I have found a new favorite blog, all about Capitol Hill. I'm just now learning about my neighborhood that surrounds the Sanctuary and how it's changing--from the early days when it was an upscale residential neighborhood for rich Capitol Hill families in the 1920s, the 1950s artisans, designers and GLBT community, and its modern-day diverse hipster and activist resident population.
In the early 1900s, Seattle was the home of large immigrant populations, plus loggers and sailors, and its neighborhoods developed mostly to the north and south to avoid the steep land grades that moved east out of the city. The upper class, mostly the new rich, commanded an upper perch from their homes on Capitol Hill. If you ever get a chance (especially fun for out-of-town visitors), take the Seattle Underground Tour from Pioneer Square and get an idea of how, prior to the great fire of 1889, the early downtown residents lived-- with wooden box sewers above their heads. If you had any money, or any sense of smell, you'd at least spend your summers on the higher ground of Capitol Hill.
In 1901, James Moore, the Capitol Hill neighborhood's chief developer, gave the area its name. Up until then, it had been called Broadway Hill. Today, Broadway is still one of its most popular streets today, with a new light-rail link scheduled to connect Capitol Hill, downtown and the University District by 2016. Its an ever-changing, trying-to-gentrify neighborhood with the Sanctuary town homes in the middle of it all on 16th avenue, just off the 15th street corridor of cafes and small business.
So, Who are the People in Your Neighborhood?(with a fond nod to the "Bob" and the 1970s Sesame Street tune) The Capitol Hill Seattle Blog follows neighborhood happenings, and its June posting linked to a recent study about the changing demographics (Primary Market Denographics, PMA) of the area. Turns out, we shouldn't worry all that much about a City Target moving in. There's no available land and the income level, street parking and residential support just isn't there.
I do love this neighborhood and yet, I echo some of those challenges. I've highlighted the two about panhandling and public drunkenness. While it's an infinitely more tolerable living here than downtown, I've still occasionally had to scold working-class men who enjoy the afternoon in Seven Hill park next door with a few beers--and then urinate in the entry to the Sanctuary garage. If you see this guy around the Hill, please ask him to cut-it-out!
While early 1800s residents may have had to deal with their sewage overhead, I just can't see any reason, in 2013, to live with it underfoot.
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| Wooden box sewers, Pioneer Square mid-1800s |
In 1901, James Moore, the Capitol Hill neighborhood's chief developer, gave the area its name. Up until then, it had been called Broadway Hill. Today, Broadway is still one of its most popular streets today, with a new light-rail link scheduled to connect Capitol Hill, downtown and the University District by 2016. Its an ever-changing, trying-to-gentrify neighborhood with the Sanctuary town homes in the middle of it all on 16th avenue, just off the 15th street corridor of cafes and small business.
So, Who are the People in Your Neighborhood?(with a fond nod to the "Bob" and the 1970s Sesame Street tune) The Capitol Hill Seattle Blog follows neighborhood happenings, and its June posting linked to a recent study about the changing demographics (Primary Market Denographics, PMA) of the area. Turns out, we shouldn't worry all that much about a City Target moving in. There's no available land and the income level, street parking and residential support just isn't there.
The study commissioned by the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce and compiled by consultants at Kidder Mathews concludes with a series of ten recommendations for making near-term improvement in the business environment along Broadway between Union and Roy.
"The three most commonly cited challenges to operating a business within the Corridor were dealing with street people (40%), the lack of convenient affordable parking (35%), and effects of construction (15%). Other commonly cited challenges included the lack of law enforcement, increasing rental rates, general crime, declining business diversity, and insufficient street scape maintenance." details the report.Recommendations
- Encourage the redevelopment of underutilized properties with a marketing effort
- Facilitate better communication between the agencies and developers responsible for the projects and Corridor businesses
- Advocate for an aggressive panhandling law
- Advocate for additional police dedicated to the Corridor and stricter enforcement of public drunkenness, drug use, and shoplifting
- Advocate for shifting the metered parking hours from 8pm to 6pm
- Work with the City of Seattle and the business community to direct additional resources toward street/sidewalk cleaning, and tree trimming
- Encourage retail businesses to remain open during non-peak hours for the benefit of the Corridor as a whole
- Events: target attendees that align with Corridor retailer’s target customers and promote exploration of the corridor
- Create a storefront improvement program
- Chamber should more aggressively communicate its accomplishments
I do love this neighborhood and yet, I echo some of those challenges. I've highlighted the two about panhandling and public drunkenness. While it's an infinitely more tolerable living here than downtown, I've still occasionally had to scold working-class men who enjoy the afternoon in Seven Hill park next door with a few beers--and then urinate in the entry to the Sanctuary garage. If you see this guy around the Hill, please ask him to cut-it-out! While early 1800s residents may have had to deal with their sewage overhead, I just can't see any reason, in 2013, to live with it underfoot.
