Re: The Denny Regrade
May 10th, 2007 @ 2:09 am by Cliffe | Sorted Photo Exposure
So I was talking to fellow Seattle blogger Laura Gjovaag the other day and she was asking if that’s Denny Hill off to the right in this postcard. And it is, although this area looks quite different today due to the Denny Regrade — the hill was literally flattened. The building circled in red below was the Denny Hotel (later renamed the Washington Hotel) built in 1889 but demolished in 1907 during the regrade. One notable Denny Hotel guest was none other than President Teddy Roosevelt, who stayed there in 1903. Here are a couple photographs:
May 11th, 2007 @ 9:41 am
I love the triptych of photos! Apparently there were lots of car commuters looking for parking already in 1931.
And you have to wonder: was the regrade worth it? Look at what filled in the area: motels, car dealerships, parking lots… very utilitarian, not much civic impact.
May 11th, 2007 @ 11:11 am
True. And not to mention the views of the sound that were demolished along with the hill. Although, if it had as many dead ends as Queen Anne Hill does…
Cliffe
VintageSeattle.org