Article and images here: http://www.crosscut.com/real-estate/8149/King+County+unveils+a+striking+plan+for+a+big+green+space+at+Seattle+Center/

What do you guys think? Im not a basketball fan myself, so indifferent personally about the Sonics, although I do generally think Seattle keeping them is a good idea. That said, this sounds like a pretty interesting, and complex, plan should the Sonics leave.

I like keeping Key Arena there.

I'm wary of these "all open-space is sacred" types that want to bulldoze some 70% of the Center to make it a big lawn (big yawn). The Center has to attract activity in order to pay for itself and be a desirable place to be. That requires more than just theaters that people only go to at night.

I love it and think its a great idea. What downtown needs is much more green space and its the perfect location. MOST of what we have there now is an embarrassment to the citizens of this city, and the visitors who come from all over.

Im all for turning parking lots and dead zones into green area..thatll be great.

But not everything has to be serious and completely adult oriented. We've got a youth that needs something to do in the city, too.. I know they want to leave some youth-oriented stuff there but come on..leave the ferris wheel, kids' rides, games, etc. Keep some character...some soul...something fun to do on whim that doesn't involve having to sit in a restaurant or on a park bench. I cant even tell you how much fun I have with out-of-towners when I take them on those rickety old rides! haha

I think there are plans for a skate boarding park within Seattle Center (displaced with the planned Gates Foundation project). I like this idea of bulk green space better than the pocket parks. And this can be a true destination for visitors accessible by monorail, bus, and soon trolley. Will that line be called the S.C.A.T? Seattle Center Access Trolley?

I think it's a step in the right direction. The Seattle Center could be a fantastic open space and really vault Lower Queen Anne into an absolutely stunning neighborhood.

That said, much of this stuff is classic Seattle! I love the rickety old rides and I love that it's the only place I've been to where you can walk by a stadium filled with basketball fans, across a large lawn to see an opera. Such an incredible diversity of people.

I like the streetcar link idea, and the water drainage plan, and what it would do for Uptown. I wouldn't mind Memorial Stadium going away for an amphitheater, I wouldn't mind Key Arena relocating, but Fun Forest should probably stay.

I wouldn't mind this proposal though, Seattle needs a Central Park.

I think there are plans for a skate boarding park within Seattle Center (displaced with the planned Gates Foundation project). I like this idea of bulk green space better than the pocket parks. And this can be a true destination for visitors accessible by monorail, bus, and soon trolley. Will that line be called the S.C.A.T? Seattle Center Access Trolley?

Skagit Transit is already "SKAT" and its advertised all over!

Skagit Transit is already "SKAT" and its advertised all over!
SLUT II ?

I like open space/green space and all, but this is too green/open I think. Everything has been mowed down but the memorial stadium and tiny buildings on the edge. There even look to be cows in the lower left of the image. The lawn isn't even sculpted enough (Asian or Euro) for being in the very core of an urban area.

http://www.crosscut.com/images/managed/Story+Image_sized_seattle_center_kingco.jpg (http://www.crosscut.com/images/managed/Story+Image_seattle_center_kingco.jpg)

And second avenue north is a canal! Finally something novel! (=

Generally agree mSeattle. I was pretty disappointed with that 'artist rendering'. It looks like something I could make in paint with a screen capture from local.live.com 3D...

I would like to see a major revamp of Seattle Center that turns it into an international destination. I propose:

1. Two to three new stadiums. Two stadiums could be used for sporting events, while the other stadium could be used as a fitness center and a concert/exhibition venue; kind of like a multi-use world trade center.

2. Underground parking/shopping. There would be about five levels of underground parking at select locations throughout the area, while the majority of that underground space would be reserved for two levels of premier shopping.

3. Renovate the Space Needle. I believe the Space Needle could be renovated to have a more "futuristic" look while maintaining its historic (original) image.

4. More green! Seattle Center could really be like Seattle's Central Park.

5. A mass-rapid transit line cutting through the Center. A surface light-rail line (to Ballard), and a streetcar line (to Waterfront and S. Lake Union) would cut through the center serving the center, showcasing probably the only mass-transit line to run right through a park.

That's all I can think of now..........

1. Two to three new stadiums. Two stadiums could be used for sporting events, while the other stadium could be used as a fitness center and a concert/exhibition venue; kind of like a multi-use world trade center.

Two to three???.... we already have two rather large ones down in pioneer square?... why three more up here? I could see a new one being used for basketball/hockey and an indoor concert venue, and then maaaaybe a smaller outdoor one for soccer, not sure what you mean by a fitness center staidum? you mean like a rec center?

2. Underground parking/shopping. There would be about five levels of underground parking at select locations throughout the area, while the majority of that underground space would be reserved for two levels of premier shopping.

I'm all for the parking garage being underground, thats become a pretty Seattle thing, but why does the shopping have to be underground too? Still, yes, some shopping and food in the area would be cool.


3. Renovate the Space Needle. I believe the Space Needle could be renovated to have a more "futuristic" look while maintaining its historic (original) image.

uhhh... what? I though the cool think about the space need is that it looks so retro. How would you want to make it more futuristic? And even after that, it's original image would be gone...

4. More green! Seattle Center could really be like Seattle's Central Park.

Totally agree. With more and more people living downtown, we need a good well used HUGE park.

5. A mass-rapid transit line cutting through the Center. A surface light-rail line (to Ballard), and a streetcar line (to Waterfront and S. Lake Union) would cut through the center serving the center, showcasing probably the only mass-transit line to run right through a park.

That would definately be cool to have ST3 go through the seattle center on its way to ballard. And also, we have a couple trolley lines already buzzing through the area (the Slut, and the waterfront line), wouldnt be too hard to have a connector.

We need more large open space, pocket parks are not useful. I'm generally supportive of this direction.

I love that idea. We really need a huge park nearby downtown, not miles away from downtown like Washington Park. It will keep many neighbors happy just cause they can just take a nice stroll thru the park or take their kids to a big play ground and many other park activities, too.

On the other note, I'm kinda dissappointed with the artist's rendering, but hey it is a rough draft so maybe there will be a better rendering in the next revision.

That "Rendering" looks horrible. I would hope Ron Sims didn't actually pay someone to do that... Here are a few of my thoughts:

I'd like to see some additional green space at the Seattle Center, but the Center also needs to attract new economic activity to really have it be an effective use of the space. A big amphitheatre would be really cool. Just think of the atmosphere of watching a show and seeing the Space Needle looming overhead. If you put it fairly close to the EMP, you create a really excellent music mecca. That's an Idea that could probably be developed even beyond that.

As far as green space goes, I don't know how the topography would allow this, but I'd like to see a large pond that collects rainwater. I think my favorite parts of central park in New York are the ones in close proximity to water. Surround the pond with some woodland areas and you create a more cozy, natural space in the middle of the city.

The article above alludes to Millennium Park in Chicago. It's really spectacular, though to a large extent, the situations are very different.
http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=96279&rendTypeId=4

And no messing with the Space Needle, that is blasphemy as far as I'm concerned. I love the retro look.

^^

I think Seattle Center should essentialy be a mix of 3 things-

1) Seattle's Central Park with King County's plan for a waterway and tons of open green space. Seattle's Downtown/Lower Queen Anne needs a place like this something fierce.

http://www.*******************/north-america/us/new-york/images/s/new-york-central-park.jpg

2) Seattle's Millenium Park with a beautiful amphitheater to replace Memorial Stadium, and plenty of public sculpture.

http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=96279&rendTypeId=4

3) Seattle's Seattle Center! Keep the most essential elements- Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, International Fountain, Center House, McCaw Hall, EMP, Monorail... ect. Keep fun forest too! Just make it all more inviting and integrated with the neighborhood around it.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/news/local/seattlecenter/facts/map.gif

Bringing the streetcar there is an awesome idea too.

^^

I think Seattle Center should essentialy be a mix of 3 things-

1) Seattle's Central Park with King County's plan for a waterway and tons of open green space. Seattle's Downtown/Lower Queen Anne needs a place like this something fierce.

http://www.*******************/north-america/us/new-york/images/s/new-york-central-park.jpg


Like mow down the entire Lower Queen Anne district, and turn it into a contiguous park extending from Seattle Center all the way out to the sea. Maybe even extend it to Lake Union in the other direction.

Like mow down the entire Lower Queen Anne district, and turn it into a contiguous park extending from Seattle Center all the way out to the sea. Maybe even extend it to Lake Union in the other direction.

How about something like Portland's North and South Park Blocks? Imagine green space covering an entire block from Seattle Center to possibly Capitol Hill and from Downtown to SLUP (South Lake Union Park) :banana:.

Why is King County sticking their nose in Seattle's business?

Why is King County sticking their nose in Seattle's business?


Because they got nothing better else to do, despite the fact that the KC govt is seriously screwed up.

Also, I think KeyArena should be remodeled or rebuilt. The design is just too old for modern Seattle.

I think Seattle Center should keep Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, theater (I forgot the name of it), and green space. All they can just add more green space, CityWalk style shopping mall (for tourists), update its monorail system, add more public artworks, IMAX or movie theatre and small theme parks including some rides for young people. That should offer more options for people to find something to do around here.

I think Seattle Center should keep Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, theater (I forgot the name of it), and green space. All they can just add more green space, CityWalk style shopping mall (for tourists), update its monorail system, add more public artworks, IMAX or movie theatre and small theme parks including some rides for young people. That should offer more options for people to find something to do around here.

