| Historic Name: |
Washington Arms |
Common Name: |
Washington Arms |
| Style: |
Colonial - Georgian Revival |
Neighborhood: |
Capitol Hill |
| Built By: |
|
Year Built: |
1919 |
| |
| 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). |
|
|
This is one of a cluster of luxury apartment buildings that were built in Seattle in the first quarter of the 20th century. Nearby on 11th Avenue East are the Park Court, the Fairmont and the Highland, all located in a tranquil setting near the southwest corner of Volunteer Park where they could take advantage of the amenities of Seattle’s finest park. The park had been designed by the Olmsted Brothers in 1909 and was largely completed within a few years. The location was also convenient to shopping on Broadway and the streetcar lines to downtown. These building were designed to fit in with surrounding large single family homes. These apartments served people who had the money to live in either a house or a residential hotel, but who preferred the greater freedom and privacy of an apartment. As in more urban cities, these wealthier people wanted amenities they would expect in a house, such as spacious rooms, fireplaces, separate dining rooms and sunrooms and quarters for a maid.
The Washington Arms has fifteen units (now condominiums), averaging 1200 square feet, unusually large for Seattle. The 1937 assessor records indicate 15 five-room apartments with 14 sleeping rooms with baths in the basement. These were most likely to accommodate servants. Other original features were oak floors, terrazzo kitchen floors, house phones and dumb waiters.
The Washington Arms was designed in 1919 by Victor Voorhees, for Charles and Mae Young. The following year the Youngs built another small luxury apartment, the Fairmont, around the corner t 941 11th Avenue East (using a different architect). 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 Bidling. However, he has become best known for a popular book of house plans, Western Home Builder, first citypublished in 1907.
|
|
| |
| Appearance |
| The Washington Arms has an asymmetric U-shape plan, due to the curve of Prospect Street along Volunteer Park. The entry courtyard is deep and narrow; the west wing is 127 feet long, and the east façade is only 44 feet. The building is of wood frame construction with red brick veneer cladding. There is a prominent wood cornice and a limited amount of terra cotta trim, including window sills and the water table. The rounded entry porch is Colonial Revival in style, with two pairs of columns and a balustrade above. Windows have six-over-one double hung leaded sash, arranged singly or in pairs. |
|
|
