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| Establishing shot of Friedlander Court Apartments. | South face of the building along 53rd Ave SW. |
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| Close-up of courtyard and Friedlander sign. | Terra-cotta coping and decorative inset. |
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| Opposite angle of south face of building. | East face (back) of apartments, with garages. |
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| Close-up of interior courtyard. | Bay window facing Alki Ave, with shaped Mission roof parapet. |
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| Gate open to courtyard. | Close-up of 53rd Ave living space. |
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| Looking south down Alki Ave. | One last shot of that courtyard. |
Profile: Friedlander Court Apartments
January 6th, 2009 @ 12:55 am by Cliffe | Sorted Historic Buildings |
When I profiled Alki’s Shoremont Apartments in October, it didn’t go over so well. The doomed building was called out in the comments for being an ordinary 1920′s “clone.” I think it’ll be harder to criticize the Friedlander Court Apartment building, just down the street at 2246 Alki Ave SW. The Shoremont is rather boxy and lacking in ornamentation, but the Friedlander is downright elegant with its stepped living spaces, terra-cotta, and green courtyard. I’m having trouble pinning down exactly when this one was built, but I’m assuming (safely) that it was in the early to mid 1920′s. UW Digital Collections has one shot of it from 1926 here. [Update: Tracey from West Seattle Blog let me know that it was built in 1926.] Chime in if you or someone you know has lived there over the years. In conclusion, A++++++ Would want to live there! Click on the thumbnails for the high-res photos.
Sadly, the site is horribly compromised by the City effluent line, which runs right under the street before heading out to Elliott Bay. In summer, there can be a HORRIBLE sewer smell here. I have always thought it was a shame that such a charming court-style building was erected at this locale.
I have a vague recollection of learing about the sewer line in a Dorpat thing, could be off base. My recollection is that the sewer – and the stink – predated the aprtments, oddly, which makes the builder’s choice even more puzzling.
The King County tax parcel website states it was built in 1926:
http://www5.kingcounty.gov/kcgisreports/property_report.aspx?PIN=0914000045
there has never been a complaint from a tenant about sewer smells.
It even has the original windows! thats a rare thing these days.
I love the stone walkway with the moss creeping in the cracks.
I came across this today and wondered if you had seen it.
http://content.lib.washington.edu/cgi-bin/pview.exe?CISOROOT=/imlsmohai&CISOPTR=600&CISORESTMP=/imls/templates/mohai_results.html&CISOVIEWTMP=/imls/templates/mohai_view.html&CISOROWS=3&CISOCOLS=5
I love your blog! Keep it up.
amy
My parents, sister and I, lived in a 1 bedroom Friedlander Court apartment from 1954-1960. i still have dreams about that lovely apartment. This was our 3rd apartment on Alki since moving to Seattle from NE in 1949. Anne Friedlander was the owner and she lived nearby. My parents became friends with her and whe offered them a job as manager of her Anne Vista Apartments 1 block down the street. Anne was quite a character and I will never forget her or our wonderful time at the Friedlander Court.
Did you know that the Friedlander is for sale?
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