SEATTLE | Downtown Projects: Completed, U/C, Proposed/Approved

[mSeattle]

This is just over the line outside of downtown, and isn't very tall, but it's been fun to watch this one grow. One of my favorite buildings u/c right now.


by mSeattle, on Flickr


by mSeattle, on Flickr


by mSeattle, on Flickr


by mSeattle, on Flickr


by mSeattle, on Flickr


by mSeattle, on Flickr


by mSeattle, on Flickr


by mSeattle, on Flickr


by mSeattle, on Flickr

[mhays]

That's over what some consider the "line" of Downtown. I'd call that Downtown more than South Lake Union or where I live near the Space Needle for example.

Capitol Hill is filling in nicely. The obvious development sites are getting scarce, particularly if you factor what's planned for the next year.

[mSeattle]

Originally Posted by mhays

That's over what some consider the "line" of Downtown. I'd call that Downtown more than South Lake Union or where I live near the Space Needle for example.

Capitol Hill is filling in nicely. The obvious development sites are getting scarce, particularly if you factor what's planned for the next year.

That's interesting. I've always thought of Capitol Hill and First Hill as not being in downtown. It must be the impact of I-5 and the elevation. I view Belltown as being in downtown, which might be due to the similar elevation and build-out.

[mhays]

For me, if I'm cutting off First Hill and Pike/Pine at I-5, I'm also cutting off everything north of Virginia and south of Yesler.

[TonyAnderson]

Originally Posted by Syndic

If so much is going on, if this is the biggest boom you've seen, then I'd love to see more updates about it on this forum. Or is there somewhere else people are primarily posting about it? I know sometimes it's a chore to go out and take pictures or cross-post articles here for others to read, but lots of people like to follow this kind of stuff, even if it's not in their city.

Austin is also experiencing it's biggest boom ever. We have around 20 downtown developments going on this year. Downtown Austin is going to feel like one big construction zone for the next 2 years. We've always used Cascadian cities as a model. Of course, we have a lot more catching up to do than Seattle, but we're making up for lost time. It's not that we necessarily want to be a big city. We just don't want to be a flat city.

So, yeah, update moar, guys! People are interested. How can we imitate you guys if you don't show us what to do?

The regional section (Northwest or whatevever) on this forum has tons of Seattle pictures/updates.

[mhays]

Most Seattle updates are at Skyscrapercity. I just hunted down the SSP version, which I never go to, and it appears others don't use it much either.

Quite a bit never makes it to SSP or SSC. But the highrises always do.

[mSeattle]

Originally Posted by mhays

For me, if I'm cutting off First Hill and Pike/Pine at I-5, I'm also cutting off everything north of Virginia and south of Yesler.

I view CH/No.BH/FH/QA as "city center" neighborhoods. I don't know, it just feels weird identifying them as "downtown" like CBD. I wonder if "The Village" in Manhattan is viewed as "downtown"? It's probably just something for me to get used to. The city is changing so much, in a good way.

I'm curious what the numbers would look like if you isolate south of Yesler, north of Virginia and east of I-5 (west CH, east CH, FH, Seattle U/12th Ave...).

[dc_denizen]

Has there ever been talk of capping i-5 or buildind a tunnel? I couldn't find anything on google really. Obviously, having a major highway run theough downtown is one area where Seattle lags it Pac NW peers from an "urbanity" standpoint.

[alki]

Originally Posted by mSeattle

This is just over the line outside of downtown, and isn't very tall, but it's been fun to watch this one grow. One of my favorite buildings u/c right now.

I can see why........infill on awkward sites can make for the most interesting bdgs.

Is it located between DT and First Hill? I want to check it out when I am DT next.

[alki]

Originally Posted by dc_denizen

Has there ever been talk of capping i-5 or buildind a tunnel? I couldn't find anything on google really. Obviously, having a major highway run theough downtown is one area where Seattle lags it Pac NW peers from an "urbanity" standpoint.

There has been some talk but capping is pretty expensive and I think it won't happen until more of the vacant land DT has disappeared. We're getting there slowly but surely.

Where else in the PNW have they capped?

[alki]

Originally Posted by mSeattle

I view CH/No.BH/FH/QA as "city center" neighborhoods. I don't know, it just feels weird identifying them as "downtown" like CBD. I wonder if "The Village" in Manhattan is viewed as "downtown"? It's probably just something for me to get used to. The city is changing so much, in a good way.

