Already the destination for many transit riders, the U District Station offers the most reasons to visit for light rail riders on its opening, October 2nd. Food and retail are easily more numerous and diverse in the U District when compared to Northgate and Roosevelt. The source of overwhelming advantage for the neighborhood is clearly the University of Washington Seattle campus, as well as the existing and coming density that allows all of these businesses to be established and thrive.
The UW’s Seattle Campus also is home to the vast majority of the station area’s green space, fantastic educational places, and some fairly good food too. Scattered throughout central and west campus are places like Parrington Lawn, Denny Yard, the Quad, and Rainier Vista. East Campus is home to the Union Bay Natural Area with 74 acres of wetlands and pathways that snake through the space. South Campus has Portage Bay Vista and a long stretch of waterfront green space.
UW’s Campus also features cavernous libraries and the Burke Museum. Currently limiting access to the public during the pandemic, the UW library system is a collection of welcoming and beautiful buildings. Suzzallo is the most picturesque one and a prime spot for selfies and other photo ops.
But thanks to being zoned as an urban center, the densest mixed-use zoning designation in Seattle, the U District has become known for more than just the university campus and University Way, the nearby dining and shopping street otherwise known as the Ave. Let’s take a closer look at the many places that make the U District such a vibrant destination.
