functions Downtown is divided into a number of areas, each with a special character or function. The problem with the areas at the moment is that they tend to be dominated by single purpose activities - some more than others. The large office and governmental areas may have activities during weekdays, before and after business hours and during the lunch break, but the rest of the time, especially evenings and weekends, it is completely dead. Commercial areas will be active during business hours, but will be without much life on evenings and Sundays.
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The main problem is that few people live in downtown. Dwellings have the positive effect of generating life at the times when other functions are closed. This will in general create a more lively city throughout the day, the week, and the year.
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Overall, downtown would gain from more mixed uses. All areas would benefit to have something of everything, even though there still should be concentrations of commercial activities for instance, in order to get downtown to function well.
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t h e ate r Yesler Way
hospital
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com m u n i t y ce nte r c h u rc h housing S Jackson St
h i stori c a re a
SUMMARY
s h opp i n g & h ote l s h ote l s com m e rc i a l w ate rfront m u n i c i p a l & corp orate offi ce s
The “Working” downtown The various areas in downtown tends to have a single focus. Downtown in general is office and retail focused with few people living in downtown.
st a d i u m s & t ra n s i t st at i on s i n d u st ry & h a rb o u r
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500 m 1500 ft
ANALYSIS - TH E CITY • SEATTLE PUBLIC SPACE & PUBLIC LIFE • GEHL ARCHITECTS
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