National Night Out at the square at U District Station on August 5, 2025
Good neighborhoods don't happen by accident.
They happen because people show up.
Visit our booth at the U District Streetfair where that conversation gets lively, and a little competitive.
Drop your ball, watch the results update in real time, and see exactly where folks stand. It's anonymous, it's fast, and it genuinely shapes where we put our energy and resources for the year ahead. Eight big ideas. One ping-pong ball. You decide what matters most.
Come Take Back The Ave - Cancelled
UPDATE: The City of Seattle's Special Events Committee has denied our permit application for The Ave for All street closure events planned for May 30 and June 6. The events are cancelled for those dates.
This summer, we are closing one block of University Way to cars and opening it up to you. On two Saturdays, May 30 and June 6* from 11am to 8pm, The Ave becomes a place to linger: live music, games, cafe seating, and the farmers market nearby. Stop for five minutes or settle in for the afternoon.
ABOUT US
U District Advocates
We strive to Keep the U District Unique as it becomes the most walkable, livable, and inclusive urban community in Seattle, where the benefits of density are accessible to all.
The U District Advocates has spent over a decade turning ideas into places. We work at placemaking, civic advocacy, and cultural activation to make the U District a welcoming urban center with a character worth protecting. Since 2013, we have delivered:
- The Parklet (2015)
- The Parks Plan Update (2015)
- Small Business Vulnerability Study (2017)
- Allegro Alley Activation (2017)
- Station Area Mobility Plan (2018)
- Outdoors On The Ave (2021-2026) - Now our sixth year!
- Green Street on 42nd (2023-2024)
- The Ave for All (2026)
- Summer Games during the FIFA World Cup™ (2026)
And we're just getting started.
This Year's Projects
Our booth at this year's U District Streetfair featured eight of our progressive initiatives below:
Regional Center Plan
Who should shape our neighborhood's future: all of us, or the City without us?
The City is drafting a Regional Center Plan that will define the University District for the next 20 years. It will determine what gets built, who can afford to stay, how we move through our streets, and what kind of neighborhood we become.
The Ave for All
Do you want our public right-of-way to prioritize people & small businesses—not just cars?
University Way has always been the heart of the U District. It is home to local businesses, community gatherings, and one of Seattle's most culturally distinctive street corridors. But its sidewalks are narrow, seating is scarce, and for decades the street has prioritized vehicle throughput over the people who give it life.
The Ave as One Lane
Do you want our public right-of-way to prioritize people & small businesses—not just cars?
University Way is one of Seattle's most culturally distinctive corridors, home to local businesses, community gatherings, and the daily life of the U District. Yet for decades, its design has prioritized vehicle throughput over the people and businesses that make it worth visiting. That does not have to be the tradeoff.
Union Bay Nature Trail
Do you want a nature trail from the U-Village bus stop to Union Bay?
The Union Bay Natural Area is an urban natural area of restored wetland and shoreline near the University of Washington. The space offers educational opportunities, ecological habitat, and recreational use, but reaching the site is not always straightforward for all visitors.
2026 Games in U District
Do you want to watch the World Cup™ live for free in the U District this summer?
The final two matches are the most-watched sporting events on the planet. This July, the U District is your front-row seat — outside, together, and free. For the final weekend of the 2026 FIFA® World Cup™ games, we will transform the heart of the neighborhood into a two-day celebration of soccer, community, and pure global energy, welcoming everyone to participate in a free event for all ages, abilities, and interests.
Safe Crossing Over I-5
Do you prioritize the movement of people, not just cars on this bridge between two communities?
For many, the 45th St bridge over I-5 is the only option for walking and biking between the Wallingford and U District urban areas, the light rail station, and north UW Campus. We have been working for years to make this crossing safer for everyone. We are still waiting.
Outdoors On The Ave
Do you want to enjoy live music and outdoor movies in the U District again this summer?
This August and September, our 6th annual outdoor music and movie series returns to the square at U District Station. Last summer, 1,479 neighbors gathered here for concerts, films, and dance, with most arriving on foot and staying for the fun. That is the kind of neighborhood we are building together.
Tiny House Village
Do you support locating a Tiny House Village in the University District?
In 2024, 16,868 people experienced homelessness in King County, 58% of them unsheltered. Among those, 57% were last stably housed right here in King County. We share these numbers to inform, and ask readers to hold them lightly: behind every statistic is a whole person with a life story marked by hope and grief, and a fundamental desire to live with dignity and safety.
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udistrict.org
info@udistrict.org
Seattle, Washington USA