upper floors of the building, where most
of the terra cotta detailing is located, retain integrity of materials, design, and workmanship. In spite of
the alterations, overall, the building retains integrity of feeling, association, setting, and location. The
building is a symbol of Seattle’s economic recovery from the Great Depression making it eligible under
NRHP Criterion A. It is also architecturally a good example of a chain department store that was designed
for a broader demographic making it eligible under NRHP Criterion C . The Art Deco and Streamline
Moderne features embody the popular trends in design at the time. In this way, the building is eligible for
listing in the NRHP under Criteria A and C and retains sufficient integrity to convey that significance.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
301 Pike Street contains a three-story, steel-reinforced concrete, commercial department store that was
originally constructed as the F.W. Woolworth Company Store in 1940. Situated on the corner of Pike
Street and 3rd Avenue, the rectangular plan, Art Deco/Streamline Moderne building has a chamfered
corner entrance with a stepped corner parapet and exterior walls clad in cream and salmon colored terra
cotta tiles. The building has a concrete foundation and is topped by a flat roof and low parapet that wraps
around the primary (north and west) elevations. Smooth terra cotta tiles clad the majority of each
exterior wall. A wide, salmon-colored terra cotta band with Art Deco inspired chevron detailing above the
ground floor storefronts creates a strong horizontal line that wraps around the building’s chamfered
northwest corner. Below the terra cotta band is a fluted aluminum band, reminiscent of the Streamline
Modern style. An Art Deco-style clock is located within the wide band above the chamfered entrance,
with three metal strips spanning out on either side of the clock like wings. Signs for the business have
been attached to the band on the primary elevations. The north elevation contains six bays while the west
elevation contains ten bays. Decoratively carved, narrow, recessed strips of salmon-colored terra cotta
create a subtle vertical counterpart to the strong, low, horizontal thrust of the overall building. The
vertical detailing bisects each bay and creates a linear connection between the windows on each floor.
Fluted piers separate each bay and terminate with stair-stepped caps just higher than the cornice. The
ground floor level is composed of large, fixed, single-light, aluminum replacement commercial windows
with fixed transoms. Each ground floor entrance is composed of double metal and glass pedestrian doors.
The building abuts the sidewalk and is attached to large commercial buildings along the east and south
elevations.
Page 5 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Seattle Historic Sites. 2006. Summary for 301 Pike Street / Parcel ID 1975700300. Seattle Department of
Neighborhoods. Seattle.gov. http://web6.seattle.gov/DPD/HistoricalSite/QueryResult.aspx?
ID=194680611. Accessed December 8, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
North elevation, view to the southeast
2014
West elevation
2014
Stepped corner parapet
2014
Chamfered, northwest corner entrance
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 221-38
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Republic Building
Common Name: Melbourne Tower
Property Address: 1511 3rd, Seattle, WA 98101
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 1975700465
Plat/Block/Lot DENNYS A A 3RD ADD LESS STS
Acreage 3.00399435
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
31
SE
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1186951
Northing: 835503
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 12/09/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: DONCASTER INVESTMENTS
Owner Address: 1511 3RD AVE #500
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 8
98101
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Professional
Current Use:
Plan: U-Shape
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 10
Commerce/Trade - Professional
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Slight
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Spanish - Eclectic
Veneer - Terra Cotta
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition
Other
Metal - Aluminum Siding
Exotic - Baroque
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1927 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect: Lawton and Moldenhour Architects
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:Yes
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
The property at 1511 3rd Avenue in Seattle, Washington, historically known as the Republic Building and
currently referred to as the Melbourne Tower Offices, contains a commercial building eligible for listing in
the NRHP under Criteria C. The building, which was designed by the firm of Lawton and Moldenhour
Architects, is entirely clad in off-white glazed terra cotta tiles and incorporates intricate spiral and floral
detailing, reminiscent of the Spanish Eclectic, Baroque, and Rococo styles. The large office building was
constructed during a period of rapid development that occurred after Seattle’s first zoning ordinance in
1923, which allowed a dense commercial core to emerge. The Republic Building was one of many such
high-rise office buildings that was erected at this time of economic prosperity and commercial
development in Seattle. George W. Lawton and Herman A. Moldenhour worked together between 1920
and 1928 and designed several prominent buildings in the city including the Masonic Temple (1922), the
Jordan Building (1920), and the Fourth and Pike Building/Liggett Building (1927) (Seattle Historical Sites,
2006).
The ground floor storefront of the Republic Building has been heavily altered and contains no original
materials. In addition, the building’s windows have been replaced with contemporary aluminum styles.
However, overall the building retains its most distinctive features, including elaborate terra cotta
detailing, elements of the Spanish Eclectic, Baroque, and Rococo styles, and its form as a high-rise, threepart vertical block office building. The building is significant under Criterion C for embodying the
distinctive characteristics of an early-twentieth century commercial office building and also for its
association with an important Seattle architectural firm. Although the building lacks some integrity of
materials, it still retains integrity of design, workmanship, feeling, location, setting, and association.
Therefore, the Republic Building is eligible for listing in the NRHP under Criterion C and retains sufficient
integrity of to convey that significance.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
1511 3rd Avenue contains a 10-story, steel and reinforced concrete, commercial building that was
originally constructed as the Republic Building in 1927. The building is currently divided into three
sections: a 107,293-square foot office building, a 9,600-square foot retail store, and a 14,000-square foot
unfinished basement. Situated on the corner of 3rd Avenue and Pike Street, the Republic Building has an
essentially U-shape plan with a central light shaft and is entirely clad in off-white glazed terra cotta tiles.
