National Night Out at the square at U District Station on August 5, 2025
Outdoors On The Ave - Report
As we settle into the seasonal 'big dark', it feels good to look back at those sun-soaked months when Seattle is truly at its best. This past summer a quiet plaza became a vibrant urban living room, and we captured its whole story in our report.
One-Way to Improve The Ave
By redesigning The Ave as a one-way street, we open the door to wider sidewalks, safer biking, easier deliveries, more inviting outdoor dining, and a livelier business environment. Support the proposal that was the most popular at this year's U District Streetfair with 759 votes.
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.
Over the past decade, the U District Advocates have successfully completed the Parklet (2015), the Parks Plan Update (2015), the Allegro Alley Activation (2017), the Station Area Mobility Plan (2018), Outdoors On The Ave (during the pandemic), the Green Street on 42nd (2023), the Summer Green Street (2024), and Outdoors On The Ave (2025).
And we're just getting started.
This Year's Projects
Our booth at this year's U District Streetfair features six of our progressive initiatives below:
The Ave as One Lane
The Ave is a place for people - yet it isn't designed that way.
Our public right-of-way must reflect the needs of pedestrians and local businesses by converting The Ave to one lane going south and Brooklyn Ave to one lane going north, we unlock more space for people, support small businesses, and enhance mobility in the neighborhood.
Outdoors on The Ave
Your outdoor living room returns!
This August and September, our 5th annual outdoor music & movie series is back—now in the new plaza beside the U District Light Rail Station. What began during the pandemic to bring neighbors together has become a cherished tradition that celebrates the diversity, equity, and creativity of our inclusive community.
Safer Crosswalks
The University District is now the densest neighborhood in Seattle—where most folks rely on walking, biking, or rolling as their primary way to get around.
Serious injuries from walking & biking collisions are rising! Let's improve safety by adding more marked crosswalks, prioritizing the intersections most prone to collisions.
Green Street on 42nd
Last summer, one block of NE 42nd Street was transformed into a 'Green Street' pilot, reimagining the space between The Ave and UW campus as a vibrant gathering place. Using 'tactical urbanism'—quick, light, and low-cost improvements—community volunteers showed what’s possible when pedestrians, not cars, come first.
The pilot attracted more visitors, increased foot traffic for local businesses, and helped address the five-acre shortfall in public open space.
Union Bay Nature Trail
An abundance of nature lies just beside the U District along the shores of Union Bay, ideal for bird watching, forest hiking, and waterfront activities. But just one small section of this five-mile trail is missing.
Once completed, the recreational pedestrian trail would stretch from Laurelhurst in North Seattle, all the way to Madison Park to the South as one continuous nature walk, free from vehicular traffic.
Don't Stomp on Flowers
A McDonald’s is slated to replace a central part of The Ave—the former Ness Flowers building—displacing the much-loved Cedars of Lebanon restaurant as well.
The addition of a McDonald’s at the corner of The Ave and 43rd, directly across from the light rail station, threatens to replace and detract from the mom-and-pop businesses that give The Ave its unique character.
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Seattle, Washington USA