In Seattle, city government and the Downtown Seattle Association continue to build on the “Amazon Great Return” through a variety of strategies to reactivate downtown. Increased foot traffic, intriguing office-to-residence retrofit proposals and trends toward park and retail reopening suggest a spirit of renewal. But here’s an old term—”third places”—that can help even more to set the tone for continued recovery, and spur more innovative ideas. | GeekWire
Category: In the Media
Analysis: Amazon’s ‘Great Return’ to the office is just one aspect of a downtown Seattle comeback
In-depth Amazon coverage from the tech giant’s hometown, including e-commerce, AWS, Amazon Prime, Alexa, logistics, devices, and more. | GeekWire
Schizophrenic Perspectives and the Built Environment: The Story of Jacques Besse
In response to the “insipient musicality” of the built environment of a busy intersection in Paris, French composer Jacques Besse stepped out into oncoming traffic. Learn more about the relationship between schizophrenic perspectives and the complexity of urban environments in this English translation of Besse’s work by UW UDP’s own Keith Harris.
As Downtown recovers, Seattle reimagines what it could be
With hybrid work here to stay, city leaders ask: Can the central business district become a residential neighborhood? | Crosscut News
Google’s exit from big Seattle-area project shows fleeting relationship between tech and communities
“What you’re seeing is just another recalibration of the sorts that have been going on for time immemorial between employers and communities,” said Chuck Wolfe, a multinational urbanism consultant and affiliate professor at the University of Washington. | Geek Wire
UW, Pacific County EDC launch housing partnership
Last month, PCEDC and the University of Washington’s Livable City Year program announced a new partnership that will connect county planning projects with UW Department of Urban Design and Planning courses over a multi-year period to advance local livability and economic development goals. | Chinook Observer
How land design is answering the cultural needs of Native Americans in Seattle
Tim Lehman (Northern Arapaho), MLA graduate and lecturer, talks about his work with Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center and local Indigenous communities. | The Seattle Times
How will downtowns across America change in the next decade?
Manish Chalana, associate professor of urban design and planning, talks about the future of downtowns across America by looking at the past. Video. | 23 abc
The Government’s Failure to Move Vulnerable People Out of Harm’s Way in the Era of Massive Flooding
Professor Dan Abramson explains the shortcomings of individual property buyouts as a response to flooding and other climate disasters that necessitate relocation. He instead suggests shifting the focus of such programs to collective aid. | Mother Jones
Sweetened beverage taxes produce net economic benefits for lower-income communities
Researchers at UW, including affiliate associate professor of urban design and planning Philip Hurvitz, reveal the various health and economic benefits derived from the sweetened beverage tax. | UW News