| Historic Name: |
Western Printing/Crissey Florist |
Common Name: |
Palace Ballroom |
| Style: |
Commercial |
Neighborhood: |
Belltown |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1926-27 |
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| Significance |
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This simple two-story building was constructed in 1927 as the Western Printing Company, one of numerous printers who took advantage of Belltown's relatively inexpensive land close to downtown customers. The building was designed by architect Harold Ginnold for owner A. C. Gourley. It was occupied for many years by Crissey Florists, and is currently a catering facility/kitchen for a local restaurant chain. Much of the exterior is intact, although the original multipaned display windows were replaced long ago with plate glass windows.
When this building was built, it was at the eastern edge of the earlier regrade. In 1930 the last regrade was completed, flattening the area east of 5th Avenue. The Depression forestalled significant development, and it remained mostly expansive car lots (mostly used cars at the beginning) for many decades. It was not until the 21st century that the vision of the regrade began to be realized.
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| Appearance |
| This vernacular building is of solid brick construction with two stories on the front section, and one story at the rear. The storefront has large plate glass display windows with operable transoms with vertical lights. The second floor windows have simple one-over-one wood sash. In the 1937 Tax Assessor’s photo, the main entry has a pair of 12-light wooden doors, flanked by large 12-light display windows; the storefront at the north end is similar. The corner storefront was simpler, with a single-panel door and plate glass display windows. The transoms remain, but the entry has been modernized slightly (probably long ago), and the multipaned display window has been replaced by the same type of widow as at the corner. A wide cast stone belt course above these windows defines the top of the building, along with cast stone coping. At the parapet level, the entry bay is marked with a rectangular panel flanked by pilasters. Pilasters on the first floor, topped with cast stone capitols, define the corners. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Brick |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
| Roof Type(s): |
Flat with Parapet |
Roof Material(s): |
Unknown |
| Building Type: |
Industry/Processing/Extraction - Communications |
Plan: |
Rectangular |
| Structural System: |
Brick |
No. of Stories: |
two |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Commerce |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Windows: |
Slight |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
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Changes to Plan: |
Intact |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996.
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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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