Quote:
Originally Posted by PDX City-State
I just don't see it as a vital area. It's cut off from Belltown by some fast-moving traffic arterials, and until very recently, there were wasn't much housing even close to it. There are restaurants over there, and in Lower Queen Anne, but it's just not very vital...not like other Seattle neighborhoods. So I guess our disagreement lies in our definition of vital. That said, if you see the Seattle Center as a good example of urban design, then I would have to question your taste...with all due respect.
Look the most successful neighborhood redevelopments and what they all have in common: people. From the Pearl to Belltown to South Lake Union to Capitol Hill to Tribeca, it has been the construction and redevelopment of true mixed-use neighborhoods had have spurred activity. The cardinal rule in real estate investment is this: money follows people. If you want something to succeed, build it near where people live and or work. Now, if the relocation of the SMART Tower were to accompany the destruction of Memorial Coliseum (Yes it's a great building, but it sits empty and sits on land that could be redeveloped into thousands of housing units), then do it.
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not to step on anyone's toes about this, but I think I see the issue you two are having. You keep referring to the Seattle Center as a poor example of a neighborhood, but I am pretty sure that area was never intended to be a neighborhood. It is a great location to pack in museums and science centers. The Seattle Center is meant to be more of a gathering place for all of Seattle and tourists that visit, which is much different than a neighborhood...though there are similar characteristics in both.
Do I think the Seattle Center is designed well...not totally, I like some things about it, but its overall is a bit disappointing, but I havent been through there in a few years. But the Space Needle reads much better being away from downtown and does create a beacon in the city, I usually look for it when I get turned around because when I can see it, I know my place in the city.
I actually wish Portland had something like this...sort of because I hate having our OMSI on the other side of the river. It would be nice to have an area where all of this sort of bunched together....well thinking about it, it would of required better planning with the superblocks at the south end of downtown, which would of made plenty of sense turning that into a huge cultural center.