Downtown Seattle

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Downtown Seattle
Central business district
Seattle aerial 2, May 2023.png
Aerial view of Downtown Seattle, 2023
Seattle downtown neighborhoods.jpg
Downtown Seattle and Downtown Neighborhoods Highlighted in Yellow
Coordinates: 47°36′29″N122°20′10″W / 47.60806°N 122.33611°W / 47.60806; -122.33611
CountryUnited States
State Washington
County King
City Seattle
Time zone UTC−8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−7 (PDT)
Zip Code
98121
Area Code 206
Website downtownseattle.org
Downtown Seattle viewed from the top of the Space Needle in 2005 (looking south). Beyond downtown lies the Industrial District Downtown Seattle 2.JPG
Downtown Seattle viewed from the top of the Space Needle in 2005 (looking south). Beyond downtown lies the Industrial District
Timelapse video of downtown streets from atop a Community Transit double-decker bus

Downtown is the central business district of Seattle, Washington. It is fairly compact compared with other city centers on the U.S. West Coast due to its geographical situation, being hemmed in on the north and east by hills, on the west by Elliott Bay, and on the south by reclaimed land that was once tidal flats. It is bounded on the north by Denny Way, beyond which are Lower Queen Anne (sometimes known as "Uptown"), Seattle Center, and South Lake Union; on the east by Interstate 5, beyond which is Capitol Hill to the northeast and Central District to the east; on the south by S Dearborn Street, beyond which is Sodo; and on the west by Elliott Bay, a part of Puget Sound.

Contents

Neighborhoods

Belltown, Denny Triangle, the retail district, the West Edge, the financial district, the government district, Pioneer Square, Chinatown, Japantown, Little Saigon, and the western flank of First Hill west of Broadway make up downtown Seattle's chief neighborhoods. Near the center of downtown is the Metropolitan Tract which is owned by the University of Washington; prior to 1895 it served as the location of the university's campus. Downtown is Seattle's financial and commercial maritime hub as well as its center of nightlife and shopping. The downtown shopping mall Westlake Center is connected to Seattle Center by a monorail.

Landmarks

Downtown Seattle's Columbia Center has 76 floors, a greater number than any other building west of the Mississippi River (although there are taller buildings in Texas and California). Smith Tower, in the Pioneer Square area, once held the title of tallest American building west of the Mississippi. Other notable buildings are the 1201 Third Avenue (formerly the Washington Mutual Tower), Two Union Square, Nordstrom's flagship store, Benaroya Hall, the Seattle Central Library designed by Rem Koolhaas, and the main building of the Seattle Art Museum (built 1991, expanded 2007), the main facade of which was designed by Robert Venturi. Downtown parks include Westlake Park, Freeway Park, and Victor Steinbrueck Park. The Olympic Sculpture Park was completed on the Belltown waterfront in January 2007. Downtown is also home to the landmark Pike Place Market, the oldest continually operating farmers' market in the United States and the core of activity in the area.

History

After abandoning "New York Alki", the Denny Party moved across the then-named Duwamish Bay in April 1852 to a low level marsh situated with a safe deep water harbor, located roughly in the city's Pioneer Square district. They named this new frontier "Duwamps". [1] In the late 1850s, present day downtown Seattle became the main residential outskirts of the city. [2] After the Great Seattle Fire, the business district was moved to the area. [3] Several of the city's hills around downtown were regraded starting around 1876. [4]

Expansion

With about 65,000 people living in Seattle's core neighborhoods as of 2015, the downtown area's population is growing. Downtown saw a 10 percent increase in the number of occupied housing units and an 8 percent increase in population between 2010 and 2014, outpacing growth in the city as a whole. [5] As of the end of 2014, there were 32 apartment and 2 condominium projects under construction, representing over 5,000 units. [6]

In 1989, building heights in Downtown and adjoining Seattle suburbs were tightly restricted following a voter initiative. These restrictions were dramatically loosened in 2006, leading to the increase in high-rise construction. This policy change has divided commentators between those who support the increased density and those who criticize it as "Manhattanization." [7]

As of 2018, Downtown Seattle has 82,000 residents and 300,000 jobs, including 48,000 added since 2010 in the Denny Triangle area. The downtown area has 71 million square feet (6,600,000 m2) of office space, representing 79 percent of citywide inventory and 55 percent of commercial properties in the city. [8] Office construction continues apace in Downtown Seattle, with 6.4 million square feet (590,000 m2) planned to open in 2019, along with 161 projects. [9] [10]

Economy

Downtown Seattle is the largest employment center in the Puget Sound region, with an estimated employee population of 243,995 in 2013, accounting for half of the city's jobs and 21 percent of King County jobs. [11] Several Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Downtown Seattle include Amazon, Nordstrom, and Expeditors International. [12]

