Paul Allen’s vision for the South Lake Union area is taking shape and will become an exciting area to work and live. It may be difficult to envision it today as it still has a light-industrial feel to it and there’s still significant development and road work ahead. Nonetheless, SLU is slowly but surely remaking itself.
Already home to Tommy Bahama, REI and Jones Soda, SLU will soon welcome Group Health’s new corporate headquarters and UW Medicine’s new biotech research facility. New apartment and condominium projects are underway which will provide a wide variety of housing opportunities and create a vibrant residential community.
The SLU district is also attracting arts and cultural institutions as well. Recently, the Musuem of History and Industry announced plans to relocate from its Arboretum location to the Armory Building, joining the Center for Wooden Boats at the 12-acre Lake Union Park. The park is currently undergoing a $20 million improvement and expansion campaign.
SLU Community Events
Cascade Neighborhood Block Party for the National Night Out Against Crime
August 7th, 4 PM to 8 PM
333 Pontius Avenue N
Featuring a BBQ, raffles, live music, kids activities
SLU Block Party
August 10th, Noon to 11 PM
SLU Discovery Center, 101 Westlake Ave N
Featuring live music, cooking demonstrations, food samplings, a muttmazing race for the pooches and arts and crafts for kids
Cinema on the Lawn
August 10th, around dusk
Showing Little Miss Sunshine
August 3rd, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Sounds like lots of fun things going on! We will probably be there for cinema on the lawn on the 10th.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I think it’s pretty clear the SLU project has far to go before creating any sense of community there. Showing movies on the lawn does not a neighborhood make.
August 5th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Lawn movies complete the community. This is going to be a fantastic neighborhood. Lawn movies = neighborhood.
August 6th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Gotta start somewhere, right? I think of this as a positive activity toward building community and relations with others in the area. So I am just wondering where all of the negativity is coming from. And I don’t mean to sound defensive or anything I really am just curious.
August 6th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Newbuyer – I’m with you. I’m very excited about the SLU district and look forward to moving to the area in a future phase. The design plans for the area are quite extraordinary, aimed at building a much stronger sense of community than what’s there currently.
August 15th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
The Block Party the other night at SLU was a lot better than expected. Lots more people than I thought would attend. It was a pretty laid back atmosphere and we really enjoyed the live music and wine!
August 15th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
…choosing upgrades tomorrow for Rollin Street…
August 19th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I can really appreciate what has occurred in south lake union. I have spent most of my two years in that neighborhood in Seattle, and quite honestly two years ago I was afraid to walk through there at night, The plans are ambitious, and being from Tempe Arizona , where they totally transcended a trash filled river bottom and dilapidated buildings and transformed it into a place where people could enjoy a quality of life not known before.
And thats what i see happening in South Lake Union, I think despite the growing pains it is going to be spectacular place, even more spectacular than it is now.
Thanks For having me Seattle,
Donald Hilstrom
August 21st, 2008 at 10:00 am
Too bad that the Commons failed. Would have been such a great asset for the City. However, development is happening it’s just different than it could have been. Basically, Vulcan started with a blank slate. Unfortunatly, the new developments lack character and charm. This area could have been like Boston’s Back Bay or Atlanta’s Buckhead with charming buildings and upscale retail. What is being built now could easily be in a office park in Bellevue.