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Summary for 715 1ST AVE / Parcel ID 3879900635 / Inv # 0

Historic Name: Leonard Apartments Common Name: Leonard Apartments
Style: Spanish - Mediterranean Neighborhood: Queen Anne
Built By: Year Built: 1930
 
Significance

This 3-story brick-clad apartment building was constructed in 1930, according to the 1937 King County Assessor property card, in the Uptown neighborhood. The building is known as the Leonard Apartments. The building was constructed under building permit no. 292057 and was put into service on September 9, 1930. According to drawings dated from 1930, the building was designed by architect W. H. Whiteley for builder Horace E. Leonard. When the building opened it had 19 apartment units; one two-room unit, 12 3-room units, and six 4-room units. The interior featured mahogany trim.

William H. (W.H.) Whiteley designed many apartment buildings, quite a few of which were located in Uptown, and single-family residences during his career and occasionally collaborated with architect Ronald Campbell. Whiteley was born in Newfoundland, Canada. Whiteley and his wife Mildred had two children: Virginia and William, Jr. Horace E. Leonard (ca. 1891–1954) was a builder in Seattle, running Leonard Homes, Inc., and Olympus Homes, Inc. He worked with his son, Kinney Leonard. He was married to Eleanor Leonard and they had three children: Kinney, Arthur, and Gertrude. In addition to his professional work, Leonard was a member of the Seattle Master Builders Association and the Wallkingford Lodge No. 267, F. & A.M.

 
Appearance

Constructed in 1930, this apartment building is located midblock on the west side of First Avenue W between W Roy Street and W Olympic Place. The site slopes down from north south. The 3-story wood frame building has a rectangular plan and stands on a concrete foundation. Brick veneer clads the building. The building has a flat roof with a shaped parapet at the center. Metal clad pent roofs stretch between the shaped parapet to pilasters at either end of the main (east) elevation. The main entrance is centered on the east elevation and is sheltered by a tile clad hipped roof supported by decorative brackets. Windows above the main entrance indicate the location of an internal stairwell. The building features paired wood sash windows with leaded glass in the upper sash. The stairwell windows are single wood sash windows with a stained glass shield centered in the leaded glass upper sash. All window openings feature brick soldier course headers and sills. A tiled walkway leads from the sidewalk to a concrete step and stoop at the slightly recessed front entrance. The entrance features a wood door with a large pane of glass. Sidelights flank the front door along with small lantern wall sconces.

The building retains excellent integrity and is a good example of an apartment building from its period of construction.

Detail for 715 1ST AVE / Parcel ID 3879900635 / Inv # 0

Status: Yes - Inventory
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: Rectangular
Structural System: Balloon Frame/Platform Frame No. of Stories: three
Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Integrity
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Windows: Intact
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
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.
City of Seattle DPD Microfilm Records.

Photo collection for 715 1ST AVE / Parcel ID 3879900635 / Inv # 0


Photo taken Feb 26, 2018

Photo taken Feb 26, 2018

Photo taken Jan 01, 1900
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