Wayne Apartments, 2224 Second Ave

Original

“The regrading of Seattle’s Central Business District, Belltown, Chinatown and Pike/Pine created an oddity: one- and two-story frame buildings from the late 19th century and early years of the 20th century that were raised so a retail first floor could be slipped underneath to meet the newly graded street. The few that still survive are hardly recognizable, resheathed with vinyl siding and different windows. Regardless, they are the silent reminders of a city that was practically inaccessible and had to be methodically molded into shape. One such building in Belltown, the Wayne Apartments, c. 1890, is perhaps the oldest and most endangered, given its location. The Victorian three-bay frame apartment building sits astride a single-story retail building from 1911. While the integrity of this building has been compromised over time, it is unique to the neighborhood and tells the story of the evolution of downtown as it faced the challenges of its topography.”