Summary for 4200 University WAY / Parcel ID 1142001210 / Inv # UD058 |
| Historic Name: |
La Paz Building |
Common Name: |
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| Style: |
Commercial |
Neighborhood: |
University |
| Built By: |
Unknown; V.W. Voorhees (1916) |
Year Built: |
1913 |
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| Significance |
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The site of the La Paz Building was the original location of the University Station and post office. The Varsity Café (Mann’s Varsity Café), thought to have opened in 1900, occupied the corner storefront of this building. In 1910 E. Uetwiller purchased the Varsity Café. The University Station was moved across the street to make way for buildings related to the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. The current building was constructed around 1913 with a major addition/remodel designed by V.W. Voorhees in 1916. Lawrence W. Graham owned and operated a candy store in one of the smaller storefronts from around 1910 until the 1930’s.
V. W. Voorhees was born in Wisconsin in 1876 and moved to Seattle some time before 1904. The firm Fischer and Voorhees was established in Ballard in 1904 where they designed many commercial and apartment buildings. Voorhees designed hundreds of Seattle buildings including the Vance Hotel and Washington Hall. He published a pattern book of house, cottage and bungalow plans in 1907.
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| Appearance |
| The La Paz Building is a three-story commercial block with distinctive patterned brickwork. Paired and single double-hung windows with the original sashes intact characterize the upper floors. The building is comprised of two separately constructed but contiguously stylistic structures built within several years of each other. The storefronts on University Way NE have been altered, with doors, windows and cladding replaced. The storefront on 42nd near the alley remains intact. |
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Detail for 4200 University WAY / Parcel ID 1142001210 / Inv # UD058 |
| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Brick |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
| Roof Type(s): |
Flat |
Roof Material(s): |
Other |
| Building Type: |
Commercial/Trade - Business |
Plan: |
Rectangular |
| Structural System: |
Masonry - Unreinforced |
No. of Stories: |
three |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Commerce |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Plan: |
Intact |
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Changes to Windows: |
Intact |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
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Storefront: |
Moderate |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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City of Seattle DCLU Microfilm Records.
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King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.
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Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996.
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Ochsner, Jeffrey Karl, ed. Shaping Seattle Architecture, A Historical Guide to the Architects. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1994.
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Nielsen, Roy. UniverCity: The Story of The University District in Seattle. Seattle: University Lions Foundation, 1986.
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Photo collection for 4200 University WAY / Parcel ID 1142001210 / Inv # UD058 |
Photo taken Oct 02, 2001
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