Government and infrastructure

The United States Postal Service operates the Seattle Main Post Office (also known as the Midtown Post Office [13] ) at 301 Union Street at Third Avenue. [14] [15] Seattle City Hall is located at 600 4th Ave, [16] adjacent to the King County Courthouse. Downtown is serviced by the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, which carries Link light rail trains between Westlake and Chinatown–International District. The terminus for the Seattle Center Monorail is located at Westlake Center. A large number of bus lines also run through; those operated by Metro were previously free of charge while in the now-defunct Ride Free Area. [17] Other buses from the suburbs operated by Sound Transit Express and Community Transit also terminate in downtown. [18] [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belltown, Seattle</span> Most densely populated neighborhood in Seattle, Washington

Belltown is the most densely populated neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, United States, located on the city's downtown waterfront on land that was artificially flattened as part of a regrading project. Formerly a low-rent, semi-industrial arts district, in recent decades it has transformed into a neighborhood of trendy restaurants, boutiques, nightclubs, and residential towers as well as warehouses and art galleries. The area is named after William Nathaniel Bell, on whose land claim the neighborhood was built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denny Triangle, Seattle</span> Neighborhood in Seattle

The Denny Triangle is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, United States, that stretches north of Downtown Seattle to the grounds of Seattle Center. Its generally flat terrain was originally a steep hill, taken down as part of a mammoth construction project in the first decades of the 20th century known as the Denny Regrade, which is another name for the neighborhood on the regraded area. The name Denny Triangle, referring to the northeastern portion of this regrading project, is a term that has gained currency as this neighborhood has seen increasing development in the first decades of the 21st Century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Anne, Seattle</span> Seattle Neighborhood

Queen Anne is a neighborhood and geographic feature in Seattle, Washington, United States, located northwest of downtown. Queen Anne covers an area of 7.3 square kilometers (2.8 sq mi), and has a population of about 28,000. It is bordered by Belltown to the south, Lake Union to the east, the Lake Washington Ship Canal to the north and Interbay to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel</span> Rail tunnel in Seattle, Washington, United States

The Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel (DSTT), also referred to as the Metro Bus Tunnel, is a 1.3-mile-long (2.1 km) pair of public transit tunnels in Seattle, Washington, United States. The double-track tunnel and its four stations serve Link light rail trains on the 1 Line as it travels through Downtown Seattle. It runs west under Pine Street from 9th Avenue to 3rd Avenue, and south under 3rd Avenue to South Jackson Street. 1 Line trains continue north from the tunnel to Northgate station and south through the Rainier Valley past Seattle–Tacoma International Airport to Angle Lake station as part of Sound Transit's light rail network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Lake Union, Seattle</span> Neighborhood of Seattle

South Lake Union is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, so named because it is at the southern tip of Lake Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Lake Union Streetcar</span> Streetcar line in Seattle, Washington

The South Lake Union Streetcar, officially the South Lake Union Line, is a streetcar route in Seattle, Washington, United States, forming part of the Seattle Streetcar system. It travels 1.3 miles (2.1 km) and connects Downtown Seattle to the South Lake Union neighborhood on Westlake Avenue, Terry Avenue, and Valley Street. The South Lake Union Streetcar was the first modern line to operate in Seattle, beginning service on December 12, 2007, two years after a separate heritage streetcar ceased operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reginald H. Thomson</span>

Reginald Heber Thomson was a self-taught American civil engineer. He worked in Washington state, mainly in Seattle, where he became city engineer in 1892 and held the position for two decades. Alan J. Stein wrote that Thomson "probably did more than any other individual to change the face of Seattle" and was responsible for "virtually all of Seattle's infrastructure".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International District/Chinatown station</span> Light rail station in Seattle, Washington

International District/Chinatown station is a light rail station that is part of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel in Seattle, Washington, United States. The station is located at the tunnel's south end, at 5th Avenue South and South Jackson Street in the Chinatown-International District neighborhood, and is served by the 1 Line of Sound Transit's Link light rail system. The station is located adjacent to Sound Transit headquarters at Union Station, as well as intermodal connections to Amtrak and Sounder commuter rail at King Street Station and the First Hill Streetcar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pioneer Square station</span> Light rail station in Seattle, Washington

Pioneer Square station is a light rail station that is part of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel in Seattle, Washington, United States. The station is located under 3rd Avenue at James Street, between University Street and International District/Chinatown stations. It is served by the 1 Line, part of Sound Transit's Link light rail system, and provides connections to local buses and Colman Dock, a major ferry terminal serving areas west of Seattle.

Ralph D. Anderson was an American architect from Seattle, Washington. He was a founder of Ralph Anderson and Partners, later Anderson Koch Smith. Although much of his work is modernist, he is also strongly associated with preservationism. He was an early and significant contributor to the restoration of Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood, and also participated in restoration projects along First Avenue in the Pike Place Market Historical District in the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University Street station</span> Light rail station in Seattle, Washington

University Street station is a light rail station that is part of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel in Seattle, Washington, United States. The station is located under 3rd Avenue at University Street, near Benaroya Hall, and is served by Sound Transit's 1 Line. It is located between Westlake and Pioneer Square stations and has surface connections to buses operated by King County Metro and other providers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westlake station (Sound Transit)</span> Light rail station in Seattle, Washington

