University District

Institutional Responsibility in Placemaking & Placekeeping

Ava, Meredith, Maricella, Bella

Context map on this slide!
 Big Ideas: Forces of Change
Gentrification
“a process by which the character of a poor urban
area is transformed by wealthier individuals moving
in, improved housing, and the attraction of new
businesses. Prior residents are often displaced in
the process while affluent people move in, often
into neighborhoods that have historically been
home to people of color” (Fogel, 2020).
Pandemic
“outbreak of an infectious disease that
spreads across a large region, usually
worldwide, affecting a substantial number of
individuals. In March 2020, COVID-19 was
identified as a pandemic by the World Health
Organization” (Avera, 2020).
 Key Terminology
Overpolicing
the monitoring by, and occupation of,
police in a community space with the
explicit or implicit intent of
criminalization of a particular
community (Truthout.org)
Displacement
the forced movement of people from
the areas they reside or occupy (What
Are Gentrification and Displacement,
Urban Displacement Project)
Third Place Urban Center
places in a community that are
profoundly dense neighborhoods
essential to public life, invigorating the
within a city that constitute regional
livelihood through promoting
centers, with both residential and
interactions between neighbors and
commercial attributes (Seattle OPCD)
business (Oldenburg, 1991)
Mandatory Housing
Affordability Upzoning
a program implemented in order to
provide rent-restricted, the reassignment of the development
income-restricted homes for restrictions of an area for the purpose
low-income people while development of expanding development (Oxford)
is simultaneously increasing
(Seattle.gov)
Confirmed (yellow), possible (pink), and rumored (red) development in the U District, from May
2021. (Source: Kuo, 2021)
 Historical Context
Indigenous/colonizer history
- Coast Salish land (Duwamish)
- First surveyors arrived in 1855
- Harry Cowan cleared 100 acres of land
for James Moore → U District
- “Brooklyn”
Bogrow, 2015
- Montlake Cut constructed 1910-1914;
land blown up to make larger canal for
shipping boats
- Naming, environmental/ecological
degradation, development harmed
Native community that occupied the
land first
(Dorpat, 2001)
 Demographic Shifts
- Student demographic doubled from
1905 to end of decade (Tobin, Sodt)
- Redlining and history of segregation
- No longer explicit, but long lasting
impacts
- Housing accessibility lacking
- Gentrification continues to add
restrictions
 A Brief History of UW Alaska-Yukon-Pacific
Exposition held 1909
Territorial University UW opens new - transformed
opens 1861, downtown campus 1895 University Way from
Seattle (Dorpat, 2001) “Brooklyn” small trolley path into
becomes commercial street
“University with capitalistic
Station” due to dreams
new trolley

1956 - U Village opens 60s and 70s

“University
- attracts more District
residents Movement”
Image: UW Library Special
- First annual Collection
U District
Street Fair All other info: (Dorpat, 2001)
1970
 Current Concerns
- Development lacks meaningful regard for inclusivity and
accessibility in spaces, hindering feasibility of realizing a truly
equitable environment
- Rapid development, enrollment into 30,00s by end of twentieth
century (Dorpat, 2001)
- A large focus on the transient student population takes a toll on
permanent residents
- Covid … self explanatory
- Sadly, the Ave bears little resemblance to what it once did.
According to the UW Alumni Columns, "Once a thriving business
corridor, ... now the Ave is dominated by fast-food joints, used
book shops, penny stores, copy shops and the like."
- Charm slowly disintegrating through gentrification and
displacement
- Risks of displacement high (outside of UW)
- More development = less public realm activation
 Neighborhood Strengths

Accessible
Power of 10 Positive Changes
Transportation
● 2 light rail stations ● Lots of reasons to ● Because of MHA
● Walkability be in the U 600-900 affordable
● Bike & Bus District/things to do housing units

Placemaking
Ave = Protected
Efforts
● Maintain character ● Mural project
and accessibility ● Use of streets
 Major Recommendations
1. Restructure the Husky Card
○ Account minimums, as well as dining hall prices and
hours can be limiting
○ Help support local businesses
○ UCSD and U Delaware
2. Expand green spaces Image sourced from UW
Transportation Services
○ “Greenstreets” would make the neighborhood more
pleasant and serve a practical purpose
○ New York City’s Green Infrastructure
3. Increase mutual aid
○ A way for community members to get direct help
○ Unify existing networks
○ Solid Ground in Wallingford

An example of a greenstreet in New York. Sourced from New

York City Department of Parks and Recreation
 1.
2.
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Major Recommendations
3.
4. Expand and protect affordable housing options
○ “Naturally occurring affordable housing”
○ Student-focused development
○ Look to SCIDPA
5. Use UW networks to circulate information about U District happenings
○ Street fair
○ Office of Student Life emails
○ UC Berkeley’s collaboration with the city

Berkeley News headline showing possible collaboration.

Sourced from Berkeley News.
 Growth in Relationship

Maricella Meredith

● More nuanced views of the ● Deeper relationship and

neighborhood’s growth appreciation/belonging
● Invoked desire to become ● Excited about assets &
involved with non-UW ideas for positive change
communities

Bella Ava

● Risks of displacement ● Learned about blindspots

● Lack of unification as a student resident
● Catering of neighborhoods
 Group Reflection
● Learned more about impacts of public transportation installations
○ Breadth of impact being both positive and negative
● Did not expect communication lapses, such as local businesses not being
made aware of the timeline of the light rail station
● Started with an overwhelming amount of information; had to narrow
through lens of permanent resident experience in contrast to our own
● Group collaboration quite successful
○ Met on facetime and in person to divide tasks
○ Always had even amounts of work
○ Always discussed when we wanted to remove or keep information
■ Didn’t change much
● Attempted to tailor our information towards permanent residents of the U
District, but this was difficult when so many of the neighborhood decisions
are based off of the transient student population
○ Saw themes of our research playing out even as we executed project