Site Report 1

In the following reports, I will explore the past, present, and future of a block in the Seattle University District. The block that will be examined is located between 9th Avenue and Roosevelt Way, and 45th and 43rd street NE. These reports will examine in detail the current state of the block and observe how it is a part of the University District as a whole. The past and present natural landscape will be discussed in how it has effected and continues to effect the blocks development. These reports will examine the block from a historical standpoint using historical documents to explore the history of the block and how it has evolved overtime as well as how the development of the Seattle and the University District has effected the blocks development. Overall these reports will examine a small part of the city of Seattle to discover how cities evolve and what factors influence the development of cities as a whole.

Block 3 between 9th Ave. NE and Roosevelt Way NE., and NE 45th St. and NE 43rd St. primarily contains four large, modern apartment buildings. The block also has a gas station, a small market, and two large parking lots that divide the block into a northern and southern section. The space between the apartment buildings have a neatly landscaped patio area. The block also has an entrance to an underground parking garage beneath one of the apartment buildings on the east side of the block. The roads and sidewalks along the north and east side of the block are well maintained, clean, and landscaped nicely compared to the surrounding area. However the west side of the block, which is along a smaller residential street, is not as well-kept. The fence lining the west side of the block has overgrown shrubbery growing alongside it and trash littered throughout the cracked sidewalk.

I think the block serves multiple purposes but primarily as a high density residential area. The first floors of the buildings that can be seen from the street are commercial most likely because of their ease of access and view from the street. The whole block together serves all the needs that any resident living there could need to go about their day to day life. Multiple parking areas, commercial buildings, a gas station, and the location makes the block an attractive place to live.

A question I had after visiting the block is what is the block built upon? I noticed a closed parking garage which seemed out of place, I’m curious as to the depth and width it spans beneath the block. Another thing I noticed is that all of the buildings on the block appear to be relatively new and most likely will not be replaced anytime soon. I am curious to find out what was there before and how much time, if any, was there between constructing the four apartment buildings. I’m also curious to learn about the gas station and market on the block and how long they have been around for. By the looks of it, I would assume that they have been standing far longer than the surrounding apartment buildings.

I thought that the block was lacking advertisements and signs. Especially since there appeared to be many small commercial stores on the first floor of the apartment buildings. I plan to do more research on the buildings in the block and what businesses they contain. Further research will determine what was on the block before the apartment buildings and the reason for these new buildings to be built here.