Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 227 9th AVE / Parcel ID 1991201345 / Inv #

Historic Name: 227 9th Avenue North/ Builders' Hardware Supply Company Common Name: 227 9th Avenue North Style: Art Deco Neighborhood: South Lake Union Built By: Year Built: 1931   Significance In the opinion of the survey, this property is located in a potential historic districe (National and/or local). This Art Deco building was designed in 1931 by architect George Wellington Stoddard as a “one story ordinary masonry store building” for John E. Ryan. From 1938 to at least the early 1950s, it housed the Builders’ Hardware Supply Company. The building is typical of local warehouse buildings in the use of engaged pilasters which are ornamented particularly at the capital; however, Stoddard follows a slightly different prototype from the one usually employed by such local architects as W. R. Grant. The building freely uses Art Deco ornamentation of different sorts and the exterior massing of the façade also differs from the more prototypical warehouse and store buildings. The detailing of the brickwork, with its recessed stripes of brick is also not found on other South Lake Union buildings. Despite the loss of the original glazing and the dramatic painting job, the building is significant because it retains important elements of its original design. It is also of added interest because Seattle has relatively few Art Deco buildings. George Wellington Stoddard was also responsible for 777 Thomas Street, also designed in the Art Deco style and in the same year. The differences between 227 9th Avenue North and 777 Thomas Street show that Stoddard did not follow a particular formula, even when designing in the Art Deco style. Born in Detroit in 1896, Stoddard was educated at the University of Illinois, where he received a B.S, and then practiced architecture in partnership with his father, Lewis M. Stoddard. After his father’s death in 1929, Stoddard practiced independently until 1955. 227 9th Avenue North and 777 Thomas St date from early in his independent practice. He also designed clinics, banks, apartment buildings, and larger houses. Later he designed Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center in 1947 and the Green Lake Aqua Theater in 1950. From 1955 to 1960, he was part of Stoddard, Huggard and Associates. He died in September of 1967.   Appearance 227 9th Avenue North is located south of 235 9th Ave North at the southwest corner of 9th Avenue North and Thomas Street. A one story building, 227 9th Avenue North was designed with a flat roof and skylights, as well as a parapet. It has a virtually rectangular plan and original exterior walls of hollow clay tile, with brick veneer on the main façade. The east façade along 9th Avenue North is the only elevation visible from the street. The main façade is divided into three sections: a central and higher portion, flanked by two slightly lower portions, which act like bookends. In plan, on the exterior, the “bookends” are very slightly recessed from the plane of the central portion of the façade. The higher central portion of the main façade is distinguished by engaged ornamental pilasters at its edges. The fluted pilasters have cast-stone or concrete bases and floral capitals in cast-stone. In turn, the floral capitals are tied together by a horizontal ornamental molding of intersecting v-like shapes in a running pattern. At the very top of the parapet, the fluting of the engaged pilasters appears again and is tied together by a running floral pattern. Aside from the large storefront set between the pilasters and above a low wall covered with brick veneer, the rest of the central section of the façade is also covered with brick veneer. Each of the bookends has high openings, which start at the edge of the slightly extruded central section. Just above each large opening, a row of bricks is recessed. Moving vertically down the façade, a row of bricks is recessed every six, seven, eight or so rows. This creates a subtle rusticated effect. Currently the actual openings in the main façade have been filled with new glazing and frame and, in the case of the north bay, with a garage door.

Detail for 227 9th AVE / Parcel ID 1991201345 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: INV Cladding(s): Brick, Stone - Cast Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Flat with Parapet Roof Material(s): Asphalt/Composition Building Type: Commercial/Trade - Business Plan: Rectangular Structural System: Clay Tile No. of Stories: one Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Commerce, Manufacturing/Industry Integrity Storefront: Moderate Changes to Original Cladding: Slight Changes to Plan: Intact Major Bibliographic References Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996. Ochsner, Jeffrey Karl, ed. Shaping Seattle Architecture, A Historical Guide to the Architects. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1994. King County Tax Assessor Records, ca. 1932-1972. Drawings, Microfiche Files, Department of Planning and Development.

Photo collection for 227 9th AVE / Parcel ID 1991201345 / Inv #

Photo taken Mar 14, 2005