The Unattainable Dream of a Seattle Boarding House
A glimpse into the precarious housing market of 1880s Seattle, where a small slice of land near the bustling Occidental Hotel could cost a fortune.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Looking for housing or property in Seattle? The market is tight. We have listings for a furnished three-room house just one block from the Occidental Hotel for $125. For those looking for something more substantial, there is a cottage house near the post office for $500, or a restaurant with four living rooms in a central location for $400. For the developer, we have four large warehouses (25x70 feet each) and a prime 90x100 foot lot specifically marked as suitable for a lodging house. Additional opportunities include a six-room house on Fifth street and several farms for sale or rent. Contact G. W. Crane or J. A. Hatfield for these properties.
“90x100 feet of ground, suitable for a lodging house.”
In 1888, the 'Occidental Hotel' district was the epicenter of Seattle's business life. Today, that same area—Pioneer Square—remains a battleground for housing affordability, proving that the struggle to find space near the city center is a century-old Seattle tradition.
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