The visible windows are replacements and the ground floor storefront (occupied currently by Walgreens)
is composed of contemporary metal and glass pedestrian doors surrounded by replacement commercial
windows and aluminum cladding. Above the storefront, the second floor of the building on the primary
(east and south) elevations is defined by a large, centered single window opening that contains a row of
aluminum windows. An “intermediate cornice with an ornate corbel table” separates the second and third
floors of the building (Seattle Historical Sites, 2006). The windows on the third floor are framed by
intricate terra cotta pilasters and headers. Above the third floors, the primary elevations, continue to be
nearly identical to one another, composed of bays divided by almost full-height pilasters that extend
above the two-story base between the third and ninth floors on the building’s shaft. The pilasters have
long, narrow, recessed rectangular panels and terminate with ionic capitals. The tenth floor is a highly
ornamented building cap, the bays of which are separated by paired pilasters that end below a dentil
course. Each bay on the primary elevations contains one window below a fixed transom; however, the
end bays on both of the primary elevations are two windows wide. The window openings on each floor
above the two-story base are separated horizontally by recessed terra cotta spandrels decorated with
intricate spiral and floral detailing that are typical of the Spanish Eclectic style. Gabled parapets with
elaborate cresting define each of these end bays, which are divided by protruding, seven-story tall piers
topped by elegant terra cotta shields. Small curved balconies with wrought iron railings project from the
tenth floor of the corner bays, just below the gabled parapets. Above the window openings that overlook
the balconies are Rococo style, polychromatic details with scroll motifs. According to the King County
assessor’s website, the building was remodeled circa 2014, and the use of part of the second floor was
changed from office space to retail.
Page 5 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Seattle Historical Sites. 2006. Summary for 1511 3rd Ave / Parcel ID 1975700465. Seattle Department of
Neighborhoods. Seattle.gov. http://web6.seattle.gov/DPD/HistoricalSite/QueryResult.aspx?
ID=1209647289. Accessed December 8, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Window details, view to the north, northwest
2014
View to the west, northwest
2014
Southwest storefront corner
2014
View to the north, northwest
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Cornice and parapet details, view to the north, northwest
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 8 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 222-39
DAHP No.
Historic Name: S.H. Kress Store
Common Name: Starbuck's
Property Address: 1423 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98111
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 1975700485
Plat/Block/Lot PLat Block: 24 Plat Lot: 2-3,6
Acreage .45
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R40E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
32
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187131
Northing: 835287
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 12/09/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: ROIC WASHINGTON LLC
Owner Address: 8905 TOWNE CENTER DR #108
City: SAN DIEGO
State: CA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 8
92122
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Department Store
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 3
Commerce/Trade - Business
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Slight
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Gothic - Gothic Revival
Veneer - Terra Cotta
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition
Commercial
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1924 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect: E.J. Hoffman
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:Yes
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
The property at 1419 3rd Avenue in Seattle, Washington, historically known as the Kress Building,
contains a commercial building eligible for listing in the NRHP under Criteria C. Constructed in 1924, the
building was designed by E.J. Hoffman, a New York architect who was hired by S.H. Kress and Company.
Samuel H. Kress founded the Kress “five-and-dime” chain store in 1896 and quickly established locations
nationwide. From 1905 until 1944, the company included an architectural division that designed 220
buildings and became known for the quality of their designs: “These stores were constructed using high
quality materials and a wide range of façade designs to fit the scale and context of a specific
streetscape” (Seattle Historical Sites, 2006). Although the designers made adjustments based on the
streetscape and setting, certain common features of Kress buildings across the country emerged,
including the “lavish use of terra cotta and prominent ‘KRESS’ letters or logo, a perpetually distinctive
element displayed high upon the building” (Seattle Historical Sites, 2006).
The Seattle Kress building is an important example of an early-twentieth century retail chain store. The
building is a significant component of the downtown commercial district that emerged as a result of
Seattle’s first zoning ordinance in 1923 and a subsequent period of rapid commercial development.
Currently, the building is occupied by a mix of commercial businesses on the ground floor and offices on
the second and third floors. The building is distinctive for its extensive use of polychromatic terra cotta
detailing to decorate off-white terra cotta clad exterior walls. The crenelated parapet, which still displays
the typical “KRESS” logo, and the piers that vertically divide the primary (north and east) elevations
contain ornate Gothic Revival detailing, in the form of medallions, tracery, and quatrefoil motifs.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
The storefronts on the ground floor have been altered and many original materials have been replaced,
including the signage band, transom and display windows, entrances, and canopies. These alterations
have compromised the building’s integrity of materials, workmanship, and design. However, the upper
floors of the building, which contain the elaborate Gothic Revival terra cotta ornamentation, are intact
and retain integrity of materials, design, and workmanship. Overall, the building retains integrity of
feeling, association, setting, and location. The building is eligible for listing in the NRHP under Criterion C
as a significant example of an early-twentieth century retail chain store in Seattle’s downtown commercial
core.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
1419 3rd Avenue contains a three-story, reinforced concrete commercial building with a rectangular plan
that was constructed in 1924. Historically known as the Kress Building, it is situated on a corner parcel at
the intersection of Pike Street and 3rd Street. Presently, the first and second floors are 19,590-square foot
retail spaces occupied by several businesses and the third floor is a 19,590-square foot office space. The
building also includes a 23,450-square foot basement, occupied by a grocery store. The visible windows
are contemporary replacements. Topped by a flat roof and stair step parapet, the building has a concrete
foundation and is clad in glazed cream terra cotta panels. The most notable feature of the building is its
polychromatic terra cotta ornamentation that incorporates elements of the Gothic Revival style. The
primary (north and east) elevations each contain five bays. The ground floor storefront, which is heavily
altered, is composed of replacement metal and glass pedestrian doors surrounded by fixed, single-light
windows. Rectangular piers clad in terra cotta tiles separate the bays on the ground floor and a nonoriginal flat roof overhang shades the storefronts. The exterior of the upper floors remains largely intact.
