Site Report 4
Today as of March 2017, the block residing between 7th Ave. NE and 8th Ave. NE, and NE 40th St. and NE Northlake Way is primarily known for its industrial/warehouse structured buildings and its local business/commercial structures. The block is defined as being a half-block featuring a number of surface parking lots, less defined street spaces, and less defined building edges giving it a very suburban feel to the block despite its position in Northeast Seattle. The spacing between buildings and parking layouts featuring deep setbacks from the streets help accommodate this suburban attribute. With many room for improvement the block can expect to see repavement of the roads and parking lots covering up the cracks and potholes within the near future. The block constantly being used by warehouse workers and local business oweners would greatly appreciate minor work to improve the already splendid view of Union Bay. Plans for the block are limited due to zoning and height regulations. The block is hindered by a relatively small height regulation of 45 ft. in a city where heights can reach over 100 ft., stopping the block from being a part of the city planners “Highrise” development plan to increase the relative height of many buildings in the U District. However, the city council does have plans regarding rezoning the area and implementing Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) as part of a zone-wide change this year. With the U District being one of the youngest and diverse areas in all of Seattle, the city council is proposing plans to complement the current inhabitants the best. One of the main points by the city council is lowering the price of housing in an economy where the prices of housing are only rising. The city council has recommended the use of Mandatory Housing Affordability which would require developers in the U District to contribute in one of two ways, including affordable housing within new development or by giving money to a fund which supports development of affordable housing. This is important to accomodate the heavy student and homeless population that is currently living within the U District. In giving cheap affordable housing the city will be able amend the past increase in the homeless population of the U District. With this new direction for the U District, the city council is moving cautiously into the future for development, taking in great care not to ruin the current environment produced by the low and old-fashioned architecture buildings. With warehouses and commercial buildings on the block you can have reason to not expect much change in the future other than minor rezoning. The block resides just outside the limit of experiencing major development to accommodate the light rail station being currently built but will no doubt be affected by the new direction the city council hopes to take us in the next years. The U District will be filled with affordable housing centralized around the young and diverse student population giving them a more connected feel to the inner city as a light rail ride will be able to take you straight to downtown in five minutes. With as much effort and energy the city council is putting into the urban development of the U District everyone should have high hopes for what’s to come.
Cities require strategic planning and by researching the history and development of one block it can show you overall patterns used by city planners in the entire area of the U District. City planners often take into account strategies that help build the attractiveness of a city to where businesses would want to be located and people would want to live. For the development of a city to be successful, it requires counseling from the current residents, businesses, and government officials so the majority of people’s desires are met. With city planning, a great amount of resources are used however, preservation of the city’s environment and historical context are as equally important giving the city a feel that will attract people to reside in. From city planning, great insight can be obtained. By analyzing the pros and cons of a recent city’s development you can build and strategically plan a city in the future to better suit the environment and people all around.
Assefa, Samuel. "U District Urban Design." U District Urban Design - What & Why - Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development. Office of Planning and Community Development, 6 Oct. 2016. Web. 07 Mar. 2017.
Mclain, Susan, and Radhika Nair. University District Urban Design Framework: Existing Conditions Report. Seattle: Dept., 2012.Http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cityplanning/completeprojectslist/universitydistrict/documents/. June 2012. Web. 7 Mar. 2017.