Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 1414 Seneca ST / Parcel ID 197820240 / Inv #

Historic Name: Maxmillian Apartments Common Name: Maxmillian Apartments Style: Gothic, Tudor Neighborhood: First Hill Built By: Year Built: 1918   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 Maxmillian is a particularly ornate example of the numerous apartment buildings that began appearing on First Hill in the first two decades of the 20th century. In the 1880s-90s, the area, with views and proximity to downtown, had developed as the premiere residential neighborhood, with the city's finest mansions. However, by 1920, apartments and institutions such as hospitals and schools appeared throughout. This building, with extensive terra cotta ornamentation, was designed in 1918 by Victor Voorhees. Voorhees was one of Seattle’s most prolific architects, working from 1904 until at least 1957. He is credited with more than 100 local buildings, ranging from cottages and large residences to apartment and office buildings, auto dealerships, industrial buildings, fraternal halls and commercial structures such as Washington Hall, the Vance Hotel and the Vance Building. However, he has become best known for a popular book of house plans, Western Home Builder, first published in 1907.   Appearance The Maxmillian is a three-story building with a daylight basement, rectangular in plan. It is of masonry construction, faced with dark red brick. The deeply recessed entry, in the center of the south façade, has marble stairs and wainscoting and a Tudor-arched terra cotta surround with the word Maxmillian incised in it. A wide terra cotta belt course above the top story windows has vertical elements extending above the terra cotta coping and is decorated with shield and Tudor rose motifs. In the center, a dramatic finial with late Gothic tracery rises above the roofline. Other terra cotta includes window sills, and water tables above and below the basement windows. Windows are one-over one newer metal sash.

Detail for 1414 Seneca ST / Parcel ID 197820240 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Brick Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Flat with Parapet Roof Material(s): Unknown Building Type: Domestic - Multiple Family Plan: Rectangular Structural System: Brick No. of Stories: three Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture Integrity Changes to Windows: Slight Changes to Plan: Intact Changes to Original Cladding: Intact Major Bibliographic References Shaping Seattle Architecture: A Historical Guide to the Architects. Jeffrey Karl Ochsner, ed. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1994. King County Tax Assessor Records, ca. 1932-1972. City of Seattle, Department of Planning and Development, Microfilm Records.

Photo collection for 1414 Seneca ST / Parcel ID 197820240 / Inv #

Photo taken Mar 20, 2006 Photo taken Mar 20, 2006 Photo taken Mar 06, 2006