Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 1223 Spring ST / Parcel ID 8726200000 / Inv #

Historic Name: Spring Apartments Common Name: 1223 Spring Style: Beaux Arts - Neoclassical Neighborhood: First Hill Built By: Year Built: 1929   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 three luxury high-rise apartment buildings designed by Earle W. Morrison on First Hill in the late 1920s. In the 1880s-90s, First Hill, with views and proximity to downtown, developed as the premier residential neighborhood, with the city's finest mansions. However, by the early 20th Century, apartment buildings and residential hotels, many quite luxurious, began appearing. It was not surprising that, during the 1920s apartment building boom, some of the most urbane and sophisticated buildings were constructed on First Hill, confirming that it was still a desirable address. First Hill also had the tallest buildings outside of downtown. This building, originally known as the Spring Apartments was perhaps the most luxurious of all, setting a new standard for apartment living. Built at a cost of $580,000, it has only two apartments per floor, with one on the top floor (for a total of 22). It was built to appeal to the wealthiest residents who expected the spaciousness and amenities of their large homes. Early articles reported amenities such as fireplaces, foyers and reception rooms, tiled kitchens and baths, servants' quarters, electric clothes dryers and a separate service elevator. Earl W. Morrison (d. 1955) practiced in Spokane before moving to Seattle in 1926, just in time to take advantage of the city’s apartment building boom. He specialized in high-rise buildings, especially apartments. His major works include the Olive Tower Apartments (1928),) the Gainsborough (1930) and the Nettleton (now 1000 8th Avenue Apartments, 1949).   Appearance This twelve-story reinforced concrete building is clad with brick veneer, with elegantly detailed terra cotta ornament. Capped by a distinctive red tile hipped roof, it has wide twelve story central tower flanked by narrower eleven-story wings with setbacks on the north and south elevations. Cut stone clads the first and second stories, while a terra cotta stringcourse lined with a band of rectangular medallions marks the transition from stone to brick at the sill level of the third story. The brick veneer covers the middle eight stories, ending at the top of the tenth story where another terra cotta stringcourse emphasizes the transition fro the diamond-patterned brickwork of the eleventh story. A smaller twelfth story is elaborately ornamented with terra cotta and brick and finished with a modillioned terra cotta cornice. It contain a single thirteen-room penthouse with terraces. A classical entablature supported with brackets caps the prominent recessed entryway on the north elevation. The building has excellent physical integrity, including retaining its original two-over-one and four-over-one wooden sash, arranged in singles, pairs, and threes. At the rear is an integral one-story garage with a rooftop garden terrace.

Detail for 1223 Spring ST / Parcel ID 8726200000 / Inv #

Status: Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Brick, Stone, Terra cotta Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Flat, Hip Roof Material(s): Clay Tile, Other Building Type: Domestic - Multiple Family Plan: Rectangular Structural System: Concrete - Poured No. of Stories: twelve Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Community Planning/Development Integrity Changes to Plan: Intact Changes to Original Cladding: Intact Changes to Windows: Intact Major Bibliographic References Sound Transit, Historic and Archaeological Report, Draft Environmental Impact Statement, 1998. 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 1223 Spring ST / Parcel ID 8726200000 / Inv #

Photo taken Mar 08, 2006 Photo taken Mar 08, 2006 Photo taken Mar 08, 2006