In my opinion, i'm beginning to think any sort of theme parks are beginning to be outdated, and I don't really think it will fit into Seattle Center's new "upscale" look. Otherwise, all that is good, except for the monorail. Just tear it down and replace it with a streetcar. Streetcars are the new craze, why not add one?

I like the monorail, When I moved here I could not believe how short it was. They should extend it to Queen Ann and Slut should come right to Westlake center.

Hi all - first post. Long time lurker. I have to say, I agree that the monorail should stay. It is part of Seattle's history and not only is great for tourists, but adds a nice feel along its whole line. I agree that 5th can be a pain to drive down, but I think overall it is worth it, and there is something really cool about sitting at a local cafe or Top Pot and watching it speed by on a nice fall day. That said, if there was a way to possibly increase the length of the line to somewhere useful, while keeping it's current charm, I would probably support that if the cost wasn't too high. I have a feeling though that future streetcar lines are a lot more likely, and are surely cheaper to build as well. Anyway, just had to say, the idea of tearing out the monorail is a bad one in my opinion.

I love that idea. We really need a huge park nearby downtown, not miles away from downtown like Washington Park. It will keep many neighbors happy just cause they can just take a nice stroll thru the park or take their kids to a big play ground and many other park activities, too.

Where can you find that much available nearby land that hasn't already been developed? I've read somewhere that the land under Stanley Park would be worth about $65 billion (no, not a typo) if sold on the open market to developers, and figure the cost for the same amount of prime Seattle land would be on a similar order of magnitude. Good luck finding a way to buy back and expropriate that much space to build a park.

In my opinion, i'm beginning to think any sort of theme parks are beginning to be outdated, and I don't really think it will fit into Seattle Center's new "upscale" look. Otherwise, all that is good, except for the monorail. Just tear it down and replace it with a streetcar. Streetcars are the new craze, why not add one?

Only reason why some people around here are seen thinking that theme park is outdated because we got lousy theme parks here. They would change their minds if we get "real" theme park like Six Flags Magic Mountain or Cedars Point here. Roller coasters are still very popular by now.

I think we should keep the monorail. Seattle won't be same without monorail. We still can add some streetcars around Seattle Center like put one on Mecer Street.

Hi all - first post. Long time lurker. I have to say, I agree that the monorail should stay. It is part of Seattle's history and not only is great for tourists, but adds a nice feel along its whole line. I agree that 5th can be a pain to drive down, but I think overall it is worth it, and there is something really cool about sitting at a local cafe or Top Pot and watching it speed by on a nice fall day. That said, if there was a way to possibly increase the length of the line to somewhere useful, while keeping it's current charm, I would probably support that if the cost wasn't too high. I have a feeling though that future streetcar lines are a lot more likely, and are surely cheaper to build as well. Anyway, just had to say, the idea of tearing out the monorail is a bad one in my opinion.

I agree completely with you!

By the way, Welcome to SSC! :cheers:

http://www.crosscut.com/images/managed/Story+Image_seattle_center_kingco.jpg

i think it is not that bad, seattle need a green open space like this

Hi all - first post. Long time lurker. I have to say, I agree that the monorail should stay. It is part of Seattle's history and not only is great for tourists, but adds a nice feel along its whole line. I agree that 5th can be a pain to drive down, but I think overall it is worth it, and there is something really cool about sitting at a local cafe or Top Pot and watching it speed by on a nice fall day. That said, if there was a way to possibly increase the length of the line to somewhere useful, while keeping it's current charm, I would probably support that if the cost wasn't too high. I have a feeling though that future streetcar lines are a lot more likely, and are surely cheaper to build as well. Anyway, just had to say, the idea of tearing out the monorail is a bad one in my opinion.

I agree (for the most part), though if the monorail is to be expanded anywhere, it should be expanded south (and west) to within proximity of the ferry and cruise ship terminals -particularly the Argosy cruise ship terminal.

It is to Seattle what the Tram is to Portland.

I agree (for the most part), though if the monorail is to be expanded anywhere, it should be expanded south to the stadiums or to the ferry terminal.

Kind of redundant with the Central Link running the same way that's free to ride, no?

I agree (for the most part), though if the monorail is to be expanded anywhere, it should be expanded south to the stadiums or to the ferry terminal.

It is to Seattle what the Tram is to Portland.

I agree completely with you. I was at Lower Queen Anne earlier to do some errands and I rode the bus back to home in Belltown and many people are flocking to stadium for football game. The bus was really overcrowded. I think having monorail from Lower Queen Anne to all the way to the stadium/ferry system would be good solution to reduce the traffics/overcrowded buses in downtown area.