About South Lake Union

South Lake Union is a rapidly changing urban neighborhood in the heart of Seattle, Washington.

The South Lake Union neighborhood lies to the northwest of downtown proper and Denny Triangle, at the south end of Lake Union. It also located between Interstate-5 and Capitol Hill to the east, and the Queen Anne/Uptown neighborhood to the west.

Once a center for logging, maritime industries, and other industrial activities, the neighborhood has transformed into a modern, diverse community with businesses ranging from biotechnology and medical research to vibrant smaller businesses.

South Lake Union is now the home of the headquarters of renowned Internet retailer Amazon.com, who are expected to employ 10,000 - 12,000 people in the area.

Residential Areas in South Lake Union: At one time the Cascade neighborhood in South Lake Union was home to blue-collar workers employed by the mills, dry docks, and Ford motor plant. These days, apartments, condominiums and houseboats account for the majority of residential housing in South Lake Union.

Restaurants and Hospitality: As the center of so much activity and excitement in Seattle, South Lake Union is in the midst of an influx of new restaurants to add to some already popular establishments. It is also home to several hotels catering to both business travelers and tourists.

Parks and Museums: South Lake Union is home to two historic Seattle parks. One, Denny Park, was one of the areas first city parks. The second, Lake Union Park, is Seattle's newest and most-talked-about urban amenities. The Park will soon be the new home of the renowned Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), which is relocating from the University of Washington area.

Transportation Projects: South Lake Union is affected by two of the largest modern construction projects in the Puget Sound Region: The mercer corridor project, which seeks to correct the "mercer mess" traffic congestion problem with a two-way boulevard, and the North Portal Project, which is the northern component of the WA State Highway 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project. Once completed, South Lake Union will not only house some of the most successful businesses in the State, but also be home to the most modernized transportation infrastructure.

Challenges: The tremendous growth in South Lake Union is also the source of some of its biggest challenges. The influx of new employees is expected to strain the transportation infrastructure, especially during the construction projects mentioned above. Growth has also strained the power grid, an issue which is currently being addressed. More people may be good for businesses, but the neighborhood is evaluating the impacts on pollution, crime, litter and other common urban problems.

Overview: $2.84 billion in public and private funds are committed to the revival of the neighborhood. Over 40,000 residents, employees and visitors are expected by 2015. South Lake Union's growth is unprecedented in Seattle and is one of the largest urban revitalization efforts in the United States.

Highlights and Projections:

• Nearly 14,000 permanent jobs and 26,000 construction jobs to be created during the neighborhood revitalization.
• Vulcan's investment of more than $1.7 billion in South Lake Union including $1.4 billion in completed development projects, $50 million in public infrastructure improvements, and $300 million of projects under construction are expected to be delivered by the second quarter of 2011.
• Another $300 million worth of development projects are committed and expected to break ground in 2011.
• By 2013, 5 million square feet are expected to be completed, or nearly half of the potential development in the neighborhood.