The American Planning Association is taking nominations for its annual “Great Places in America” awards. Characteristics of a “great neighborhood,” according to the APA, include:
1. Has a variety of functional attributes that contribute to a resident’s day-to-day living (i.e. residential, commercial, or mixed-uses).
2. Accommodates multi-modal transportation (i.e. pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers).
3. Has design and architectural features that are visually interesting.
4. Encourages human contact and social activities.
5. Promotes community involvement and maintains a secure environment.
6. Promotes sustainability and responds to climatic demands.
7. Has a memorable character.
Oh, and the community has to be at least ten years old—no new-construction exurbs (not that they’d be likely to qualify anyway) allowed. Last year’s winners included Greater University Hill in Syracuse, NY, Echo Park in LA, and Charles Village in Baltimore… but no Northwest neighborhoods. Nominate your Seattle (or any) neighborhood here.
I would, except I live in the U-District.
fuck ballard. wait, fuck fremont too. geez, fuck the entire north of the ship canal.
yay burien! i don’t wanna live there but i likey.
Keep in mind that if your neighborhood/city appears on a national list of “great places to live” then hordes of people will move there.
Just sayin…
No surprise. I can’t think of a neighborhood in the Puget Sound area that meets all of these criteria.
@1 Me too. That was my first thought as well.
You can take our Troll.
You can take our Planets.
You can take our Rocket.
But you can’t take our Freedom!
I’m so fucking tired of the Stranger writers’ self-congratulatory use of the term “exurbs”, with the requisite put-down closely following. Like anyone reading these comments would rather live out in North Bend instead of on the Hill. Way to go out on a limb, hipsters.
Capitol Hill doesn’t qualify as the architecture is some of the least interesting stuff in the country. Where’s my Art Deco at?
Capital Hill is NOT, I repeat, NOT a good place to live. Stay away! Repeat, STAY AWAY!
My neighborhood has most of that stuff. Plus we’ve also got weirdos walking down the street hollerin’ about burning in hell (that happened just last night!) and kids getting beat up for their buss money. Go Roosevelt.
Capitol Hill is full has too many spent rubbers in the gutters and used needles in the bushes.
Minus that “full”
Not going to be my neighborhood, too many fucked up kids running around shooting each other.
I nominate that bastion of neighborliness – Laurelhurst.
North Capitol Hill.