Puyallup is one of Washington State’s oldest cities and contains a significant number of historic structures tracing back to its agricultural origins in the late 1800s. Ezra Meeker receives credit for founding the city in 1877 on a 20-acre land claim. The surrounding fertile valley quickly became known for its hops crops. Farmers grew small fruits, berries, and bulbs garnering a burgeoning agricultural and canning economy. The City of Puyallup was incorporated in 1890.
BOLA provided a historical survey of the downtown area as part of the city of Puyallup’s ongoing planning process. The project area included over 55 blocks with an estimated 600 buildings constructed prior to 1960. The project involved research and fieldwork, preparation of State Historic Property Inventory Database forms, and recommendations to guide future preservation and development in the downtown core. The final report included recommendations for a historic district, suggestions for future surveys, and implementation strategies.
In 2010, BOLA undertook a second phase, surveying an estimated 49 blocks of residential properties in Puyallup’s northwest quadrant. This phase resulted in documentation of 33 single-family residences constructed prior to 1960.