Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 25

6. Maps, Drawings, Records Photographs and Records

This section of the nomination report contains maps, drawings, records and photographs. Some images are from repositories that hold copyrighted, and are used with strict permission for use in this document only. Copyright holders do not permit reproduction or reuse for any other purpose. Unless noted, contemporary photos are by BOLA and date from July and August 2012.

The excerpt above is from a map resulting from an urban and historic survey of the Capitol Hill neighborhood sponsored by Historic Seattle (Nyberg and Steinbrueck, 1975). Ruth Court is identified in orange. Buildings shown in the solid tone were identified in the survey as potential historic landmarks, while those with heavy outlined were cited as significant to the community. The potential landmark properties near Ruth Court, which are shown on this excerpt, include: No. 48, First Church of Christ Scientist (1914), 16th & East Denny Way; No. 49, Capitol Hill Methodist Church (1906), 128 16th Avenue East; No. 51, Judge Stone House (1898), 203 14th Avenue East; No. 52, Cooper House (ca. 1900), 225-227 14th Avenue East; No. 53, Old Fire Station No. 7 (1920), 4905 15th Avenue East; No. 76, duplex (ca. 1890), 1901 East Denny Way; No. 77, residence (ca. 1900), 1632 15th Avenue East. No. 48, 49,

and 51 are designated landmarks as is the Hillcrest Apartment House at 1616 East Howell Street.

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 26

Below are two figure ground studies showing streets, parcels and buildings, based on historic Kroll Maps, from 1912 1920 (top), prior to construction of Ruth Court, and ca. 2000 (below). Together these two th maps suggest the physical development of Capitol Hill as it grew denser over time in the 20 century. The th subject property is the L-shaped structure at 18 Avenue East and East John Street.

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 27

Historic context photos of the Stevens neighborhood on Capitol Hill. Above, view looking southeast from the Volunteer Park water tower in 1915 (MOHAI, Image no. 1983.10.10002). Below, a view looking west th on Thomas Street from 19 Avenue (east) in 1934 (Seattle Municipal Archives, No. 9176)

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 28

Current neighborhood context: Top, view looking northeast at La Quinta, an Anhalt Mediterranean Revival courtyard building at the opposite end of the block from Ruth Court at 1710 East Denny Way (1927). th Middle, a view looking southeast on nearby East 16 Avenue, showing two apartment buildings and another th Anhalt courtyard building at 1600 East John Street. Below left, a view looking east on East John Street at 16 th th and 17 Avenues and right, a former church at 128 16 Avenue East (1906, currently an office building).

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 29

Below, a copy of the 1937 tax assessors property record card for Ruth Court. The record indicates the building was then ten years old (constructed in 1927), while in a pencil note the original construction date is noted as 1922, the same date as the design drawings (Puget Sound Regional Archives).

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 30

Below, a copy of the 1937 tax assessors property record card for the garage at Ruth Court. The record indicates the structure was built in 1927, although the design drawings at DPD are dated from late 1935 (Puget Sound Regional Archives).

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 31

Above, the 1937 tax assessors record photograph looking southwest at the primary north and east facades of the building. Below, the 1937 record photograph of the garage (Puget Sound Regional Archives).

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 32

Below, excerpt from a current boundary/topographic survey of the property showing it in the context of the block. The buildings are highlighted in orange. North is oriented up on this page (DRS Consulting Engineers, April 19, 2012, provided by Odegard Gockel, LLC).

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 33

Below, a contemporary layout plan of Ruth Court (provided by Marcus & Mill chap, the local management company contracted by the current owner). The original first floor plan at the upper right is from the 1922 drawing set from DPD. Virtually illegible, it is shown for reference. North is oriented down on this page.

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 34

Below, a copy of building elevations from the original 1922 design drawings on file at DPD. The original design by architect W. E. Dwyer for owner/contractor John S. Hudson cited the building as the White Court.

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 35

Below, a copy of the original 1935 drawings for the garage by architect B. Dudley Stuart (Seattle DPD Microfilm Records). North is oriented to the left on this page.

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 36

Unless noted otherwise, the following contemporary photos were taken by Abby Inpanbutr of BOLA Architecture + Planning in July and August 2012.

Above, a view looking south at the north facade. Dwelling units in the middle are essentially twin plans, while the end unit (1715) to the far right at the northwest is similar in its layout to the southeast end unit (125). This eyebrow dormer is a singular feature as is the large wood-clad roof vent. Below, a view looking southwest at a portion of the east facade.

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 37

Above, an oblique view of the southern portion of the east facade. Left, an oblique view of the northern portion of the east facade. This endgable is one of three treated with a prominent chimney. The chimneys are compositional features rather than part of operating fireplaces. Below, a typical upper walkway.

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 38

Above, a view of the stairs from the sidewalk to three entries on the east facade, showing the entries to the twin middle units, at 127 and 129 18th Avenue East. Below, a view of the southeast corner of the Ruth Court Apartments, looking at the east facade of the southeast end unit at 125 18th Avenue East.

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 39

Above, a detail view looking southeast at the entries to 1715 and 1717 East John Street, on the north facade. Left, a detail view, looking west at the porch and entry to 1721 East John Street, looking east. Below, a view looking north at the central porches. The misaligned roof above the entry to 1721 (left), may indicate a structural problem at this juncture of the building.

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 40

Above, a view looking northeast at the west and north facade of the northwest end unit in Ruth Court Apartments. Left, a view looking east toward the interior courtyard from the alley. Below left, a view looking southeast at the garage, which is situated directly off the alley at the propertys southwest corner.

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 41

Top, a view of the interior courtyard looking northwest. Above, a view of the interior courtyard looking west. Left , a view of the interior courtyard looking southeast (Photo provided by Marcus & Millchap).

