Site Report 4
Land use in the U District. My block is outlined in red.
Proposed rezone plan of the U District. My block is outlined in red.
Projection of locations likely to have highrise development in the near future. Notice that my block (outlined in red) is not projected to have highrise development.
As it stands today, my block, along with the surrounding blocks, is primarily residential, largely due to its proximity to the University of Washington. According to a Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development document, “University District Urban Design Framework,” the current usage of the block is primarily “Multi-Family”, which means apartments, and there are three small sections labeled “Single-Family,” which indicate private residences (Mclain and Nair 22). In addition, the south end of the block includes an area labeled “Schools,” which refers to Cedar Apartments, owned by the UW.
According to another Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development document, titled “U District Urban Design,” the city plans to rezone much of the U District, including my block (Assefa 17). This rezoning is in response to the significant growth of the Seattle area and the need for increased density to meet population growth and rapid urbanization, as well as growth management strategies for the region. The zoning map demonstrates the higher density and taller buildings that will surround the new light rail station. The city’s plans also include incentives to encourage the continuing availability of affordable housing as the area is redeveloped (Assefa 18). It is important to note that the area that is being recommended for rezoning includes all of my block, except for the southernmost area, which contains Cedar Apartments.
Although the neighborhood is being rezoned, the city does not project that highrise development will occur on my block in the near future, as indicated by the projection map (Assefa 30). However, many U District groups and residents have opposed this rezoning out of concern that affordable housing will be displaced by new development (Beekman).
In many ways, the city’s plans continue to emphasize the historic importance of providing housing in the U District. While the rezone will provide more density and development, the U District will continue to provide housing to support the University and other residents. It is likely that my block will continue, as it has done for many decades, to provide housing primarily for UW students.
Looking further into the future, there are clearly a lot of things in the U District that will be changing. First and foremost, with the addition of the light rail station and the rezoning, there will be new development and more density, responding to region-wide urbanization and population growth as well as the growth of the University. This will probably lead to an increase in residential housing, as more and more students will come to the University and need a place to stay. In summary, the U District will continue to evolve as it is redeveloped and adds more density, however, it will continue to have a strong housing role.
Works Cited
"The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition." The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition - UW Libraries. University of Washington, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2017.
Assefa, Samuel. U District Urban Design: Final Recommendations: Zoning, Development Standards, Affordable Housing Requirements, and Amenities. Rep. Seattle: Office of Planning and Community Development, 2016. Print.
Beekman, Daniel. "Would U District Upzone Kill Cheap Housing? Depends Whom You Ask." The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company, 09 Jan. 2017. Web. 16 Mar. 2017.
Mclain, Susan, and Radhika Nair. University District Urban Design Framework: Existing Conditions Report. Rep. Seattle: Department of Planning and Development, 2014. Print.