Urban Planning & Transportation
ASSETS
The Central District as a neighborhood has many assets that create a more inviting and livable neighborhood. In terms of urban planning, the neighborhood has consistent sidewalks that invite people to be outside and gather outside the shops. It creates a more safe environment and encourages foot traffic. There are also many bus routes present and one that runs down the center of the neighborhood making the area very assessable outside of the main Link light rail line.
The issues regarding public transportation such as timeliness and efficiency are part of a larger issues of Seattle public transport, but as a whole public transport is very present and makes the area easily reachable. There is also a clear effort to create green spaces along the streets with trees and shrubs available for people to enjoy creating a more inviting community.
Liabilities
The Central District has very heavy car traffic for a variety of reasons. Much of the neighborhood is very residential and with houses come cars. This can become even more of a liability when foot and car traffic combine, but the narrow streets can feel very congested. Central District is also not easily reachable by the Link light rail, which can be slightly inconvenient because that is our most quick and reliable form of transportation. However, there are other forms such as buses and bikes that compensate for the train. Further, the neighborhood also has inconsistent bike lanes which can be improved into a liability but as of now does not fully support bike transportation.
future
The Seattle Department of Transportation currently has an ongoing project called "Central District Healthy Streets", which is a project that closes off streets to car traffic but is still open for people to walk/roll. Other goals of the projects are to create neighborhood activities, create speed bumps, bike lanes, and traffic circles to discourage car traffic. The transportation and urban layout of the Central District is undergoing many changes and improvement's continuing the pattern of growth and change in the neighborhood.
Rating
Overall, I would give my topic a 3.5. In urban planning, no neighborhood can have a perfect score. Especially with long established neighborhood it is a lot to entirely redevelope it. However, the effort to create a more user friendly neighborhood is there with the installed green spaces and openness of it. From my observations I think the neighborhood has more assets than liabilities. When looking at other topics like business, many business in the Central District are promoting a more community based neighborhood and are celebrating the complex history of the neighborhood which promotes a tighter connections in the area. The art scene that is growing there also encourages the community to become more involved with the appearance of their neighborhood, express themselves, and acknowledge their history which in turn is creating a very vibrant and rich area and maintaining the history despite the rapid growth of the neighborhood.
Resources
Seattle Department of Transportation. (2023, December 1). Central District healthy streets. Central District Healthy Streets - Transportation. https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/healthy-streets/central-district-healthy-streets
Henry, M. (2001). Seattle neighborhoods: Central Area -- thumbnail history. Seattle Neighborhoods: Central Area -- Thumbnail History. https://www.historylink.org/file/3079
ThinkEAST. (2017). A drawing of the streetscape in the ThinkEAST district development. photograph, Austin Texas.
Create by: Ava Wright