Seattle.gov Home Page
Link to Seattle Department of Neighborhoods home page

Seattle Historical Sites

New Search

Summary for 4786 1ST AVE / Parcel ID 3573700006 / Inv # 0

Historic Name: Sears & Roebuck Warehouse Common Name: Sears & Others
Style: Other - Utilitarian Neighborhood: Duwamish
Built By: Year Built: 1937
 
Significance

Note: Industrial Add Replat, Block: A, Lot: A

Initial design by Oregon and Washington Railroad Co, Office of the Engineer

The building is not architecturally distinguished, but has retained its most significant exterior elements. Its shear length makes it a prominent feature among other notable buildings along this portion of First Avenue South. The office of the engineer of the Oregon and Washington Railroad Company initially designed it as a warehouse for the Sears & Roebuck Company in 1937, with alterations and additions to the loading platform, designed by Henry Bittman, occurring in 1940. Architect Joseph L. Skoog designed the most northern bays, which are similar to the original building and were added around1948. Subsequent exterior changes seem to have been minor. There were some interior tenant improvements to the north end of the building, probably the same area designed by Skoog, in 1966. Sears and Roebuck continued to be in the building until at least 1993. There was a remodel in 2002, but, again exterior changes appear to have been minor. 

This is yet another building along First Avenue South, which was initially designed by the engineering office of the Oregon and Washington Railroad. Both 5000 1st Avenue South and 5050 1st Avenue South, located directly to the south, were also designed by engineering office of the Oregon and Washington Railroad.

 
Appearance

4786 1st Avenue south is located on the east side of First Avenue South and on the north side of Hudson Street, just north of another warehouse, 5000 1st Avenue South. It is a one-story warehouse, which is rectangular in plan and has exterior masonry walls. Its roof is mainly flat, except for the continuous row of skylights that rise above the parapet. The main façade is distinguished by its very long loading dock and its continuous overhead metal canopy. There are few openings, even on the main façade along First Avenue South.

Detail for 4786 1ST AVE / Parcel ID 3573700006 / Inv # 0

Status: Yes - Inventory
Classication: Building District Status:
Cladding(s): Brick, Metal Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured
Roof Type(s): Flat with Parapet, Sawtooth, Varied roof lines Roof Material(s): Asphalt/Composition, Other
Building Type: Industry/Processing/Extraction - Industrial Storag Plan: Rectangular
Structural System: Brick No. of Stories: one
Unit Theme(s): Commerce
Integrity
Changes to Plan: Slight
Changes to Original Cladding: Slight
Changes to Windows: Slight
Major Bibliographic References
King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.
Drawings, Microfiche Files, Department of Planning and Development.
King County Assessor Property Characteristics Report, database at http://www5.metrokc.gov/ --parcel locator

Photo collection for 4786 1ST AVE / Parcel ID 3573700006 / Inv # 0


Photo taken Jan 10, 2010
App v2.0.1.0