Site Report 2

            In the nineteenth century the block between 7^th Ave. NE and 8^th Ave. NE, and 40^th St. and NE Northlake Way was not bounded by the streets it is today.  The streets were not existent prior to the twentieth century but, the block was.  In 1773, the land it resides on was sold out in a real estate transaction to Christian Brownfield for the purpose of a Homestead Patent.  The Brownfield family has deep connections with the University district because of this transaction as Christian Brownfield homesteaded what would eventually become the U-District.  Shortly after the transaction Christian and his son were hired to pull coal cars from Lake Union through the land they bought to Lake Washington where the coal was hauled off on a boat to serve purpose in other areas.  In doing research of the block I found that the land was full of dirt hills, with some hills perched a house on top.  I speculate the land was very fertile and easy for landscaping which has brought the urban development creating the U-District we know of today.  Before the land was homesteaded the block essentially a dirt hill featuring a lot of elevation changes.  After the land was homesteaded the area has moslty remianed true to be primarily housing but, this block was bought over by the University of Washington which found the area useful for its publications/recylcing building.  With time comes change and my block has definitely had a toll played on it.  Most of the concrete roads have not been maintained as they are riddled with potholes and cracks as well as almost every parking space.  The pathway up to the Burke-Gilman trail is overgrown with ivy hanging down a retaining wall.  From past to present, the block went from a pathway for transporting coal to office buildings and a University owned recycling building.