Westlake station is a light rail station that is part of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel in Seattle, Washington, United States. The station is located under Pine Street between 3rd and 6th avenues in Downtown Seattle, near Westlake Center and Westlake Park. It is served by the 1 Line, part of Sound Transit's Link light rail system, and also connected above ground by buses at several stops, the South Lake Union Streetcar, and the Seattle Center Monorail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RapidRide C Line</span> Bus rapid transit route in Seattle, Washington

The C Line is one of seven RapidRide lines operated by King County Metro in King County, Washington. The C Line began service on September 29, 2012, running between downtown Seattle, West Seattle, Fauntleroy and the Westwood Village Shopping Center in the Westwood neighborhood. The line runs mainly via Westlake Avenue, 3rd Avenue, Washington State Route 99, the West Seattle Bridge, California Avenue and Fauntleroy Way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RapidRide D Line</span> Bus rapid transit route in Seattle, Washington

The D Line is one of seven RapidRide lines operated by King County Metro in King County, Washington. The D Line began service on September 29, 2012, running between Carkeek Park in Crown Hill, Ballard, Interbay and Uptown and downtown Seattle. The line runs via Holman Road NW, 15th Ave NW, 15th Ave W, Elliott Ave W, W Mercer Pl, Queen Anne Ave N/1st Ave N and 3rd Ave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doppler (building)</span> Headquarters of Amazon

Doppler is a 524-foot-tall (160 m) office building in Seattle, Washington, which is home to the corporate headquarters of Amazon. It is located in the Denny Triangle neighborhood of the city, at the intersection of Westlake Avenue and 7th Avenue near the Westlake Center and McGraw Square.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Seattle</span> Overview of the architecture in Seattle

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Denny Way is an east–west arterial street in downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. It forms the northern end of the Belltown street grid as well as the boundaries of Belltown, Lower Queen Anne, South Lake Union, Denny Triangle, and Cascade. The street continues east through Capitol Hill to Madrona as a minor neighborhood street, ending near Madrona Park on Lake Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Avenue (Seattle)</span> Major street in Seattle, Washington, US

1st Avenue is a major street in Seattle, Washington, United States. It traverses Downtown Seattle, including Pioneer Square and Belltown, as well as the adjacent neighborhoods of SoDo and Lower Queen Anne. Numerous landmarks including parks, museums, and historic buildings are located along the street, including Pike Place Market. The Great Seattle Fire of 1889 destroyed much of it and it had to be rebuilt. Parades have taken place on it before and after the fire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westlake Avenue</span>

Westlake Avenue is a major street in Seattle, Washington, connecting Downtown Seattle to the neighborhoods of South Lake Union, Westlake and northeastern Queen Anne. The street runs north–south along the west side of Lake Union for 2.5 miles (4.0 km) from McGraw Square to the Fremont Bridge.

References

  1. ↑ Walt Crowley (August 31, 1998). "Seattle: A Brief History of Its Founding". HistoryLink. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  2. ↑ Elenga 2007, p. 61.
  3. ↑ Greg Langer (January 16, 1999). "Seattle's Great Fire". HistoryLink. Archived from the original on June 9, 2010. Retrieved June 20, 2006.
  4. ↑ Elenga 2007, p. 115.
  5. ↑ "State of Downtown Economic Profile". Downtown Seattle Association. Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Development and Construction Projects in Downtown Seattle". Downtown Seattle Association. Archived from the original on February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  7. ↑ Berger, Knute (October 9, 2006). "The Manhattan Project". Seattle Weekly . Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  8. ↑ Smith, Rob (April 2019). "Statshot: Up With Downtown". Seattle Business Magazine. p. 13. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  9. ↑ Conroy, Bill (April 10, 2019). "Office Development in Seattle Kicks Into High Gear in 2019". Seattle Business Magazine. Archived from the original on April 11, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  10. ↑ Smith, Rob (April 2019). "Lack of Affordable Housing, Homelessness, Threaten Downtown Seattle". Seattle Business Magazine. p. 12. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  11. ↑ "2015 State of Downtown Economic Report" (PDF). Downtown Seattle Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 10, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  12. ↑ "King County Economy". Economic Development Council of Seattle & King County. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Post Office Location - MIDTOWN." United States Postal Service . Retrieved on May 5, 2009.
  14. ↑ Davila, Florangela. "Clock Is Ticking On Filing Tax Returns Archived September 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine ." The Seattle Times . April 15, 1998. Retrieved on May 5, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Appeal of CARL A. CURRIER, JAMES KERNS, DAVID BAR - P.S. Docket No. POB 00-209, P.S. Docket No. POB 00-271, P.S. Docket No. POB 00-272 Archived September 4, 2006, at the Wayback Machine ." United States Postal Service . Retrieved on May 5, 2009.
  16. ↑ Downtown Seattle Government Buildings (PDF) (Map). City of Seattle. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  17. ↑ Downtown Metro Service (PDF) (Map). King County Metro. September 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  18. ↑ Giordano, Lizz (November 18, 2019). "Our bus routes could terminate at Northgate as soon as 2021". HeraldNet.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  19. ↑ "New light-rail stations bring big changes to Seattle-area bus routes". The Seattle Times. October 1, 2021. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
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