Dr. Palmer's House HistPres designation staff report.pdf
City of Edmonds
Historic Preservation Commission
Designation Staff Report
August 14, 2010
Meeting Date:
Agenda Subject:Application for designation of Dr. Palmer’s House located at 820 Maple
Street as eligible for inclusion on the Edmonds Register of Historic Places
Staff Lead:Kernen Lien, Associate Planner
Property Information
Site Name/Location: 820 Maple Street
Edmonds, WA 98020
Tax Account #: 00434207500500
Township 27 Range 03E Section 24 ¼ Sec SW ¼-¼ Sec
Construction date: 1915 (1895?)
Owner/Applicant Information
Person(s) Nominating Site: Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission
Property Owner: James M. Cooper
Report Summary
Staff recommendation: Staff recommends that the Commission finds that the Dr.
Palmer House meets the criteria for designation on the
Edmonds Register of Historic Places. The exterior of the
structure contains the significant architectural features.
DesignationMeetsStaff
CriteriaCriteriaComments
1.Significantly associated with the This house is associated with its original
history, architecture, archaeology, owner, Dr. Palmer an Edmonds dentist,
engineering or cultural heritage of who built it in 1895 and resided in it until
Edmonds… 1922. It is a well-known historic house,
in part because of its visibility and
prominent location on a steeply sloping
street overlooking the downtown.
Dr. Palmer's House HistPres designation staff report.doc Page 1
DesignationMeetsStaff
CriteriaCriteriaComments
2.Has integrity… The house is a largely intact example of
the Queen Anne style.
3.Age at least 50 years old, or has The BOLA report and the Snohomish
exceptional importance if less than 50 County website indicate the house was
years old… constructed in 1915. However, in its
description of the house, the BOLA report
states that Dr. Palmer constructed the
house in 1895. In either instance, the
structure is more than 50 years old and
meets this designation criteria.
4.Falls into at least one of the following
designation categories:
Designation Category
a.Associated with events that have
made a significant contribution to the
broad patterns of national, state or
local history.
b.Embodies the distinctive architectural The house is an example of the Queen
characteristics of a type, period, style Anne style.
or method of design or construction,
or represents a significant and
distinguishable entity whose
components may lack individual
distinction.
c.Is an outstanding work of a designer,
builder or architect who has made a
substantial contribution to the art.
d.Exemplifies or reflects special Because its early date of construction, it is
elements of the City’s cultural, social, generally associated with the City’s late
economic, political, aesthetic, nineteenth-century development.
engineering or architectural history.
e.Is associated with the lives of persons
significant in national, state or local
history.
f.Has yielded or may be likely to yield
important archaeological information
related to history or prehistory.
DesignationMeetsStaff
CriteriaCriteriaComments
g.Is a building or structure removed
from its original location but which is
significant primarily for architectural
value, or which is the only surviving
structure significantly associated with
a historic person or event.
h.Is a birthplace or grave of a historical
figure of outstanding importance and
is the only surviving structure or site
associated with that person.
i.Is a cemetery which derives its
primary significance from age, from
distinctive design features, or from
association with historic events or
cultural patterns.
j.Is a reconstructed building that has
been executed in a historically
accurate manner on the original site.
k.Is a creative and unique example of
folk architecture and design created
by persons not formally trained in the
architectural or design professions,
and which does not fit into formal
architectural or historical, the
designation shall include description
of the boundaries of categories.
Significant Features
1. Shape: The house is 2½ stories in a rectangular form, with a steeply pitched roof
with broadly flared eaves.
2. Roof and Roof The roof is steeply pitched side gable style with asphalt/composition
Features:
shingles. At the second story, a large pedimented, gabled dormer contains a
bay window.
3. OpeningsThe front door is located at the east end of the north facade, while a three-
(entries, etc.):
sided bay window projects at the west end of the north facade. A bay
window is in the dormer on the north side of the roof, and 24-light fixed
windows are placed in each gable end.
4. Projections: From the sidewalk, nine concrete steps lead up to a wide set of wood stairs
that climb to the full-width front porch on the primary north facade. The
porch is sheltered by the wide bell on the main side-gabled roof, which is
supported by three classical columns.
5. Trim & secondary All gable ends of the house are wood-shingled and decorated with exposed,
featuresshaped rafter tails.
6. Materials: Sheathing on the walls of the house appears to be non-original.
7. Setting: The house is situated in a residential neighborhood with the bowl area of
Edmonds.
8. Materials at close N/A
range
9. Craft details: N/A
10. Individual N/A. Interior features are not considered for nomination.
rooms/spaces:
11. Related spaces or N/A
sequences:
12. Interior features: N/A. Interior features are not considered for nomination
13. Surface finishes & N/A
materials:
14. Exposed structure: N/A
Dr. Palmers House (Photo courtesy Edmonds Historical Museum)
Dr. Palmers House (Photo courtesy Edmonds Historical Museum)
View of north façade from Maple Street (Photo courtesy of Edmonds Historical Museum)
View of north façade. (Photo from Snohomish County website)
Notes on historic register nominations:
Chapter 20.45.020 ECDC* states that if the Commission finds that the nominated property is eligible
for placement on the Edmonds Register of Historic Places, the Commission shall make a
recommendation to the City Council that the property be listed on the register with owner’s consent.
According to Chapter 20.45.040 ECDC, listing on the Edmonds Register of Historic Places is an
honorary designation denoting significant association with the historic, archaeological, engineering or
cultural heritage of the community. Properties are listed individually or as contributing properties to a
historic district. No property may be listed without the owner’s permission.
Prior to the commencement of any work on a register property, excluding ordinary repair and
maintenance and emergency measures defined in Section 20.45.000(H), the owner must request and
receive a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Commission for the proposed work. Violation of this
rule shall be grounds for the Commission to review the property for removal from the register.
Prior to whole or partial demolition of a register property, the owner must request and receive a waiver
of a Certificate of Appropriateness.
Because Edmonds is a Certified Local Government (CLG), all properties listed on the Edmonds
Register of Historic Places may be eligible for a special tax valuation on their rehabilitation.
* Edmonds Community Development Code