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 42

Above, looking southwest at the entry to the interior courtyard from the garage and parking area. Below, a view looking southeast at the east side of the interior courtyard and the stairwell down to the basement laundry area.

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 43

Above, this detail view of the east wall of the interior courtyard, looking east shows the secondary entries to 127 and 129 18th Avenue East. Below, a detail view of the northeast corner of the interior courtyard, showing the secondary entries to 1721 East John Street and 133 18th Avenue East.

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 44

Left, a view of the kitchen in the northeast corner unit, 1721 East John Street, looking north. Below, a view of the living space in the northwest unit, 1715 East John Street, looking south.

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 45

Above, a view of the living space and entry of 1715 East John Street, looking north. Left, a view of the kitchen of 1715 East John Street, looking southeast.

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 46

Other buildings constructed by John S. Hudson include a number of high-rise apartments on First Hill shown on this and the following page.

Above, the Lowell-Emerson Apartments, two adjoined buildings at 1100 - 8th Avenue (1928). This building was designed by Harry Hudson, John S. Hudsons brother. Below, the former Chasselton Apartments at 1017 Boren Avenue (1925). (BOLA photographs from 2008). Above left, a view looking east showing one of the two main entries on the west faade Left, a view looking north at a side entry.

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 47

Above, the John Alden Apartments at 1019 Terry Ave on First Hill (1924). This John S. Hudson building features complex masonry patterns, and Neo Classical Revival details (BOLA photographs from 2008).

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 48

Buildings designed by architect/builder W. E. Dwyer include five residences in the Roanoke Park area of North Capitol Hill. These houses are contributing buildings in a recently listed National Register Historic District. In addition to those pictured, Dwyer also designed residences at 2722 Broadway Avenue East (1904) and 2818 Broadway Avenue East (1908). Left, the Dwyer designed residence at 812 East Shelby Street (1909). Below left, a house designed by Dwyer at 2721 10th Avenue East (1910). Below right, a house designed by Dwyer at 2716 Broadway Avenue East (1913).

Comparable Tudor Court Townhouse Buildings

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 49

The following properties are selected for comparison with Ruth Court as they are the same type, style, and era. These multi-family complexes are made up in part or whole by single-story townhouse units that face directly onto and are accessed from the street rather than through a semi-private courtyard. According to typology studies in earlier Seattle landmarks nomination, these buildings differ from a Bungalow Court due to their front orientation. All of the comparable buildings are examples of the Tudor Revival style. The buildings, dating from 1924 to 1930, contain an open courtyard spaces behind them. The shared, communal nature of the courtyard differentiates this building type from a group of row houses or townhouses with separated rear yards. The selected examples contain five to sixteen units although there are larger original complexes. Their parcel sizes vary from 7,200 to 25,000 square feet. Most of them contain one-bedroom and a few two-bedroom dwellings. The properties are listed chronologically. Dates noted are from King County Tax Assessor data, while other information is derived from inventory forms from the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Historic Property Surveys. (Aerial photos: King County iMaps. Building Photographs: Department f Neighborhood, Historic Preservation Program) 1. Wemberly Court (1924) 3100 Franklin Avenue East on North Capitol Hill V-shaped building footprint Six units in 5,622 net square feet on an 8,493 square foot parcel Designed by architect Howard Riley

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 50

2. Berg Court (1924) 1804 Spruce Street on Capitol Hill C-shaped building footprint with detached multi-car garage Ten units (8 one-bedrooms and 2 two-bedrooms) in 7,307 net square feet on a 19,418 square foot parcel Designer unidentified, may be B. Dudley Stuart

3. 4402 Densmore Avenue North (1925) 4402-4404 Densmore Avenue North in Wallingford W-shaped building footprint with detached multi-car garage Five units (4 one-bedrooms and 1-two-bedroom) in 3,830 net square feet on a 7,980 square foot parcel Designed by William H. Whiteley for J. E. McPherson (Benneck Brothers, general contractor)

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning 4. Edgar Court (1925) 2704 Eastlake Avenue East in Eastlake L-shaped building footprint, one and one and a half stories Ten units in 7,377 net square feet on an 11,000 square foot parcel Designed by Albert A. Geiser for C. O. Montague

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 51

5. 1300 East Mercer (1926) 1300 East Mercer Street on Capitol Hill L-shaped building footprint with a detached, multi-car garage Eight units in 6,098 net square feet on a 12,020 square foot parcel Designer not identified

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 52

6. 1615 East Thomas Street (1927) th Also cited as 219-221-223 17 East and 1619 E Thomas, on Capitol Hill, one block west of Ruth Court W-shaped building footprint Thirteen units in 5,447 net square feet on a 7,200 square foot parcel Designer not identified.

7. Rosina Court (1928) th th 1101-1109 18 Avenue in the Central District (listed as 1801 18 Avenue in the Citys historic survey) L-shaped building footprint Nine units in 5,103 net square feet on a 14,400 square foot parcel Designed by William H. Whiteley

Ruth Court Apartments BOLA Architecture + Planning

Landmark Nomination August 14 2012, page 53

8. The Essex Apartments (1928) nd 4200 Southwest Manning Street, 3601-3621 42 Avenue Southwest, 4201-4219 West Spokane Street and 3600-3608 California Avenue Southwest in West Seattle The Essex is one L-shaped building, and appears to have been part of a larger three-building complex. Nine units in 5,948 square feet on a 12,500 square foot parcel Designer not identified

9. 1701 North 48 Street (1930) Two L-shaped buildings with a detached multi-bay garage in Wallingford Sixteen units in 13,300 square feet on a 25,000 square foot parcel Designed by Harry B. McKnight for Jessie S. Richards

th