Each bay on the second and third floors contain a row of five, single-light windows, with the exception of
the central bay on the north elevation, which only includes four windows. Rectangular terra cotta
spandrels create a horizontal divide between the second floor and the third floor and contain ribbed terra
cotta panels. In the center of each spandrel is a circular, polychromatic medallion. The tops of the piers on
the second and third floors are decorated with gothic tracery over sky blue backgrounds and quatrefoils.
The stepped parapet rises to its full height above the central bay of each primary elevation and contains
the iconic, cast terra cotta “Kress” name. Intricate salmon and blue panels with tracery and quatrefoil
detailing ornament the parapet on either side of the central “Kress” name. According to the King County
assessor’s website, sections of the building have been remodeled on several occasions: 1997, 1999, 20042005, 2008, and 2012-2013.
Page 5 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Seattle Historical Sites. 2006. Summary for 1419 3rd Ave/ Parcel ID 1975700485. Seattle Department of
Neighborhoods. Seattle.gov. http://web6.seattle.gov/DPD/HistoricalSite/QueryResult.aspx?
ID=1332304271. Accessed December 9, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Page 6 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Northeast corner
2014
KRESS signage detail
2014
KRESS signage
North elevation, view to the west
2014
Parapet detail
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
East elevation, contemporary storefront
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 8 of 8
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 224-40
DAHP No. 17-03916
Historic Name: Haight Building
Common Name: 2nd and Pine Building
Property Address: 211 Pine, Seattle, WA 98101
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 1975700420
Plat/Block/Lot PLat Block: 23 Plat Lot: 1
Acreage .13
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
31
SE
County
King
Quadrangle
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1186713
Northing: 835670
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 12/09/2014
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: BREIER SCHEETZ PROPERTIES
Owner Address: 1402 3RD AVE #826
City: SEATTLE
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Determination Comments:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 7
98101
Historic Inventory Report
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Professional
Current Use:
Plan: Irregular
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 7
Domestic - Multiple Family House
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Commercial - Chicago
School
Veneer - Stone
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1910 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect: Stephen A. Jennings
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:Yes
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
In 1853 David Denny established the first Donation Land Claim (DLC) on the south shore of Lake Union,
reaching from today's Mercer Street to Denny Way (SLUFAN, 2003). At the time, this South Lake Union
DLC was a considerable distance from the town and was used mainly for logging. When Seattle was
officially incorporated in 1869 the boundaries stopped short of including the Denny DLC at Lake Union.
The area around Lake Union began to develop an industrial nature in the 1860s with the discovery of coal
near Issaquah on the east side of Lake Washington (Fiset, 2001). In 1882, the first sawmill at Lake Union,
founded as the Lake Union Lumber and Manufacturing Company, was constructed (Boyle Wagoner
Architects, 1998). It was followed by other mills, all dumping sawdust into the lake until the small bay at
the southwest corner of the lake was covered, reducing the size of the lake by a third (SLUFAN, 2003). The
area was also partially residential, composed of a mainly blue collar community that was supported by the
job opportunities in the industries around the lake. By 1883, Seattle had grown considerably, with over
3,000 citizens, and the City annexed much of the Denny land all the way north to McGraw/Galer Street
(Sherwood, 1974). By 1885, a horse-car line ran along the south shore of Lake Union, and residential
expansion grew along the eastern shores of the lake in what is now the Eastlake neighborhood (Courtois
et al., 1999). Despite the development of residential neighborhoods, intense industrial development
continued to be the primary focus of the South Lake Union area. The Lake Washington Ship Canal (1917)
opened Lake Union to shipping between Puget Sound and Lake Washington leading to even greater
industrial and commercial development. Several large laundries were built in the South Lake Union area,
as well as smaller machine shops and automobile dealerships. Aurora Avenue was widened and
transformed into an expressway in 1932, cutting the neighborhood off from the communities to the west
and furthering its image as an industrial and commercial area. In 1957, a new zoning ordinance converted
the area to a manufacturing zone that eliminated any new residential uses. Many blocks of houses and
small-scale commercial buildings were demolished for the construction of I-5 in the early 1960s (Fiset,
2001). Little remains now of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residences, or of the lumber
or marine industries. Beginning in the 1990s, the area experienced intense redevelopment and is now
dominated by office, commercial, medical, and high-density residential.
