Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 2120 Westlake AVE / Parcel ID 0660000525 / Inv #

Historic Name: Unknown (2120 Westake) Common Name: Denni Deli Style: Commercial, Beaux Arts - American Renaissance Neighborhood: Denny Triangle Built By: Year Built: 1909   Significance In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. This significant building was constructed between 1908 and 1909. Located along Westlake Avenue, it is a virtually intact and well designed store building. Although it was meant to be a utilitarian building, its design is also influenced by high style architecture and specifically the Beaux Arts style. Aside from the Westlake Hotel (1907), this is one of the oldest intact, extant buildings in the Denny Triangle area. Most of the historic buildings in the Denny Triangle, that have any integrity, were completed in the 1920s. This building survived the building activity of the late 1920s, even though the last phase of the Denny Regrade was conducted not far from it, on the west side of Westlake Avenue and north of Denny Way. The building occupies a prominent location along Westlake Avenue and was completed not long after the grading and construction of Westlake Avenue, south of Denny Way, as a major thoroughfare. Tax Assessor records indicate that the building was owned by the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company around 1936 or 1937. A photo from this period suggests that, while Westlake Chevrolet, with a smaller and possibly makeshift structure, occupied the lot to the south, 2120 Westlake Avenue was still occupied by a variety of shops. By 1947, the older building’s interior was remodeled by the firm of Thomas Grainger and Thomas to serve as an automobile showroom for Westlake Chevrolet. In 1947, the same firm designed the present addition to the south at 2118 Westlake Avenue; however, the exterior of this addition has recently been remodeled and has no historic integrity. Meanwhile, the historic building has kept its exterior architectural integrity. Although it adjoins the newer building, it appears as an independent structure.   Appearance This is a one story reinforced concrete structure, with a basement level. Trapezoidal in plan, it is set on a triangular lot between Westlake Avenue, 8th Avenue and 2118 Westlake, which was originally constructed in 1947 as an addition to this building. The main elevation, which is also its longest elevation, faces Westlake Avenue. A narrow one bay elevation is parallel to Lenora Street and is also visible from Westake Avenue. The exterior of the building is distinguished by its rusticated terra cotta cladding, its repeated segmental arched openings and the slightly overhanging classical cornice. Each of the openings is filled with storefront. The Westlake façade is divided into eight storefront bays. Typically, storefront glazing, which includes its own transom level, angles in toward a central doorway. This is topped by an upper transom, set under each segmental arch and divided into four vertical lites. Because the exterior of the building has been painted - currently gray with dark red trim- it is difficult to tell that the cladding is mainly terra cotta. A few storefronts appear to have been replaced and no longer have a symmetrical storefront layout. Aside from this, the building exterior appears to be intact.

Detail for 2120 Westlake AVE / Parcel ID 0660000525 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: INV Cladding(s): Stone, Terra cotta, Wood Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Flat with Parapet Roof Material(s): Asphalt/Composition Building Type: Commercial/Trade - Business Plan: Irregular Structural System: Concrete - Poured No. of Stories: one Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Commerce, Community Planning/Development, Transportation Integrity Changes to Original Cladding: Intact Storefront: Slight Changes to Plan: Intact Changes to Windows: Intact Major Bibliographic References City of Seattle DCLU Microfilm Records. King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.

Photo collection for 2120 Westlake AVE / Parcel ID 0660000525 / Inv #

Photo taken Feb 22, 2006