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Summary for this site is under review and the displayed data may not be fully up to date. If you need additional info, please call (206) 684-0464

Historic Name: Franconia Common Name:
Style: Art Deco Neighborhood: Queen Anne
Built By: Year Built: 1930
 
Significance
In the opinion of the survey, this property is located in a potential historic districe (National and/or local).

This brick apartment building was constructed in 1930 according to the  King County Assessor in the Uptown neighborhood. The building is known as the Franconia Apartments. According to the original drawings (dated 1930 and revised 1932) the building was designed by James M. Taylor, Jr., for West Coast Realty & Investment Corp. The building had 38 apartment units; 22 two-room units and 16 3-room units.

Taylor practiced architecture with his father, James M. Taylor, Sr., as James M. Taylor and Son, Architects until 1930. Between 1931 and 1954, Taylor, Jr., worked at a variety of locations with other partners or on his own. Other partners include John Rohrer and Victor Steinbrueck. Other designs by Taylor include an addition to the Pacific Casket Company at 504-16 Third Avenue W (1937) and civic and business center building at the Sand Point Naval Air Station (1941).

 
Appearance

Constructed in 1930, this wood-frame apartment building clad in brick veneer is located at the northwest corner of W Mercer Street and Fourth Avenue W. The building at 400 W Mercer Street is a 3-story apartment building with Art Deco details. The building has a flat roof with parapet. The L-shaped building stands on a concrete foundation which has a parged finish. Its brick veneer is laid in the stretcher bond with chevron patterns present above windows, an Art Deco detail. The main entrance is located on the building’s southeast corner, recessed beneath the corner. Tiled steps lead up to a tiled vestibule floor. The front door is wood with sidelights and a transom. Stained glass fills the sidelights and transom. Wrought iron grills set within the vestibule walls further highlight the entrance. The building features contemporary metal windows with the exception of two decorative leaded glass windows with Art Deco motifs present, one each, on the south and east elevation. Brick soldier courses form the window sills.

The building retains moderate integrity with alterations limited to the replacement of its original windows. According to the original drawings and the King County Assessor property card, the windows were originally wood sash with four, horizontal lights. The building also used to have an attached, basement-level, 1-story reinforced concrete garage.

Detail for this site is under review and the displayed data may not be fully up to date. If you need additional info, please call (206) 684-0464

Status: No - Altered
Classication: Building District Status: NR
Cladding(s): Brick Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured
Roof Type(s): Flat with Parapet Roof Material(s): Unknown
Building Type: Domestic - Multiple Family Plan: L-Shape
Structural System: Concrete - Poured No. of Stories: four
Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Integrity
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Plan: Slight
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Major Bibliographic References
King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.
Ochsner, Jeffrey Karl, ed. Shaping Seattle Architecture, A Historical Guide to the Architects. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1994.

Photo collection for this site is under review and the displayed data may not be fully up to date. If you need additional info, please call (206) 684-0464


Photo taken Jan 27, 2004

Photo taken Feb 26, 2018

Photo taken Feb 26, 2018

Photo taken Feb 26, 2018

Photo taken Jan 01, 1900
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