The property at 211 Pine Street in Seattle, Washington, historically known as the Haight Building and
presently known as the Second and Pine Apartments, contains a commercial building eligible for listing in
the NRHP under Criterion C. Constructed in 1910, the design of the Haight Building has been credited to
the architect Stephen A. Jennings about which little is known, although records indicate that he was a
resident of Seattle who practiced as an architect in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries
(Seattle Historical Sites, 2006). Jennings was commissioned to design the building by James Haight after
he purchased the land in 1908. The cost of construction was $150,000 (Seattle Historic Sites, 2006).
The Haight Building is a simple, seven-story commercial structure that is a good example of the early
phase of downtown development in Seattle during the early-twentieth century. This period of rapid
development was spurred by economic successes enjoyed by the city resulting from the Klondike Gold
Rush and the subsequent rise in population. After the establishment of the Frederick and Nelson
department store on the corner of 5th Avenue and Pine Street, a concentration of commercial properties
followed, forming a downtown commercial core along 2nd Avenue between Cherry and Pike streets. The
use of steel and concrete and the influence of the Chicago School of architecture allowed the new
commercial buildings to be significantly taller and aesthetically more impressive than earlier buildings
(Seattle Historic Sites, 2006).
Although the upper floor windows have been replaced with contemporary aluminum designs and some
alterations have occurred to the storefront, the building retains many original materials and its two-part
vertical block form. Overall, the building retains integrity of design, workmanship, feeling, association,
location, setting, and feeling and most of its integrity of materials. In this way, the building embodies the
distinctive characteristics of a type, period, and method of construction – namely an early-twentieth
century, reinforced concrete, commercial building. Therefore, it is eligible for listing in the NRHP under
Criterion C.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
211 Pine Street contains a seven-story, slightly irregular plan, reinforced concrete building constructed in
1910 and known historically as the Haight Building. The Chicago School-style commercial building, which
currently functions as the Second and Pine Apartments, has a flat roof and a poured concrete foundation.
Clad in smooth stone tiles, the Haight Building contains nine bays and four bays respectively on its primary
(west and south) elevations. The ground floor storefronts are separated by narrow piers clad in smooth
stone tile. Each bay contains large commercial windows or double glazed pedestrian doors surrounded by
fixed, single-light windows. Decorative, Art Nouveau-style transoms, some of which have been replaced or
covered, are located above the ground floor storefronts. An intermediate stone cornice separates the
ground floor base from the main shaft of the building. The upper floors of the building include repeating
patterns of large, plain window openings above slightly recessed spandrels clad in smooth stone tiles.
Wider, full-height, protruding piers separate the bays on the building’s shaft. Otherwise, the building is
largely unadorned with the exception of a projecting entablature composed of a metal cornice and
dentils.
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Boyle Wagoner Architects. 1998. Denny Way/Lake Union Project, Historic Property Treatment and
Monitoring Plan - Appendix A, Property Survey #19. August 1998.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Courtois, S., K. Krafft, C. Wickwire, J. Bard, and R. McClintock. 1999. Central Link Light Rail Transit Project
Seattle, Tukwila and SeaTac, Washington. Final Technical Report: Historic and Prehistoric Archaeological
Sites, Historic Resources, Native American Traditional Cultural Properties, and Paleontological Sites.
Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Seattle.
Fiset, L. 2001. Seattle Neighborhoods: Cascade and South Lake Union - Thumbnail History. HistoryLink.org.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3178. April 9, 2001. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Seattle.gov. 2006. Summary for 211 Pine St / Parcel ID 1975700420. Seattle Historical Sites. Seattle
Department of Neighborhoods. http://web6.seattle.gov/DPD/HistoricalSite/QueryResult.aspx?
ID=1159567672. Accessed December 9, 2014.
Sherwood, D.N. 1974. “History: Denny Park.” Sherwood History Files of Seattle Parks and Recreation. May
22, 1974. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/history/sherwood.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
South Lake Union Friends & Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN). 2003. Neighborhood History.
