Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 1121 17th AVE / Parcel ID 7234600715 / Inv #

Historic Name: Carmona, The Common Name: Carmona, The Style: Spanish - Mediterranean Neighborhood: Central Area Built By: Year Built: 1929   Significance In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places. In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. In the opinion of the survey, this property is located in a potential historic districe (National and/or local). The Carmona is one of a unique collection of eight ca. 1929 apartment buildings located in the 1100 block of 17th Avenue, several of which were by Samuel Anderson, a local developer and builder. They appear to have been designed either by Anderson himself or by unidentified designers on his staff. The Fleur de Lis is notable for its unusual romanticized French Eclectic detailing. This grouping is in vivid contrast to the more typical brick-clad buildings with Tudor- or Gothic inspired terra cotta ornament. Anderson (1884-1959) was primarily a builder of single-family homes who entered the apartment field in the late 1920s. Anderson came to Seattle from Wisconsin in 1906 and became very active in the home building industry as an organizer and official of the Seattle Master Builders Association and related national organizations. In 1928-29 he developed several apartment buildings, notable for their vivid interpretations of a wide variety of styles. They are all basic three-story rectangular forms with central entrances and accommodating 14 to 16 units ranging from 660 to 900 square feet in size. The applied ornament and architectural detailing on the facades is very striking and expressive, drawing from the Art Deco, Colonial, Mediterranean Revival, French Provincial and Tudor Revival styles. Each building has its own individualized landscaping. These buildings, all built within one year, are good examples of the major construction Seattle experienced during the 1920s. The city's population had increased dramatically in previous decades, and prosperity encouraged developers to meet the pent-up demand for housing. Apartments, ranging from basic housing to luxury units, were a significant factor in meeting this need, and became a major element of the streetscape in many Seattle neighborhoods. This is a fine example of the design attention paid to many of these buildings, where detailing and materials were used to reduce the impact of larger structures. This neighborhood, known as Renton Hill, had been the site of many fine homes early in the century. By the late 1920s many of those houses were becoming multifamily, and apartment buildings were being built. The area was especially attractive for its views and the convenient Madison Street car line to both downtown and Lake Washington.   Appearance The three-story Carmona features many Mediterranean Revival details, including stucco cladding and a hipped roof (in front) clad with red tile and with large corbels. The ornate entry bay has an oak door with leaded glass and sidelights flanked by two pairs of columns supporting a narrow second-floor wrought iron balcony onto which open French doors of elaborate art glass. The third floor has a pair of arched windows (also art glass) with a small wood balcony supported by large corbels. The other two windows on this floor are also pairs of arched sash with brick lintels and flanked by twisted columns. The windows on other floors have six-over-nine sash, with window boxes on the first floor. The corners and side elevations are clad with red brick.

Detail for 1121 17th AVE / Parcel ID 7234600715 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: INV Cladding(s): Brick, Stucco Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Flat, Hip Roof Material(s): Clay Tile, Other Building Type: Domestic - Multiple Family Plan: Square Structural System: Balloon Frame/Platform Frame No. of Stories: three Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture Integrity Changes to Plan: Intact Changes to Interior: Unknown Changes to Original Cladding: Intact Changes to Windows: Intact Major Bibliographic References King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives. City of Seattle, Department of Planning and Development, Microfilm Records.

Photo collection for 1121 17th AVE / Parcel ID 7234600715 / Inv #

Photo taken Photo taken Mar 22, 2006