South Lake Union is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, so named because it is at the south tip of Lake Union. It is bounded by Denny Way on the south, beyond which is Downtown, by Interstate 5 on the east, beyond which is Capitol Hill, by Aurora Avenue N. (Washington State Route 99) on the west, beyond which is Lower Queen Anne, and Aloha Street, Lake Union, and E. Garfield Street on the north, beyond which are Westlake and Eastlake.

Its main thoroughfares are Valley, Mercer, and Broad Streets (east- and westbound) and Dexter, 9th, Westlake, and Fairview Avenues N. and Eastlake Avenue E. (north- and southbound). The city is currently addressing transportation issues and considering changing Mercer Street into a two-way, six-lane, tree-lined boulevard. Valley Street would become a two-way, pedestrian friendly road.

History

Pioneer David Denny (of the Denny Party) opened his sawmill in South Lake Union in 1892, followed by the arrival of manufacturing at the turn of the century. This brought shipbuilding, Boeing seaplane fabrication and a regional Model T assembly plant in the historic building now occupied by the Shurgard Storage Centers headquarters. With industrial and commercial growth, residential centers sprang up to house company employees and other residents. South Lake Union evolved into an area of small business, warehouses and auto-oriented services.

Cascade is Seattle's second oldest residential neighborhood. It is the area of South Lake Union east of Fairview Avenue. A central neighborhood park, Cascade Playground, has two play areas, a wide field, a picnic table and restrooms. The park is adjacent to an active community P-Patch. Cascade Playground was purchased in the 1926. Cascade Playground enhancements were included in the Pro Parks Levy. Play area, field, and entrance improvements were unveiled in spring 2005.

Cascade is the home of the flagship R.E.I. store located at Eastlake Avenue E. and John Street. NBBJ architects is located at Alley24, an office and apartment development currently located between John and Thomas Streets and Yale and Pontius Avenues. Alley24 was built around the existing New Richmond Laundry Building. The historic facade was maintained in the new design. The Cascade People's Center is a volunteer organization that partners with over 100 businesses, churches, organizations, and community groups to address advocacy for social and economic justice.

In February of 2007, a new design of the South Lake Union Park will begin construction with a pedestrian bridge across the western waterway, a walkway along the waterfront, open space, landscaping and much more. The park should be complete in 2009. The historic ships wharf will provide long-term moorage for historic vessels; and the Maritime Heritage Center will provide an array of cultural, educational, and recreational activities. Vessels currently moored at the wharf include the steamer Virginia V, the lightship Swiftsure, the tug Arthur Foss, the fireboat Duwamish, and the salmon troller Twilight. The schooner Wawona is moored next to the Center for Wooden Boats.

In December 2007, Amazon.com announced it would be consolidating its Seattle offices in South Lake Union, with occupancy to begin in 2010.^[1]

South Lake Union is also home to Denny Park, the oldest park in the city.

Future as a hub for life sciences

Due to recent development plans by Paul Allen's Vulcan Inc., as well as other prominent developers, South Lake Union is becoming a hub for life science organizations. Some in the area include: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (who formed the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance), Zymogenetics, Battelle, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle Children's, Rosetta, Merck & Co., Bio-Rad, and University of Washington Medicine. The new Department of Global Health at the University of Washington will have significant laboratory space in this area. The South Lake Union Campus of the University of Washington School of Medicine, also known as the "Blue Flame" building (the former home of Washington Natural Gas), houses 4 floors of biotechnology and medical research laboratories. Among the varied research areas are four Centers, focused on Allergy & Inflammation, Cardiovascular Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Lung Biology and Translational Medicine in Women's Health. Further, expansion of the current facility is underway with two new buildings under construction.

Plans for development of a biotechnology hub in South Lake Union has been somewhat controversial, as it is seen by some as an example of influential private companies receiving benefits from the city. Some argue that low-income housing is being destroyed and not replaced. However, the Low-Income Housing Institute developed the Denny Park Apartments, adding 50 units of low income housing in early 2006. Vulcan Real Estate is developing another 50 units of low-income apartments, called the Bourealis Apartments, at the corner of Dexter and Denny (former site of the Deja Vu). Alley24 has 20% of its units set aside for those earning less than 60% of the median income.

Some see the development as a creator of high paying jobs and additional economic diversification for the city. In 2007, the South Lake Union Streetcar began operation, connecting Westlake Center to the south end of Lake Union at Yale Avenue N., near Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center.

Living in South Lake Union

Historically, Cascade was the only district in South Lake Union with many residential options, with housing options ranging from single-family houses and houseboats to apartments and condominiums, while the rest of the neighborhood's housing restricted to apartments and condominiums. Since an economic redevelopment was initiated by the City Council in 2003, South Lake Union has seen a marked increase in housing with 1,850 new units, or 2,000,000 square feet (190,000 m²) of housing, either completed or scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008.^[2]

Green Space

• Denny Park
• Cascade Playground
• South Lake Union Park

Notes

External links

• South Lake Union on the Seattle Channel site
• South Lake Union on the site of the Mayor of Seattle
• South Lake Union Streetcar
• South Lake Union Chamber (chamber of commerce)

Parks and museums in South Lake Union

• South Lake Union Park
• Denny Park