http://www.slufan.org/history/default.htm. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 5 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
West elevation, storefront detail
2014
Siding detail
2014
Detail of metal cornice and dentils
2014
South elevation, storefront
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 6 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
South elevation, upper floors
2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 7 of 7
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 247
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Farwest Printing
Common Name: Tesla Motors
Property Address: 425 Westlake N, Seattle, WA 98109
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 1983200005
Plat/Block/Lot Denny's 1st Add, Block 92, Lot 1-2
Acreage 0.3
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
30
SE
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1186939
Northing: 840295
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 05/19/2015
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: CAMERON SMITH
Owner Address: 425 WESTLAKE AVE N
City: Seattle
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
National Register
Comments:
Determined not NRHP-eligible in 2005
Survey/Inventory
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 6
98109
Historic Inventory Report
Determination Comments:
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Warehouse
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Unreinforced Masonry
Stories: 2
Commerce/Trade - Business
Changes to Plan: Not Applicable
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Commercial
Brick
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1920 Built Date
Other
Builder:
1970 Remodel
2009 Remodel
Engineer:
Architect: Charles Haynes
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 425 Westlake Avenue N in Seattle, Washington, which contains a commercial building
constructed in 1920 and designed by Charles Haynes, is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. In 2005, the
property was determined not eligible for listing in the NRHP and received SHPO concurrence (Campbell
and Jackson, 2004). The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion A, which applies to buildings
that are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history,
as no significant events are associated with this property. To be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B, a
property must be directly associated with a person considered significant within a historic context whose
specific contribution to history has been both identified and documented. No such person who meets that
definition is linked to this building. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C as it is an
unremarkable early-twentieth century commercial building and does not embody the distinctive
characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction; it is not the work of a master and does not
possess high artistic value. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D for information
potential because the materials and construction methods of the building do not convey important
information that could contribute to understanding history or prehistory. Therefore, the property remains
not eligible for listing in the NRHP because it does not meet any of the eligibility criteria. In addition the
building has been altered including the replacement of the original windows and doors and alterations to
the storefronts. As a result, the property has lost integrity of materials, workmanship and design. The
building retains integrity of feeling, setting, location, and association.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
425 Westlake Avenue N contains a two-story, rectangular plan, masonry building that was constructed in
1920 and designed by Charles Haynes. The property is currently occupied by Tesla Motors on the ground
floor and offices and an apartment on the second floor. According to the survey form completed for the
property in 2004, the 25,920-square foot building was occupied in 1930 by Farwest Printing. Between
1930 and 1940, numerous businesses were housed in the building including North Coast Shoe
Manufacturers, Thomas Stratton restaurant, Sunbeam Utilities, Lewis Casing Company, Lewis
Refrigeration and Supply Company, and Black and Decker Manufacturing. The building was remodeled
first circa 1970, at which time “all of the storefronts along Westlake Avenue [were] altered” (Campbell
and Jackson, 2004). According to the King County Assessor’s website, the building was most recently
remodeled in 2009, at which time interior alterations for new elevator, lobbies, corridors, and bathrooms
were made. A structural canopy addition was constructed along with alterations to the storefronts.
The building, which is clad in brick, contains all replacement doors and windows and has a flat, built up
roof and a concrete slab foundation. The front (east) elevation contains two distinct halves that each
contain three large, evenly spaced bays: three bays on the north end of the façade and three bays on the
south end of the facade. An arched parapet rises from the center of each half, mirroring the arched
header of the window beneath. On the ground floor, each bay contains a renovated storefront composed
of a pedestrian entrance surrounded by fixed, single-light windows. Each bay on the second floor of the
front elevation contains a large, multi-light, replacement window. The top edge of the storefronts on the
ground floor and the top and bottom edge of the window openings on the second floor are defined by a
soldier brick course below a header brick course. Solider course details are also located on the exterior
walls between each bay on the front elevation. Fenestration is limited on the building’s south elevation
and includes four pairs of small, arched windows on the ground floor, all of which have been boarded up.
A large paved parking area is located on the lot south of the property. The ground floor of the north
elevation contains a vehicle bay with a retractable metal door, a loading dock with a retractable metal
door, a pedestrian entrance and several small, fixed, single-light replacement windows. The second floor
contains a row of eight, multi-light replacement windows. The building abuts the sidewalk along Westlake
Avenue and Republican Street.
Page 4 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Campbell, K. and R. Jackson. 2004. Farwest Printing: 425 Westlake Ave N. Parcel 1983200005. South Lake
Union Streetcar survey. Historic Property Inventory Form. Washington Information System for
Architectural and Archaeological Records Data (WISAARD). December 15.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Page 5 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Northeast corner, view to the south
2015
South elevation
2015
Northeast corner
2015
Southeast corner
2015
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 6 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 250
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Hemphill Diesel Engineering School
Common Name: 503 Westlake Ave N
Property Address: 503 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 1983200095
Plat/Block/Lot Denny's 1st Add, Block 93 Lot 7
Acreage 0.15
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
30
SE
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1186943
Northing: 840451
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 05/19/2015
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: 503 WESTLAKE ASSOCIATES LLC
Owner Address: 503 WESTLAKE AVE N
City: Seattle
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
National Register
Determined NRHP-eligible in 2005
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 6
98109
Historic Inventory Report
Determination Comments:
Description
Historic Use: Education - School
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Unreinforced Masonry
Stories: 2
Vacant/Not in Use
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Slight
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Other - Utilitarian
Brick
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Rolled
Commercial
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Utilitarian
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1919 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:Yes
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 503 Westlake Avenue N in Seattle, Washington, which was recently occupied by Antique
Liquidators but is a currently vacant utilitarian building constructed in 1919, is eligible for listing in the
NRHP. The building, which was known historically as the Hemphill Diesel Engineering School and machine
shop, is eligible under Criterion C as a significant building “characteristic of the two-story… warehouse
style common to the Westlake corridor” (Campbell and Jackson, 2004). Westlake Avenue and the South
Lake Union neighborhood were home to a collection of automobile related businesses. These businesses
included dealerships for new and used automobiles, repair shops, service stations, tire businesses, and
the Ford Motor Assembly Plant. The automobile industry spurred the development of the area and
became a defining aspect South Lake Union’s early history and architecture (Campbell and Jackson, 2004).
The Hemphill Diesel Engineering School building embodies the distinctive characteristics of an early
automobile-related facility. Over the years, the building has been occupied by numerous other
manufacturing businesses including a gold mining company, a welding company, a wholesale beverage
company, and an awning company. In 2005, the building was determined eligible for listing in the NRHP.
Currently, the building is vacant and for sale. Several of the ground floor window openings have been
covered with opaque materials and advertisements, diminishing the building’s integrity of materials.
