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.
This Modern style multi-family residence is in the Uptown neighborhood. The original drawings are on file with the City Department of Construction and Inspections. Building permit 476386 was issued on May 12, 1959 to construct it. The original owner was William Bleckov. Architect Evvian Willis designed the one- and two-bedroom apartment building that had views of Lake Union and the city. Bleckov sold the building in 1961 to Lorne G. Townsend for $98,000.
By 1968 through 1975, the building was listed as the Myllymaki Apartments.
William Bleckov worked as an apartment builder/developer. He built the apartments at 319 Olympic Place, which he sold to David Morgan in 1956 for $98,000. He also built the apartments at 415 Summit Avenue E in 1962, and another at the northeast corner of Fifth Avenue N and Highland Drive (1200 Fifth Avenue N, built in 1958). Evvian Willis designed this building and it was reported as the 11th project undertaken by Bleckov with financing from the Seattle Mortgage Company. Bleckov also worked with William S. Kelton, who designed and was the structural engineer for a five-unit apartment building for Bleckov at 10th Avenue S and Oregon Street in 1957.
Evvian Willis worked with Bleckov on several apartment building designs. Willis also designed the building at 570 Ward Street (The building at 570–578 Sixth Avenue N), which features nearly an identical design, but has altered windows, and was built in 1960. The open house for this 11-unit building was held on October 2, 1960. Properties designed by Willis include a house at 1908 31st Ave W in 1964, a tiltup concrete building for the Moss Fiberglass Sales company at 5718 Empire Way S in 1968, and the Shirley Ann court apartments at 6201 24th Avenue NW in 1958. His work included collaboration with contractor D. H. Noonan to building homes on steep slopes along Magnolia Boulevard.
The building retains excellent integrity and is a good representative example of a mid-20th century multiple-family building.
References:
Seattle Daily Times, May 17, 1964: 26.
Seattle Daily Times, July 21, 1968: 109.
Seattle Daily Times, September 20, 1964: 91.
Seattle Daily Times, October 22, 1961: 36.
Seattle Daily Times, January 01, 1956: 7.
Seattle Daily Times, January 28, 1962: 121.
Seattle Daily Times, October 02, 1960: 37.
Seattle Daily Times, May 19, 1957: 39.