Following the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 , the northward expansion of Seattle 's business district from Pioneer Square , already in the planning stages prior to the fire , took on a rapid pace . A quick glut of new office space created by the boom however left many buildings incomplete and many more lots undeveloped as the economy began to cool in 1891 . The 4-story Starr Building , built in 1890 on the west side of 1st Avenue between Spring and Seneca Streets , stood alone on the block until a second wave of construction began in 1892
Great Seattle Fire
Great Seattle Fire
Colonial Hotel (Seattle)