Overall, however, the building retains integrity of design, workmanship, association, feeling, setting, and
location. Therefore, the building remains eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C and retains sufficient
integrity to convey that significance.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
503 Westlake Avenue N contains a two story, masonry building with a rectangular plan that was
constructed in 1919. The utilitarian building, which is currently for sale and vacant, has a flat roof covered
in rolled roofing material with a low rectangular parapet. The exterior walls are painted brick. A stepped,
triangular pediment rises from the center of the front (east) elevation. The façade contains three large
bays; the side (south) elevation contains five bays. A neighboring building is attached to the north
elevation. The center bay on the ground floor of the front elevation contains a vehicle bay with a
retractable door adjacent to a plain, metal pedestrian door. The vehicle door contains four-over-four,
horizontally oriented, fixed, single-light windows. The vehicle entrance bay is flanked by two large,
storefront bays. Each storefront bay contains a large, single-light, fixed window between two narrower,
fixed, single-light windows below a transom. The second floor of the front elevation contains three large
window openings with brick-header sills. Each window opening contains two, two-over-three, metal
studio windows with several operable awning lights. There are five window openings on the ground floor
of the side elevation. The row’s easternmost window is a large storefront window with a transom that is
covered with an advertisement. The other four, smaller windows are covered by opaque panels. The five
studio windows on the second floor of the south elevation are identical to those on the front elevation.
Besides the window sills on the second floor, exterior is utilitarian and understated, with some simple Art
Deco details executed using slightly raised or recessed bricks painted a dark green: a raised trim runs
along the cornice and a thick, recessed band wraps around the primary elevations above the second floor
windows. The band above the windows is punctuated by small, slightly raised, diamond shapes that mark
the corner pilasters and the spaces between the storefront bays. Raised triangles that point downwards
are painted on the exterior walls of the front elevation between each second floor window. The word
“Antiques” has been painted vertically on the corner pilasters. The building abuts the sidewalk on
Westlake Avenue and Republican Street.
Page 4 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Source: Campbell, K. and R. Jackson. 2004. Hemphill Diesel Engineering School: 503 Westlake Ave N.
Parcel 1983200095. South Lake Union Streetcar survey. Historic Property Inventory Form. Washington
Information System for Architectural and Archaeological Records Data (WISAARD). December 15.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Page 5 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
South elevation
2015
Southeast corner
2015
Southeast corner, view to the west
2015
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 6 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 251
DAHP No.
Historic Name:
Common Name: Uptown Espresso
Property Address: 500 Westlake N, Seattle, WA 98109
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 1983200170
Plat/Block/Lot Denny's 1st Add, Block 94 Lot 8-9
Acreage 0.3
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
30
SE
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187142
Northing: 840476
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 05/19/2015
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: CITY INVESTORS IX L.L.C
Owner Address: 505 5TH AVE S #900
City: Seattle
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
Survey/Inventory
Comments:
National Register
Determined not NRHP-eligible in 2005
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 6
98104
Historic Inventory Report
Determination Comments:
Description
Historic Use: Unknown
Plan: Rectangle
Current Use:
Stories: 3
Commerce/Trade - Restaurant
Structural System: Unreinforced Masonry
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Extensive
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Commercial
Concrete - Block
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition Built Up
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1919 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 500 Westlake Avenue N in Seattle, Washington is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. The
King County Assessor’s website dates the commercial building to 1919. In 2005, the property was
determined not eligible for listing in the NRHP and received SHPO concurrence (Campbell and Jackson,
2004). The associated survey form for the property disputes 1919 as the construction year, and instead
asserts that the building was likely constructed circa 1940 or 1950, due to the curved entrance corner
(Campbell and Jackson, 2004). The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion A, which applies
to buildings that are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad
patterns of history, as no significant events are associated with this property. To be eligible for the NRHP
under Criterion B, a property must be directly associated with a person considered significant within a
historic context whose specific contribution to history has been both identified and documented. No such
person who meets that definition is linked to this building. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under
Criterion C as it is an unremarkable early- to mid-twentieth century commercial building and does not
embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction; it is not the work of a
master and does not possess high artistic value. The property is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion
D for information potential because the materials and construction methods of the building do not
convey important information that could contribute to understanding history or prehistory. Therefore,
the property remains not eligible for listing in the NRHP because it does not meet any of the eligibility
criteria. In addition the building has been heavily altered including the replacement of the original siding,
windows and doors and alterations to the storefronts. As a result, the property has lost integrity of
materials, workmanship and design. The building retains integrity of feeling, setting, location, and
association.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
500 Westlake Avenue N contains a three-story, essentially rectangular plan, masonry building that was
constructed in 1919. The property is currently occupied by a restaurant called Uptown Espresso; however,
the original use of the 40,686-square foot building is unknown (Campbell and Jackson, 2004). According to
the King County Assessor’s website, in 2011 the building was remodeled to change the use of the building
from retail space to restaurant. The building, which is situated on a corner parcel, has a flat, built up roof
with a low rectangular parapet. The exterior walls on the primary (west and south) elevations are large,
painted, concrete blocks. The rear (east) elevation is exposed brick while the north elevation is attached
to another commercial building. It is likely that the building was original clad entirely in brick. A curved,
southwest corner entrance defines the exterior and is reminiscent of the Streamline Moderne
architectural style. A rectangular, metal marquee and a flat awning also curve around the southwest
corner of the building, above the narrow, recessed main entrance. A row of four-light, ribbon windows
wrap around the primary elevations, just below the cornice, which is defined by a concrete coping. A
pedestrian door is located on the south elevation and is flanked by two, four-light, large commercial
window openings on the west and one commercial storefront opening shaded by a flat metal awning to
the east. The commercial storefront contains a recessed pedestrian entrance surrounded by fixed singlelight commercial windows. Each opening is topped by a transom window that is separated from the
window below by a band of exterior wall space. Two large window openings that each contain a row of
four, fixed, single-light commercial windows, are located on the south elevation. The building abuts the
sidewalk on Westlake Avenue N and Republican Street.