I'm curious what the numbers would look like if you isolate south of Yesler, north of Virginia and east of I-5 (west CH, east CH, FH, Seattle U/12th Ave...).

Manhattan is pretty weird. Midtown is more DT than DT. And some of the best shopping isn't in Midterm or DT. For an example, Macy's is around 34th St which is between Midtown and DT...........so what is the area around Macy's considered? And Bloomingdale's is located on the Upper East side. So I don't have a clue what that means for the Village which also is neither in DT or Midtown.

The same is true for SF..........gov't bldgs in SF are at least 10 blocks north[?] of the heart of DT SF which is Union Square. And now South of Market, which for a long time was ghetto has become part of DT SF. DT SF is expanding and that's causing the roles of peripheral areas to change.

I think we are seeing the same thing happening in Seattle. For me, SLU is already part of DT Seattle esp when the Amazon project gets done which I think will act as a link between the two. Ditto with FH. I see FH like Belltown.......a residential area for DT. However, I don't think CH or Lower QA are there yet.

[mhays]

Part of I-5 is capped already with Freeway Park and the Convention Center, which also has a park area plus an indoor set of escalators that get you halfway up the hill. But I'd love to get another cap or two. Maybe Pine to Olive. Also a couple sections need skybridges at least, most notably north of Denny, which is outside the CBD. Maybe in 2030 we can talk about building a bypass freeway through the hills, and making the current I-5 corridor a minor boulevard.

Portland has a similar problem, just a few blocks outside the CBD proper. I think it's worse in some ways from a pedestrian standpoint, particularly if you're trying to walk outside the perimeter of the freeway ring. It's certainly mystified me on recent visits (showing up for 20 hours on business, and squeezing in long evening walks).

Regarding what's "Downtown," I'm fine with a tight definition, with Downtown being the CBD only, i.e. where the big office towers are. But if "Downtown" goes beyond that, say to Denny Way or Pioneer Square, then I'd take it up to Broad or so. If "Downtown" goes to Lake Union and the stadiums, I'd take it up to Broadway, or farther in the Pike/Pine area.

PS, my personal style sheet capitalizes Downtown. It's the name of a neighborhood just like any other. Many professional writers don't capitalize it, which I consider only a remnant of the term's original use as a direction, not a district.

[seaskyfan]

^ There was some talk about putting the new federal courthouse on a lid over I-5 but then 9/11 happened and they took it off the table.

I'd like to see some additional lidding north of the current lid - at least to Olive.

[J_M_Tungsten]

[QUOTE=mSeattle;5979524]


What a presence!

[mhays]

Originally Posted by seaskyfan

^ There was some talk about putting the new federal courthouse on a lid over I-5 but then 9/11 happened and they took it off the table.

I'd like to see some additional lidding north of the current lid - at least to Olive.

Actually it was the earlier WTC bombing.

Had to check the DJC. The ceremonial groundbreaking was July 2, 2001.

[mSeattle]

Detoured to the Cascade area last month when I had a Zipcar. I wasn't sure where it was then it popped out right in front of me. I was expecting something less out-of-the-ground. Nice surprise.

Stack House

by mSeattle, on Flickr


by mSeattle, on Flickr


by mSeattle, on Flickr


by mSeattle, on Flickr


by mSeattle, on Flickr


by mSeattle, on Flickr


by mSeattle, on Flickr

[mSeattle]

Re: Lids over I-5

Some people are working to create a promenade on Melrose Ave [http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/20...ty-auditorium]. I've long wished there were a big lid in that area to create a nice big park. It would be nice if the promenade could be a first step toward that.

[mhays]

The biggest need on Melrose and Capitol Hill in general is pedestrian connections to South Lake Union. There should be a skybridge at Harrison or thereabouts. And it's just wierd that Denny Way only has one sidewalk, so another skybridge is needed there. Or go big and make one or both of those park-like.

As for Cascade, it's a bit out of sight to a lot of people, but the density is starting to pay off. The 650 housing units underway plus what might be about 1,700 existing (in 50-55 acres), plus the sizeable office component, historic churches, REI, Cascade Park, etc. are starting to give it a critical mass. Due to some of the social housing and cancer housing, it even has families. It's a few projects away from being pretty dense and cohesive.

[seaskyfan]

5th & Columbia looking at a fall start!!

http://seattletimes.com/html/busines...lumbiaxml.html

Yahoo! I can't wait to see this one go up.

[InlandEmpire]

Great news! I've been looking forward to this one starting more than almost any other proposal in recent years!