Site Report 3

Taken from the 1893 Sanborn Fire Insurance map of Seattle, showing the development of the area. University District (Seattle, WA). Created circa 1893. University of Washington Libraries, Microform and Newspaper Collection.

 

Zoomed in area of a Baist Real Estate map of the University District in the year 1912, showing the current development. University District (Seattle, WA). Created circa 1905. Seattle Public Library, Seattle Maps and Atlases Collection.

Cropped image of the 1920 Kroll Map which notes the presences of buildings on the land in the University District. University District (Seattle, WA). Created circa 1920. Kroll Map Co.

 

Image of a schematic drawn to display the land use on Block 27 in 2008 prior to the construction of Elm Hall. University District (Seattle, WA). Created circa 2009. KPFF Consulting Engineers.

 

Screenshot of a 1928 Seattle Home Directory showing that the Brooklyn Building, formerly the Patterson Apartments, was owned my Thomas Patterson. University District (Seattle, WA). Created circa 1928. Seattle Public Library, Seattle City Directory Collection.

 

Photo taken in 1937 of 4045 Brooklyn Avenue, the Patterson Apartments, owned by Thomas Patterson. University District (Seattle, WA). Taken circa 1937. Washington State Archives, Puget Sound Regional Branch. 

 

The Brooklyn Building in 2008 before it was torn down to make space for Elm Hall. University District (Seattle, WA). Taken circa 2008. Seattle Municipal Archives, Photograph Collection.

 

 

Block 27 was not always bordered by the same roads that it is today. All but Northeast Campus Parkway existed when the neighborhood was created, however, they went by different names. What is now 12th Avenue Northeast was then called Brooklyn Avenue, and today’s Brooklyn Avenue was Broadway Avenue. The street we refer to today as Northeast 41st Street was originally called Federal Street. However, by 1912 the names we recognize today were in place (Nielson 8). Northeast Campus Parkway was dedicated in 1950 and construction was completed in 1953. No significant changes occurred on the block for another 50 years when plans for Elm Hall began (Tobin and Sodt 18).

Before Elm Hall was built, five single-family buildings and one apartment building were on the premise. The apartment building, known as the Patterson building, was built in 1909 in concurrence with the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Along with the creation of some of the first campus buildings, the AYP ushered in the first wave of neighborhood development in the area. The location was formerly the Hawkins Apartments. The original owner was Thomas Patterson, a carpenter. In 1966, the University purchased the building from the current owner and renamed it the Brooklyn Building. The building was used by the school for offices until 2008 (KPFF Consulting Engineers 6). 

All of the single-family homes were built between 1913 and 1918. Each building had many owners throughout the years, most of whom were students or members of the university faculty, because of the proximity to campus. They were all bought by the UW one by one from 1950 until the last site (#2) was bought in 1959. After being purchased most of the houses were rented out to students and faculty before being converted to department workspaces for university employees. Although students lived on the premise on and off for many years, no memorable social events occurred there. By 2008 all, but one building, were vacated and their demolition was planned because maintenance was costing more than they were worth. The buildings were torn down in 2009, and construction of Elm Hall began (KPFF Consulting Engineers 6-8).