Residential Ballard is generally described as extending from the 8th Avenue NW to the east and the bluff to the west, and from NW 85th Street on the north to NW 65th Street to the south. The area primarily contains single family houses, but also includes a collection of mutli-family dwellings, commercial buildings, schools, churches, and other buildings. Most of the historic buildings in Ballard are modest cottages and builder's houses, and were not architect-designed. Building styles include, but are not limited to, Victorian (primarily Queen Anne), vernacular, Craftsman, American Foursquare, Colonial Revival (including variations), Tudor Revival, Minimal Traditional, and Ranch. The historic building fabric of Ballard is threatened by a rapid pace of development.
The City of Ballard was incorporated in 1890. It was the first community to incorporate after Washington achieved statehood in 1889. Although population increased rapidly, north Ballard was still relatively rural. In 1907, primarily due to lack of adequate water for its population of 15,000, Ballard citizens voted to be annexed to Seattle to ensure a good water supply for the area.
After annexation Ballard’s street names were changed to conform to Seattle’s: Ship Street turned into 65th Street, Main Street became 15th Avenue. During the Great Depression and World War II, construction in Ballard nearly ground to a halt, with the exception of some houses built by Earl F. Mench. However, following World War II, fueled by the G.I. bill and the rise of the automobile, Ballard boomed again, and new housing followed. In recent years, the demand for new housing has spurred a tremendous amount of change in Ballard, with old, modest houses being replaced by large box houses and multi-family units. These changes threaten to alter the character and feeling of this historic neighborhood.
References
Ballard Historical Society Classic Home Tour guides.
Crowley, Walt. Seattle Neighborhoods: Ballard--Thumbnail History. HistoryLink File # 983, accessed 6/1/16.
King County Tax Assessor Records, 1937-2014.
McAlester, Virginia Savage.
A Field Guide to American Houses (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Alfred A Knopf Press, 2013.
Oschsner, Jeffrey Karl
Shaping Seattle Architecture: A Historical Guide to the Architects. Seattle, WA: University of
Washington Press, 1994.
Passport to Ballard: The Centennial Story. Seattle, WA: Ballard News Tribune, 1988.
This is another mid-century on an unusual block but unlike the Dunstan-designed home at 6721 there is little historical information on this home. It was designed with outdoor patio to include sink and BBQ. On the plans there’s a Sewing Room, Sun Room (aka Flower Room) and an orientation with decks designed to optimize the view. The first listed owner is Lloyd M. James (wife Isabel) in 1947. However the James’ appear to have lived a block north at 6831 35th Avenue NW per the City Directory.
On a side sewer card Al. Taylor is listed on 4.25.47 but so is Lloyd M. James. There may have been some changes in its street address as it shows as 6701 35th and then corrected to be 6705. The City Directory list Isabel as secretary for the L. James & Co. but there’s no record of what business they operated. The property appears to have stayed in the ownership of Lloyd M. James through 1989 then was sold to Taylor & Helen Boyer for $250,000, which was a large sum in 1989 for Sunset Hill. Isabel M. James had died in 1980 at the age of 71, with Lloyd surviving her. The property changed hands again in 2009 as part of an estate settlement (Boyers to Nordfors). The lots are uncharacteristically large on this block, this one a corner lot of 8,550 sf.
