SIte Report 3
When looking at Block 49, one of the first things to catch your eye is the white, terra cotta styled building that currently houses the Wells Fargo Bank on the corner of University way and 45th. Going back into the history of this block, you find that this bank has been here since the early Beginnings of the U district. It was built in 1912 by a man named George Hughes to add to the growing area that surrounded the University. This all came to be thanks to the Alaskan-Yukon Pacific exposition in 1909. Leading up to the fair the roads and sidewalks were graded and paved in an attempt to beautify the region. This laid the groundwork for what is seen today. Because of this fairs arrival, people from around the country ended up staying here in Seattle. As the population surrounding the University grew, so did the commercial businesses. University Way became the hub for commerce and business within the area. While the Bank is not the only thing to occupy the block, it is definitely the oldest and most historic feature. One of the other more prominent features to the growth of the area is the University Customer Service Center on University Way, tucked away amongst the other shops and stores. It acts as a sort of mini City hall for the people who live in the U District, providing all the services you could find from the main city hall downtown. As a whole this block has developed and grown along with the rest of the U district and continues to be a quintessential part of it.