Historic Name: |
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Common Name: |
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Style: |
Modern - Contemporary |
Neighborhood: |
North Rainier Valley |
Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1964 |
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Significance |
In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
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Built in 1964, this building was owned by Rudy Simone Construction Company. Richard Bouillon of Bouillon & Williams, a Seattle architecture firm, designed the building.
The North Rainier Valley consists of a depression created by glaciation between the ridges of Beacon Hill and Mount Baker. The valley derives its name from Mount Rainier because of stunning views of the mountain. The area’s growth followed the early streetcar line, which was completed to Columbia City in 1890. The North Rainier Valley includes the area north of Columbia City and contained many early vegetable farms. Commercial development followed along the streetcar line, with housing built nearby.
During the first decades of the 20th century, the area between Massachusetts and Atlantic Streets was home to Seattle’s largest Italian enclave, “Garlic Gulch.” Dugdale Ball Park opened on the corner of Rainier Avenue and McClellan Street in 1913, and was succeeded by Sick’s Stadium in 1938. World War II precipitated a surge in housing development, including the public housing project, Rainier Vista, in 1943. Following the war, the area attracted a mix of African-Americans, Asians, and Filipinos. Today this diverse, low-to-middle income neighborhood is unique within Seattle with its long narrow form focused on the Rainier Avenue transportation corridor.
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Appearance |
Built in 1964, this low, Modern style office building stands on a rectangular lot. The building is oriented to South Walker Street on a flat site at street level. This 3424 square foot, single-story building features a U-shaped plan, measuring approximately 60’ by 103’, with a side primary entrance. A poured concrete foundation supports the wood frame, brick-clad superstructure. A flat roof with projecting closed eaves shelters the building. Large single-pane windows provide day lighting along the outer and inner walls. Projecting brick walls frame the individual facades. A projecting elliptical canopy shelters the primary north entrance. This building is a stylistically unique and well-detailed expression of a Modern office building within the North Rainier Valley. |
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Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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Cladding(s): |
Brick |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
Roof Type(s): |
Flat, Flat with Eaves |
Roof Material(s): |
Unknown |
Building Type: |
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Plan: |
L-Shape |
Structural System: |
Unknown |
No. of Stories: |
one |
Unit Theme(s): |
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Integrity |
Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
Storefront: |
Intact |
Changes to Plan: |
Intact |
Changes to Windows: |
Intact |
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Major Bibliographic References |
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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City of Seattle. Survey of City-Owned Historic Resources. Prepared by Cathy Wickwire, Seattle, 2001. Forms for Ravenna Park structures.
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Tobin, Caroline. (2004) "North Rainier Valley Historic Context Statement."
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