Home of the Week: The Lady Willie – a 4-Bedroom Piece of Seattle History
4212 Washington Ave, Seattle, WA
By Seattle Mag May 10, 2017
Sponsored by 
$1,975,000
4212 Washington Ave W | Seattle, WA
4 Bedrooms | 3.5 Bathrooms | Square Feet: 4,185 Interior | 14,991 Lot SF
Built in 1904, this home has never before been privately owned. It’s been fully restored and updated to meet high contemporary standards, while preserving the charm and history of sturdy framing and generous old-growth trims no longer available. Enjoy this in-city retreat in the heart of Seattle’s 534-acre Discovery Park. Unequaled Western views, veranda dining, 12-miles of trails, driftwood strewn beaches on the outside and new systems inside provide for an unmatched lifestyle, and a proud legacy. This home also qualifies for a special Historic Preservation Tax Abatement which results in a reduction in property taxes due for 10 years.
About the name: Lady Willie Forbus was one of the first women to practice law in Seattle and the first to represent the 44th District in the state senate. A resident of Magnolia, she was nicknamed the Steel Magnolia for her tenacious advocacy of children’s rights and equal opportunity for women. A single mother for many of her years in the senate, Lady Willie was a former board member of the Friends of Discovery Park. She died at 100 years old in 1993.
Follow Us
Coasting Into Calm
After purchasing a weather-worn, ant-infested cabin on an Oregon beach, a Seattle couple hires a regional team to transform it into a stylish weekend retreat.
When architect Andrew Montgomery first pulled up to his clients’ house in Arch Cape, Oregon, there were logs in the driveway, courtesy of the sizable swells that come with the coast’s king tides. At just 28 feet above sea level and as close as you can get to the water without being on the beach,…
Blueprints for Building Community
After tragedy struck a local restaurateur family, one of their daughters stepped in to complete the design for her brother’s unfinished home.
Although he was just 35 when a heart attack took his life, Khoa Pham’s imprint on Seattle’s international district was such that the city quickly designated April 21 as a memorial day in his honor. With his rescue pitbull, Pinky, by his side, Pham cut a colorful figure through Little Saigon and became well known…
Tuft Stuff
Tuft Ruft turns fiber art into a social, hands-on experience in Pioneer Square.
It all started with a bout of pandemic boredom. Like many, when COVID-19 hit, recent graduate Carrie Xiao found herself stuck at home, with extra time on her hands. One day, while scrolling social media, she discovered tufting: a textile manufacturing technique that creates a garment or rug with a “pile,” or raised surface. After…
Collaborating Cultures
Looking to build a home to welcome family and friends, one Kirkland couple turns to a sister to design a modern house with influences from the wife’s Thai heritage.
For many years, when homeowners planned to build or remodel, architects and designers advised them to think first and foremost about resale value. From the number of bedrooms to the materials, appliances, and finishes in the kitchens and bathrooms, homes were often treated solely as an investment, with an eye to future sales. In recent…