Page 4 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Campbell, K. and R. Jackson. 2004. Faction: 500 Westlake Ave N. Parcel 1983200170. South Lake Union
Streetcar survey. Historic Property Inventory Form. Washington Information System for Architectural and
Archaeological Records Data (WISAARD). December 15.
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Page 5 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Southeast corner, view to the north
2015
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Southwest corner
2015
Page 6 of 6
Historic Inventory Report
Location
Field Site No. 268
DAHP No.
Historic Name: Vance Lumber Company Warehouse
Common Name: UW School of Medicine Institute for the Analysis of Molecular Systems
Property Address: 964 Republican St, Seattle, WA 98104
Comments:
Tax No./Parcel No. 1983200160
Plat/Block/Lot Denny's D T 1st Add/94/4-7
Acreage .48
Supplemental Map(s)
Township/Range/EW
T25R04E
Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec
30
SE
County
King
Quadrangle
SEATTLE SOUTH
Coordinate Reference
Easting: 1187270
Northing: 840502
Projection: Washington State Plane South
Datum: HARN (feet)
Identification
Survey Name: Seattle Center City Connector
Date Recorded: 05/19/2015
Field Recorder: MaryNell Nolan-Wheatley
Owner's Name: LAKE UNION I LLC
Owner Address: 505 5TH AVE S #900
City: Seattle
State: WA
Zip:
Classification: Building
Resource Status:
National Register
Comments:
Determined not NRHP-eligible in 2008
Survey/Inventory
Within a District? No
Contributing? No
National Register:
Local District:
National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name:
Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO
Determination Date: 1/1/0001
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 1 of 5
98104
Historic Inventory Report
Determination Comments:
Description
Historic Use: Commerce/Trade - Warehouse
Current Use:
Plan: Rectangle
Structural System: Concrete - Reinforced Concrete
Stories: 3
Health Care - Medical Business/Office
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Extensive
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Other:
Other (specify):
Style:
Cladding:
Roof Type:
Roof Material:
Modern - Contemporary
Veneer - Stucco
Flat with Parapet
Asphalt / Composition
Foundation:
Form/Type:
Concrete - Poured
Commercial
Narrative
Study Unit
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Date of Construction:
1928 Built Date
Other
Builder:
Engineer:
Architect: V.W. Voorhees
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No
Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No
Statement of
Significance:
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The City of Seattle, Washington is located on an isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
The seaport city serves as the King County seat. Originally inhabited by the Duwamish Native American
population, the first European explorers in the Puget Sound region arrived in the late eighteenth century
and competed for territorial claims over trade routes in the Northwest. No permanent settlements or
trading posts were founded as a result of these early expeditions, but the ample supply of beavers and
otters along the region’s waterways made the area appealing to fur-trading companies, such as the British
Hudson’s Bay Company (Shine, 2014). Between 1843 and 1860, 53,000 settlers traveled to the west coast
via the Oregon Trail. While the Oregon Territory became a state in 1843, the area north of the Columbia
River that would eventually become Washington State remained under British rule until 1846
(Smithsonian Institution, 2013).
Page 2 of 5
Historic Inventory Report
In 1851, brothers Arthur and David Denny left New York to settle in the Willamette Valley but instead
headed to the Puget Sound region, swayed by the promise of its abundant natural resources. They settled
at a site known as Alki Point (currently West Seattle) and in honor of their hometown, named the camp
Alki-New York. Several months later, the group relocated to the mudflats on the opposite side of Elliott
Bay in order to access a deeper harbor and renamed their settlement Seattle after an important
Duwamish chief named Sealth (Kueter, 2001; Seattle.gov, 2014). During these early years of settlement,
lumber production emerged as the primary industry for Seattle, providing materials for a thriving ship
building business (Casey, 2014). As a result of the success of this industry, the population grew over the
next few decades. In 1869, with 2,000 inhabitants, Seattle was incorporated by the Territorial legislature,
twenty years before Washington would be granted statehood (Seattle.gov, 2014).
A devastating fire, known as the Great Fire, destroyed most of the city on June 6, 1889. Due to the
community’s reliance on timber for construction, the conflagration consumed nearly the entirety of the
downtown. Despite the mass destruction, the city was not defeated; the large-scale rebuilding project
boosted the city’s economy and resulted in a number of major structural and aesthetic improvements for
the city, including the widening of streets, new water works and wharf facilities, and the construction of
many beautiful urban buildings (Casey, 2014). In addition, the City Engineer of Seattle initiated a project
to completely change the topography of the city in the vicinity of Denny Hill, which stood not only as a
barrier between downtown and the northern neighborhood of Belltown, but also as a major impediment
for pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles traveling along the steep roads. The massive regrading of Denny
Hill, known as the Denny Regrade, began in 1898 and continued for 30 years, in an effort to remove what
was viewed as an obstacle to Seattle's growth and expansion. The project ultimately removed Denny Hill,
leveling the topography of approximately 67 urban blocks (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). The Klondike
gold rush in the late 1890s brought tens of thousands of new settlers to Seattle on their way to Alaska and
the Yukon, Canada and resulted in another economic boom as new banks, bars, brothels, theaters,
taverns, shops, restaurants, and honky-tonks opened. By 1910, Seattle's population had exploded to
237,194 residents and new suburbs grew to accommodate the residents (Kueter, 2001).
