Like every urban business and cultural center, Seattle’s U District neighborhood continues to face the ramifications and economic hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic. Without the bustle of students, faculty, staff and visitors for the past twelve months, some of the great progress the District made in the last few years around livability and public safety has been set back. This is concerning for those who live and work in the District as well as for families of students who make the District their home during the academic year.
As more vaccines get into arms each day, we are finally beginning to see some light at the end of this pandemic tunnel. While there is still a long road ahead, several exciting developments are brewing in the U District that cause me to remain very optimistic about the neighborhood’s future. They include:
- Light rail arriving fall 2021– One of three stations coming online this year, the University District light rail stop will connect the U District to downtown Seattle and Northgate, significantly expanding access to the area. While it may be hard to imagine crowding onto public transportation right now, Sound Transit projects that the light rail extension will eventually serve over 41,000 riders a day.
- New leadership heading the U District Partnership – After a nationwide search, the UDP welcomed Don Blakeney as their new executive director. Blakeney has held leadership roles in neighborhoods across Seattle and New York City, including his recent position as the VP of Policy and Advocacy with the Downtown Seattle Association. I look forward to seeing how his new energy and fresh ideas help foster a vibrant, diverse and healthy neighborhood for all who live, work and visit the district.
- West Campus expanding – As part of the UW Campus Master Plan, Site W27 will be the first new public-private building in the UW’s West Campus. Located on Brooklyn Avenue Northeast at Northeast Pacific Street, Site W27 will house researchers and entities focused on clean energy and other innovations that promote a sustainable future. Within the approximately 340,000 square foot space, Site W27 will also consolidate the UW Clean Energy Institute (CEI), CEI’s Washington Clean Energy Testbeds and the Northwest Institute for Material Physics, Chemistry and Technology under one roof. Funding for this consolidation and the establishment of a world-class center for advanced materials and clean energy technologies (CAMCET) was provided by the state legislature. There will also be an opportunity for mission-aligned civic, nonprofit or private institutions to lease space.
- Affordable housing options increasing – The Campus Master Plan also includes a commitment to add affordable housing units in the District. In a joint effort between the University of Washington and Seattle Housing Authority, the Filer Project will build affordable housing units on University-owned land located at Roosevelt and 42nd. The complex will include approximately 150 apartments affordable to people making 60% of area median income as well as a childcare center on the ground floor. An RFQ will be issued in summer 2021 and the building is anticipated to open in 2025.
- Plans for additional housing and office buildings – The holes on 12th Avenue Northeast are just the beginning of new developments coming to the U District over the next several years. The Hub U District, Brooklyn — a 25-story residential tower and pocket park that would replace the parking lot behind The Graduate Hotel — and a 13-story office building with retail space to be built on top of the new light rail station are just two examples of nearly a dozen proposed projects. As these towers change the skyline, they will also dramatically increase the number of housing units in the U District and provide additional retail space. For those who want to keep tabs on development plans, I recommend bookmarking Seattle in Progress, an interactive map that highlights new projects.
Like so many things about this pandemic, we must remember that now is not forever. Although we do not know when, students, visitors and university employees will return to the U District in their pre-pandemic numbers. New developments have the potential to increase opportunities for all who live, work, learn and play in the district. In the meantime, let’s continue to support our local U District favorites to ensure they will still be here when the world opens up more broadly again.