| Historic Name: |
La Flor |
Common Name: |
La Flor |
| Style: |
Spanish - Eclectic |
Neighborhood: |
Capitol Hill |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1929 |
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| Significance |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places. |
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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 one of several apartment buildings constructed in 1928-29 by Samuel Anderson, a local developer and builder. It is particularly notable for its exuberant Spanish Eclectic details. 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 at least eight Seattle apartment buildings, notable for their vivid interpretations of a wide variety of styles. Seven of the buildings that have been identified are in the 1100 block of 17th Avenue, as well as the La Flor. 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. Capitol Hill was particularly popular because of its excellent street car connections with downtown and other areas. This building 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.
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| Appearance |
| This striking building is clad with white stucco, with a red clay tile roof. The basic form is side-gabled with gabled bays, front, and flat roofed in the rear. All windows on the front facade have art glass, with very elaborate leading and colored glass accents. The entry in the center is highly detailed, with a segmented arch flanked by twisted columns, with a shield medallion above. The door itself is of heavy, dark wood in the Spanish style. On the third floor is a shallow cantilevered balcony with an arcade with twisted columns. On the second floor, above the entry, is a pair of arched windows. South of the entry on the first floor is a small recessed porch with arches and a wood grill; another grill is on the second floor. The gable end has colorful tile ornamentation, above a faux tower with a crenellated top. The sides and rear are a striking contrast, clad with plain red brick and 6-over-1 leaded windows arranged singly and in groups of three. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Brick, Stucco |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Block |
| Roof Type(s): |
Flat, Gable |
Roof Material(s): |
Unknown |
| Building Type: |
Domestic - Multiple Family |
Plan: |
Rectangular |
| Structural System: |
Balloon Frame/Platform Frame |
No. of Stories: |
three |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Windows: |
Intact |
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Changes to Plan: |
Intact |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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King County Tax Assessor Records, ca. 1932-1972.
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City of Seattle, Department of Planning and Development, Microfilm Records.
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