(And that’s all waterfronts, not just the one downtown!)
by Andy Fenstermacher
There are some aspects of Seattle’s physical character that are undeniable: trees, hilly terrain, mountain views, and lengthy fresh- and saltwater coastlines. Each one is embraced and honored to a different extent. Yet, I’ve come to realize that the people of Seattle (average residents and policymakers alike) have yet to fully grasp and appreciate the importance of the city’s extensive waterfronts.
Seattle has over 200 miles of shoreline. As a point of comparison, Tacoma has about 40 miles and San Francisco has about 30 miles of shoreline. And not only does Seattle have tremendous shorelines in terms of quantity, it also has the good fortune of being adjacent to both Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
It’s not that Seattle has totally ignored its shorelines. There are many important protective regulations in place and there are some successful waterfront hotspots like Golden Gardens, Alki and the houseboat communities. But have we really done everything we can or should do to maximize the value of our shorelines? Maybe it’s time to get inspired and do something thinking about the ecology, economy, and social value of Seattle’s waterfronts.
Check out the images below for some Swedish examples of dynamic waterfronts:
