Vine and Bell Cottage (Belltown Cottage Park)

What to know

Located at 2512 Elliott Ave., Belltown Cottage Park preserves a rare glimpse of early 20th-century residential life. The site features three surviving Craftsman bungalows built in 1916 by Seattle developer William Hainsworth. Originally, the development consisted of six cottages arranged around a shared courtyard, but half were demolished during the 1960s. These homes were constructed following the Denny Regrade, a massive engineering project that leveled Denny Hill between 1900 and 1910. In the first half of the 20th century, the cottages provided essential housing for blue-collar waterfront workers, including longshoremen and fishermen. Because of their historical value, the remaining three structures were designated Seattle Landmarks in 2000. In more recent years, the cottages transitioned from worker housing to artistic sanctuary, hosting writers from the Richard Hugo House's Writers-in-Residence program. The original courtyard and an adjacent vacant lot have since been transformed into the Belltown P-Patch, a community garden established in 1995. This garden spans 4,400 square feet and contains 35 individual plots. Today, the park remains a community-maintained oasis in the heart of the city. As of 2023, the City of Seattle continues to explore options to ensure the park is maintained as a permanent historic site, protecting these last remaining wood-framed residences in downtown Seattle.

Visitor tips

• Visit between 4 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. to access the park grounds.
• Walk along the perimeter to see the 35 plots of the Belltown P-Patch.
• Look for the Craftsman architectural details on the three remaining bungalows.

Nearby context

The park is situated at the intersection of Elliott Avenue and Vine Street, where the Belltown P-Patch community garden sits immediately adjacent to the historic cottages.