From industrial street to social hub

In Seattle, officials are experimenting with the conversion of a six-block faded industrial street into a "shared-use" thoroughfare where pedestrians and bicyclists could mix freely with automotive traffic. Terry Avenue North is emerging as a social hub in billionaire Paul Allen's South Lake Union mixed-use district. The width of the street, 71 to 76 feet, and the light traffic were assets in the project. The vehicular zone was narrowed to 23 feet, with the rest of the space largely given over to pedestrians. The project was complicated by ADA requirements. A minimal curb, two inches high, identifies the beginning of the travel lanes, which helps those with poor eyesight. The September issue of Better! Cities & Towns covers this project in detail.

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