Block 4 - The Future Site
Since 1998, three of block 14's streets have been designated as "green streets," despite generally lacking street trees and pedestrian facilities. Future plans will fufill that designation.
Historically, the block has been zoned as Midrise multifamily with a height limit of 75 feet, leading to the complete stagnation of the block with apartments no taller than 4 stories. The recently passed U-District rezone changes this zoning to mixed-use residential and commercial of 75’-240’. It can be expected that the “featureless” modernist apartments and many of the early 20th century single-family style rooming houses will be redeveloped to accomodate far more people. The rezone requires 9% of units built be controlled as affordable (housing at under 30% of income) to people making under 60% of the area’s median income. By 2025, plan is estimated to result in about 900 affordable of 5,000 total new units across the district.
Right next to the future subway station that will be used by 12,000 people every day, this block will house and serve the needs of riders as transit-oriented development. To support the mass pedestrian increase and beautify the neighborhood, the city has made plans for three of the four sides of the block. On Brooklyn, a new uphill bike lane on the east side of the street will be implemented. North of 43rd, Brooklyn will be a “festival street” similar to Bell St downtown; pedestrian-focused, maintaining limited traffic access for commercial loading, with facilities and public space amenities intended for events. The increase in pedestrian volume and decrease in vehicle volume and speeds will spill over to the block’s section of Brooklyn. At each intersection and in the middle of the block between 43rd and 42nd, there will be landscaped curb bulbouts, decreasing crosswalk length, improving safety, and allowing for more street trees and plants. The four intersections at 43rd and Brooklyn will be raised to the height of the sidewalk and textured, further improving accessibility and making pedestrians the priority. The entire block will be surrounded with pedestrian lanterns every 40’-60’, and several drought-resistant medium to large trees will be planted. Street parking will be reduced by all the bulbouts, but will remain. 43rd St has the potential to gain westbound bus routes for direct connections to the Link station. All of these changes will improve the experience for students and residents, and will make an area that currently feels relatively suburban very urban. Considering none of the houses are owned by residents and are mostly occupied by students, there won’t be as much of a cultural shift as it might appear.
However, old rooming houses have an inherint affordability that brand new apartments may not be able to make up for with an increase in supply for some time. Greater numbers of wealthy people will be introduced to the neighborhood. Activists are generally divided on support for the upzone because of this.