Change from the inside doesn’t always look as nice as it does from the outside. Two examples this week of big media looking at the “new!” Capitol Hill and saying, “I like it!”
First, the Wall Street Journal visits Seattle, chats with Howard Shultz of all people who says something really nice about Healeo and declares:
Throughout the city, quiet blocks have come to life with new eateries, drinkeries and upscale shops. The south side of the Capitol Hill neighborhood—in parts an urban no-mans land a decade ago—is now a stomping ground for artsy Seattleites of every age.
Hipster haven Cha Cha Lounge is just steps from the indie Elliott Bay Book Company (in a new industrial-chic location), Paris-inspired Café Presse and eclectic, nuovo-Italian eatery Spinasse.
Meanwhile, local glossy Seattle Metropolitan weighs in with 52 New Restaurants, Bars, and Shops in Capitol Hill — but really, they’re talking about Pike/Pine too:
The Pike/Pine nabe is evolving so fast that, when we set out to record all the new restaurants, bars, and shops that have opened since about 2009, we realized we’d have to list a few sight unseen—since we couldn’t travel into the future to visit the places coming in July and August.
Enjoy it while it lasts, Pike/Pine south Capitol Hill. We wouldn’t be shocked that tides and time will have everybody excited about Broadway around, say, 2016.
The Oregonian also featured Capitol Hill recently in its lifestyle section.
http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2011/05/a_vibrant
The comparison to Belltown a decade ago worries me… what will Capitol Hill look like in a decade?
“While Capitol Hill struggled, it was Belltown’s time to shine. The edgy neighborhood just north of downtown had become the big player on the city’s dining scene, attracting new ventures from marquee chefs. … Like elsewhere in the country, Seattle’s condo market collapsed in recent years, and Belltown now struggles with fast-dropping property values and a growing number of empty storefronts.” (and open-air crack markets)
First the restaurants, then condos, then crackheads?
NEWSFLASH:
The crackheads are already here.
Don’t forget the methheads. Although I will say there seem to be fewer heroin addicts.
Hey remember the old gas lamps and horses and buggies that we used to use to get up here to the country (Capitol Hill) outside of ‘ol Pioneer Town?
The key is to develop sustainably not insanely. Get in front (support Great City and other groups), guide and shape the development.
‘…The south side of the Capitol Hill neighborhood—in parts an urban no-mans land a decade ago—is now a stomping ground for artsy Seattleites of every age…’
piss off. stay in madison park, and keep yr crappy, ‘safe’ businesses there. i have lived on this ‘no-mans (sic) land’ of a hill for WAY more than your last decade, and vastly prefer the way it was. i have lived, married, had a child, divorced, and done plenty more here – and plan to do so – until it reeks too heavily of the bridge and tunnel-types that mr. shultz would love to see overrun my home.
Hey pissy pants,
Enjoy Renton when you get there.
All the cool people on Capitol Hill already moved to the Central District. Let the Yuppies play in the Pike/Pine corridor knowing that the CD still has a soul!
Cool people don’t need to refer to themselves as cool so we can assume you are excluding yourself from this claim.
The CD is gentrification defined so you are kidding yourself if you think it is any better than Capitol Hill.
You might as well keep your bags packed because you are going to need to keep moving.
DD, I couldn’t have done better!
Hipster hypocrites in the CD: Gimme a break, you gentrifiers.
70’s and 80’s glorifying hipsters with little life or cultural perspective crack me up (when their ignorance doesn’t have me weeping) ;-)
death before renton.
…bitch. :)
Haha, dd. You got it 100% right. If you annoint yourself as “cool” or “hip” or “down with it”, then you’re very likely none of those things.
The snide, mean spirited, carping tone of this article baffles me.
Those who can, do. Those who’re too damned lazy blog.