Block 14 - Deep Read
North edge of block at NE 43rd St facing south east, showing Sound Transit parking lot with portable office and mature trees. University District (Seattle). Simpson, Tyler. Taken on January 13 2017.
1922 duplex or triplex house with backyard cottage, shot from SE intersection of 42nd and 12th. University District (Seattle). Simpson, Tyler. Taken on January 13 2017.
1958 20 unit apartment - picture shot from alleyway. University District (Seattle). Simpson, Tyler. Taken on January 13 2017.
View on the south end of the block, near 42nd St, displaying the 36 unit 1925 3 story apartment at 4203 and the 1908 9 unit apartment building at 4215. University District (Seattle). Simpson, Tyler. Taken on January 13 2017.
NE 42nd to 43rd St, 12th to Brooklyn Ave NE. Map created with Affinity Designer featuring the PT Serif font based on land survey conducted by Tyler Simpson and reference to Google Maps. University District (Seattle). Simpson, Tyler. Exported on January 22 2017.
Left: Excerpt from 1937 King County Aerial Survey. Complete survey available online at: http://cdm16118.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/mapresources/collection/p16118coll2
Right: Google Maps, 2017.
The block between 42nd and 43rd St and 12th and Brooklyn Ave NE is comprised of eight early 20th century single family houses that have all been converted to student rooms, three 1920s apartment buildings (one that’s been converted to condos), two late ‘50s/early ‘60s apartment buildings (of lower current visual appeal), and two parking lots used for Link rail construction (occupied by a portable office and giving off a hostile appearance). One of the construction lots was formerly a public parking lot and the other was a 1905 single family house then also used for student apartments. In total, it’s entirely residential and student-focused. Three of the property owners on the block own two buildings each, Sylvia David, Warren Bakken, and Internos Properties LLC, another property is co-owned by Warren Bakken and John J Alyward and Francine M., and the latter two also jointly own another one of the houses. The total current appraised value of the block is $31.53 million (King County Parcel Viewer 2.0).
An alleyway runs down the middle of the block, with three backyard detached accessory dwelling units and several parking lots facing it. The DADUs are presumably former garages, and two of the three match the styling of the main house on the property. Three of the early 20th century houses were at some point converted to duplexes or triplexes, and have multiple entrances, though are not used as such. The block can have the appearance of a traditional Seattle family neighborhood, and certainly once was one, but areas that would usually be greenspace have been converted to concrete parking areas with “tenant parking only” signs. At the intersection of 12th and 42nd exists a neighborhood traffic circle, a calming and safety measure common in Seattle residential neighborhoods. Most of the houses are cute, of varied colors and architecture styles, and of usual good condition. Mature, large trees line the streets. None of the apartment buildings rise more than 3 stories in addition to a half exposed basement.
Comparing modern satellite images of the block to the 1937 King County Aerial Survey, very little has changed besides the recent removal of the 1905 house, natural growth of the trees, and replacement of two houses with the two brutalist apartment buildings. Two of the 1920s apartment buildings have been determined by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods to be eligible for National Register of Historic Places and Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance status, however, the 1905 house torn down had the same considered significance in a previous property survey. It was determined, “On December 12, 2011, the Board denied the designation based on a finding that this property did not meet any of the designation standards of SMC 25.12.” The block will become the immediate surrounding of a high capacity subway station that aims to have lots of affordable 'Transit Oriented Development' in 2021, so it’ll be interesting to see if and when the lot is redeveloped for more residents than is possible with the two to three story, house-based design.