Monte Cristo Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Monte Cristo Hotel
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The hotel in 2008
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 Monte Cristo Hotel
Location in Washington (state)
Monte Cristo Hotel
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1507 Wall St., Everett, Washington |
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| Area | less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1925 |
| Built by | Alexander & MacNeil |
| Architect | Henry Bittman |
| Engineer | Henry Bittman |
| Consulting architect | Abraham H. Albertson |
| Architectural style | Second Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001907 |
| Added to NRHP | June 3, 1976 |
The Monte Cristo Hotel is a very old and important building in Everett, Washington. It stands out in the city's downtown area. This building stopped being a hotel in 1972. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 3, 1976. In 1994, it was fixed up and turned into apartments.
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Building the Monte Cristo Hotel
This six-story brick building was the biggest hotel project in Everett. It was built where the first Monte Cristo Hotel once stood. That first hotel opened in 1892. It even served as a hospital from 1905 to 1924.
Building the new hotel was a big community effort. Hundreds of people bought shares to help pay for it. Seattle architect Henry Bittman designed the hotel. It officially opened its doors on May 29, 1925.
The front of the building is about 120 feet wide. It faces Wall Street and looks south. Because the building is tall and on a hill, you can see it from far away. It was the most important hotel and social spot in town for over 40 years. The hotel finally closed in 1972.
The Hotel in Modern Times
The Monte Cristo Hotel was empty for a long time. Then, in 1994, it was completely fixed up. It was turned into apartments, a place for art, and a spot for weddings and parties. This project helped bring new life to the building.
A Challenging Start
In 1991, the building had been empty for about 20 years. A group of investors tried to plan how to fix it up. They spent about $100,000, but their plans didn't work out.
In 1993, new plans were announced. The idea was to make the building into affordable apartments. The mayor at the time, Pete Kinch, said the hotel was a sign. He felt it showed how the community was dealing with downtown problems.
Restoring and Reviving the Building
In August 1993, a company called Lojis Corp. found a way to pay for the project. The plan was to turn the hotel into apartments. This plan depended on renting out some of the building's space.
The city decided to rent space for an arts center. This led to a long discussion among the city council members. On August 25, 1993, the Everett City Council agreed to pay $81,590 each year. This money was to rent 8,867 square feet of space. This included the grand lobby, mezzanine, and ballroom areas.
By November 1993, a lot of work had been done. The roof was new, and new sidewalks were put in. New stairs were built inside, and the outside was being fixed. This was all part of a $6.8 million construction project. A group called the Washington Community Renewal Association invested $3 million. Lojis Corp. got $3.8 million by selling special tax credits. These credits help pay for historic buildings and affordable housing.
Grand Reopening
The Monte Cristo Hotel had a big three-day reopening celebration. It took place from June 10 to 12, 1994. Mayor Ed Hansen praised David Mandley, the head of Lojis. He thanked him for working hard to organize the project. He also praised his skill in fixing up the outside and shared areas of the building.
The old hotel rooms were changed into 69 apartments. To use the tax credits, these apartments had to be rented to people. Their income had to be 60% or less of the average income in the area. Fixing up the building and keeping its history was required. This was because of the special historic tax credits used.
A reporter named Diane Brooks wrote in The Seattle Times. She said the hotel used to be a sign of downtown problems. Now, it showed Everett's new growth. A popular downtown restaurant, Passport, moved into the Monte Cristo in 1994.
The 21st Century and Beyond
In 1997, the building was again used as a community center. A public meeting for people running for judge was held there. The building was home to the Everett Center for the Arts. It also housed the Arts Council of Snohomish County. They showed art in the grand lobby and mezzanine. This included special shows and exhibitions.
The Monte Cristo Ballroom was voted "Best Wedding Venue" in 2019. This was in a poll by The Herald Business Journal. They offered wedding packages that included everything. However, the wedding business suddenly closed on October 15, 2019.
The Monte Cristo Awards were created to honor the building's quality. These awards recognize neighbors who take pride in their homes.
