| Historic Name: |
Greenstreet, Rose, House |
Common Name: |
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| Style: |
Beaux Arts - Neoclassical |
Neighborhood: |
Capitol Hill |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1906 |
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| Significance |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
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This is an early house in the area, built in 1906 just as this part of Capitol Hill was beginning to develop. It is notable for its grand Neoclassical appearance and twos-story portico, in a prominent corner location. The first owner is not known, but it was owned from 1937 until 1945 by Rose Greenstreet. It had many owners after that, and the interior rooms were reconfigured, perhaps to be used as a boarding house.
This site is near the western edge of Capitol Hill proper, the original plats of James A. Moore, who gave the area its name. In 1900 Moore, who had already developed other Seattle neighborhoods, purchased and began platting 160 acres, roughly between 11th and 20th avenues, from Roy Street north to Galer. Before selling lots for construction, he graded and paved the streets (eliminating the dust that plagued many sections), installed sidewalks, water mains and sewer lines, and planned for street lights and telephone poles. Lots went on sale in 1901, heavily promoted to attract local business leaders as residents. This was the first part of Seattle developed in this way. Moore did not build houses for sale, but sold improved lots to builders or to people who then hired a builder to construct a home to their own taste. Covenants required that homes cost at least $3,000 to build and be at least 24 feet from the sidewalk. The 800 lots sold quickly to company owners, managers, executives, bankers, doctors, and attorneys. The lots grew in value by 300% over the next 12 years.
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| Appearance |
| This grand house is typical of the Neoclassical style with clapboard cladding, a hipped roof with deep flat bracketed eaves and hipped dormers on the front and side elevations. A small shed dormer has been added on the south elevation. It is distinguished by its ornate two-story portico with Corinthian columns. The flat roof of the portico has a turned balustrade. Within the portico a balcony projects at the second story level, supported by large curvilinear brackets. Windows are one-over-one double hung sash with wide wood surrounds. There is a three-sided bay on the first story on the south elevation. |
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