Bell Apartments

The Bell Apartments is a brick structure on 1st Avenue featuring terra cotta details and large display windows along its facade. The building houses offices on lower levels and residential units on upper floors following its late 1990s renovation.

Eva Bell oversaw construction in 1889 following her husband Austin Bell's death, with architect Elmer H. Fisher incorporating Victorian and Gothic design elements. A fire in 1913 damaged the upper facade, yet many original decorative details survived.

The building shows how the neighborhood transformed from an isolated outpost into a working business hub over time. You can see this shift reflected in how the structure is used today and where it stands within the current street layout.

The building sits along 1st Avenue in an accessible central location within the neighborhood. Visitors can view the brick facade and window details from the street, with most exterior features easily visible from the public right-of-way.

The building was originally known as 'Bell's Folly' because it was built in what was then an isolated area. This nickname faded quickly as the neighborhood developed into an important business district.

Location: Washington

Architects: Elmer H. Fisher

GPS coordinates: 47.61420,-122.34600

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:09