| Historic Name: |
McDermott Apartments |
Common Name: |
New McDermott Apartments |
| Style: |
Beaux Arts - Neoclassical |
Neighborhood: |
Capitol Hill |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1926 |
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| Significance |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places. |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
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This is a large and imposing high-quality building of solid concrete construction with extensive terra cotta cladding and ornamentation. It is particularly notable for the canopy edged with glass, a feature more typical of New York's Fifth Avenue than Seattle. It has 83 apartments, averaging 535 square feet; 69 units have two rooms and 14 have three rooms. Special features include an elegant lobby with terrazzo and marble, oak floors and tile baths throughout and, originally, central refrigeration. This is one of the larger examples of the many apartment buildings constructed in the 1920s, when Seattle experienced a major construction boom. The city's population had increased dramatically in previous decades, and prosperity encouraged developers to meet the pent-up demand for housing. Apartments, ranging from basic housing to luxury units, were a significant factor in meeting this need, and became a major element of the streetscape in many Seattle neighborhoods. The West Capitol Hill area was particularly popular because of its easy streetcar access to downtown, and the street became lined with apartment buildings.
The McDermott was designed by architect Gerald C. Field, for the original owners, John F. and R. J. McDermott. Little is known about the owners, although John is listed in city directories as a carpenter.
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| Appearance |
| This large imposing building occupies most of a block in the dense Pike/Pine area. It is seven stories tall, of reinforced concrete construction with a T-shaped footprint. It is 100 feet long on Bellevue Avenue, with a 56 foot-wide wing projecting to the rear; this allows a 22 foot light well between the side apartments and the property line. There are 83 two-and three-room apartments. It has a traditional three-part configuration with the first two stories clad with cream-colored terra cotta and a plain shaft clad with brownish-red brick. The top of the building has extensive terra cotta along the parapet with a deep cornice and frieze below. Between each window bay is a block pedestal that once held a terra cotta urn; these have been removed, probably for safety reasons. Terra cotta belt courses run below the second and third story windows. The entry is notable, with a suspended canopy edged with glass pieces, an unusual feature in Seattle. Windows in the center bay are in groups of three, with pairs in the other bays; all have original six-over-one wood sash. The lobby is elaborate, with terrazzo floors and marble walls. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Brick, Terra cotta |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
| Roof Type(s): |
Flat with Parapet |
Roof Material(s): |
Unknown |
| Building Type: |
Domestic - Multiple Family |
Plan: |
Rectangular |
| Structural System: |
Concrete - Poured |
No. of Stories: |
seven |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Windows: |
Intact |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
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Changes to Plan: |
Intact |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996.
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King County Tax Assessor Records, ca. 1932-1972.
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City of Seattle, Department of Planning and Development, Microfilm Records.
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