On Monday, urbanist advocates joined Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda in envisioning a pedestrianized “superblock” zone in the heart of Capitol Hill. Members of the Capitol Hill EcoDistrict, the Capitol Hill Business Alliance, local chapters of Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, and The Urbanist walked the proposed district along with Mosqueda, Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Director Greg Spotts, and his senior staff.
“People here are really hungry for pedestrianization,” said tour guide Erin Fried, who is deputy director of Capitol Hill EcoDistrict and a boardmember at The Urbanist. The rest of the participants agreed.
Mosqueda, who proposed the idea in 2019, pledged to renew the quest and hinted at possibly securing funding to seed the effort in fall budget deliberations. For his part, Spotts appeared intrigued by the idea and expressed enthusiasm for improving safety and placemaking in the bustling district that serves a vibrant mix of residents, shoppers, commuters, students, and nightlife.
At its best, the busy corridor is a sidewalk ballet in the full sense Jane Jacobs intended. At its worst, it’s a crash waiting to happen: a car-choked mess with pedestrians spilling into the street from narrow sidewalks. A pedestrian superblock could accentuate the dance and open up opportunities for street cafes, greenery, and programming while essentially eliminating the risk of a serious collision.
