Site Report 4
After considering the surprisingly extensive histories of the University District and more specifically Block 51 its is curious to read about the projections for its future. Presently Block 51’s primary features are its park, the University Playground, as well as residential single family homes and duplex or triplex buildings. The plans for the future focus on taking an already significant neighborhood and streamlining its characteristics. This approach looks to maintain the character of the University District while improving on many of the things the community values. These plans very much seek to maintain the scholarly history of the U District while also opening it up to others. The biggest changes, as well as controversies, will and have come from the up-zoning proposals and the new Link Light Rail station which will be open at 43rd and Brooklyn in the year 2021. The development centered around new the station includes the addition of large central park, affordable high rise housing as well as commercial buildings. Residents are both excited and worried about growth and desire to maintain “its diversity, eclectic character, and affordability”(Assefa 2). At present the UW in University District is Seattle’s #1 employer and it is partially for this reason that the area has been such a focus of job growth, housing growth, and public investment. While much of the planning seems to center around a neighborhood for student occupants it is important to consider the wide diversity of interests and people the area outside of the young student population. If the plans for the future simple looked to serve students they would be neglecting a large portion of the people living the neighborhood - families, working class people, and homeless populations, for example.
According to the Land Use and Plan Implementation document Block 51, itself, is on the periphery of the University District rezoning plan for the most part its zone will not change, as it is not near enough to the center of the rezoning project at 43rd and Brooklyn (see figure 3). Additionally, the plan proposes to preserve single-family homes due to their scarcity in the U District, meaning likely much of Block 51 will retain its current layout. Outside of the structures on Block 51 future plans seem to stress the uses of 50th street as a “regional connector”, extending from the University District over I-5 and into Wallingford. This is an important connection to maintain and keep up as the University Community Urban Center claims, “The NE 50th St. corridor provides an excellent opportunity to build on existing resources to create an integrated complex of community facilities and services supporting both existing neighborhoods and projected new development” (12). In terms of the park, Seattle Parks and Recreation in partnership with the Friends of University Playground are a part of the ongoing maintenance and protection of the open space. The diagram below outlines its primary functions and potential future uses and includes things like: outdoor movies, sports, or child play area.
Finally, in doing this analysis, it is important to consider where these plans are coming from and they are being proposed by. Much of the planning comes from the City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development and the University District Livability Partnership (UDLP). In seeking “development” the City of Seattle is most likely biased towards the economic growth of the area through business and job growth. This capitalist priority is likely the driver of much of their policy and decision making. It seems, though, that the UDLP seem to strike a bit of balance as the partnership is comprised of “residents, businesses and property owners, service providers, UW administrators, and members of the faith community” (8) which makes for a diverse basis of decision making and planning.
Works Cited:
"Animals, Plants and Habitat." Animals, Plants and Habitat - King County. King County, Washington, 10 Nov. 2016. Web. 15 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.
Buerge, David M. "Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest: An Introduction." ::: American Indians of the Pacific Northwest Collection :::. University of Washington, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2017.
"Development Services Office." DSO--Seattle Public Utilities. City of Seattle, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2017. <http://www.seattle.gov/util/Engineering/DevelopmentServicesOffice/index.htm>.
Keeley, Sean. "Seattle History Lessons - The Story of I-5." Curbed Seattle. Vox Media, 14 Oct. 2014. Web. <http://seattle.curbed.com/2014/10/14/10036458/curbed-seattle-history-lessons-i5-highway-downtown>.
Lawson, Elliot, and Ann Brians. "University District: An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design Resources." Historic Seattle (n.d.): n. pag. Seattle Preservation and Development Authority, 2014. Web. <https://historicseattle.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/University-District-1.pdf>.
"Park History." Park History - Parks. The Seattle Municipal Archives, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2017.
"Seattle Historical Sites - 4719 9th AVE." Seattle Historical Sites Search Result - Department of Neighborhoods (DON). City of Seattle, 2015. Web. 15 Mar. 2017. <http://web6.seattle.gov/DPD/HistoricalSite/QueryResult.aspx?ID=69>.
Stilgoe, John R. "Chapter One - Beginnings, Chapter Two - Lines." Outside Lies Magic: Regaining History and Awareness in Everyday Places. New York: Walker, 1999. 1-58. Print.
Tobin, Caroline, and Sarah E. Sodt. University District Historic Survey Report. Seattle, Wash.?: Dept., 2002. City of Seattle, Sept. 2002. Web. <https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/Neighborhoods/HistoricPreservation/HistoricResourcesSurvey/context-university-district.pdf>.
University District Parks Plan. Rep. Seattle: Seattle Parks and Recreation on and Department of Planning and Development, 2015. Print.