Seattle experienced another period of economic prosperity as a result of World War I, during which time
the city’s shipbuilding yards became an important part of the war effort. The boom was soon met with a
bust during the 1920s as a result of a sharp decline in the shipbuilding and lumber industries, followed by
the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II initiated another period of economic development as the
shipbuilding industry once again flourished. During this time, the Boeing Company, which was based in
Seattle, witnessed rapid growth and financial successes that would halt after World War II. In the late
1950s, however, the unveiling of Boeing’s 707 commercial jet airliner heralded another prosperous time
for the city and attention turned to Seattle’s promising future, epitomized by the 1962 city-sponsored
world’s fair known as the Century 21 Exposition. The Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle was
constructed as part of this event (Seattle.gov, 2014). The world’s fair was followed by yet another
economic downturn resulting from the oil crises which had severe consequences for Boeing and its
workforce, much of which was laid off at this time. The 1980s and 1990s, however, were defined by the
rise of the information technology and research industry in Seattle, with the establishment of Microsoft
and other hi-tech companies. Seattle has sustained its position as a center for technology and innovation
into the 21st century: “In less than two centuries it has come to stand tall as one of the great cities of the
American West” (Casey, 2014).
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 3 of 5
Historic Inventory Report
The property at 964 Republican Street in Seattle, Washington, which is a commercial office building
originally constructed in 1928 as a lumber warehouse, is not eligible for listing in the NRHP. Designed by
architect V.W. Voorhees, the property was surveyed in 1999 and was recommended eligible. The property
was resurveyed, however, in 2007 and was determined not eligible for the NRHP with SHPO concurrence
in 2008 (Durio, 2007). The change in eligibility was the result of a renovation that occurred in 2000, at
which time the building’s use was changed to medical offices. The survey form from 2007 states: “Due to
the extensive changes made during this renovation, the building no longer retains integrity” (Durio, 2007).
Currently, the building remains so heavily altered that the original design is no longer apparent. As a
result, the property has lost integrity of materials, workmanship, design, feeling, and association. The
building retains integrity of setting and location. Therefore, the property remains not eligible for listing in
the NRHP because it does not retain sufficient integrity.
Description of
Physical
Appearance:
964 Republican Street contains a three-story, rectangular plan, reinforced concrete building that was
originally constructed in 1928 as the Vance Lumber Company warehouse designed by the architect V.W.
Voorhees. The property was heavily renovated in 2000 at which time it was converted into medical offices
for the UW School of Medicine Institute for the Analysis of Molecular Systems. The 14,400-square foot
building currently also includes a 13,800-square foot finished basement. At the time of its renovation, the
appearance of the building was significantly altered, nearly eliminating the original design. The reinforced
concrete building has a flat roof and a concrete foundation. A stepped parapet surrounds the primary
elevations of the building and hides “large equipment and additional square footage” (Durio, 2007). The
visible windows and doors are contemporary replacements, although the original window openings may
still remain extant. Decorative metal bands wrap around the exterior walls, creating a repeating horizontal
line marking each floor of the building. Non-original stucco clads the exterior walls; the exterior wall
above the main entrance on Republican Street (south elevation) is clad in metal. The entrance is
composed of replacement, metal and glass double doors surrounded by fixed, single-light windows. A flat,
metal awning, suspended by two metal cables, likely added at the time of the 2000 renovation, shades
the main entrance. The building abuts the sidewalk on Republican and Terry streets.
Major
Bibliographic
References:
Casey, Chris. 2014. Seattle History. Seattle.com. http://www.seattle.com/history/. Accessed September
19, 2014.
Durio, L. 2007. Vance Lumber Company: 964 Republican Street. Parcel 1983200160. Mercer Corridor
Improvements survey. Historic Property Inventory Form. Washington Information System for
Architectural and Archaeological Records Data (WISAARD). October 16.
Kueter, Vince. 2001. “Seattle Through the Years: 150 Years Seattle By and By.” The Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Nyberg, Folke and Victor Steinbrueck. 1975. Denny Regrade. An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design
Resources. Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. Neighborhood Inventories. Historic
Seattle: Dedicated to Architectural Preservation.
http://www.historicseattle.org/resources/neighborhoodinventories.aspx. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Seattle.Gov. 2014. Brief History of Seattle. Seattle Municipal Archives.
http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/brief-history-of-seattle. Accessed September 19, 2014.
Shine, Gregory P. 2014. “Hudson’s Bay Company.” The Oregon Encyclopedia. Portland State University
and the Oregon Historical Society.
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hudson_s_bay_company/. Accessed September 30, 2014.
Smithsonian Institution. 2013. “Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846-48.”
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/borders/essay3.html. Accessed
September 30, 2014.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 4 of 5
Historic Inventory Report
Photos
Front (south) elevation
2015
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Page 5 of 5