Rejoice! Rejoice! University Link and Capitol Hill light rail stations are nigh! Six months ahead of schedule and $150 million under budget, their opening dates will be announced any day now. (Seriously, learn from light rail, Bertha.) The popular theory is a grand opening on a Saturday in March.
And there’s more!
That light rail line will eventually wind all the way up to Northgate, with its next new station planned for the heart of the University District. Tentative U District Station completion: 2021.
That seems far ahead, unless you’re thinking in terms of real estate. Homes near that future U District station will suddenly become much more convenient when the station opens, with easy access to Capitol Hill and downtown and the airport—no gas or parking required. If you’re buying a long-term home and public transportation is a priority for you, this a chance to beat the market.
About the Neighborhood
Even without light rail, the U District can be an incredible place to live. Get a few blocks away from UW, the Ave, and Greek Row, and the neighborhood quiets down. You’ll find a hefty share of old, elegant homes here. The U District is close to Ravenna Park, a Farmer’s Market, and the University Village shopping complex. (read more about the U District)
That 2021 U District opening especially doesn’t seem so far away when the last public design meeting is happening tonight. That’s tonight as in Thursday, Jan. 14. 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It’s an open house at the Neptune Theatre (13030 N.E. 45th St.) with an official presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m.
This new station will pop up northwest of the University of Washington. The project is 90 percent designed already, and as it stands so far, the station incorporates public art that’s meant to evoke a connection to the surrounding neighborhood. The station will have a decorative fire escape and a pair of fake windows. Those windows will have screens that show shifting images from the neighborhood. We don’t know the exact details yet, but we’re envisioning something like the Chicago fountains or those creepy faces in the downtown Seattle library.
Sound strange? Intriguing? We’ve seen the drawings, and as bizarre as it might sound, the fire escape and window thing actually looks pretty good.
If you want to weigh in on the remaining 10 percent of the U District Station’s design, head over to the Neptune Theatre at 6 p.m. If you can’t make it, leave us a note about what you think of the current design on our Facebook page.
And if you want to get ahead of the game and look at properties near this future station… give us a call.