We first got wind of the City's so called Westlake Hub Strategy, which includes plans for a Streetcar Plaza, back in August. The post generated a fair amount of excitement about what said plaza might look like and how it could improve the pedestrian and transit-rider experience.
The City has been busy in the meantime, drawing up concepts for the Streetcar Plaza as well as planning some more immediate improvements to the area.
Starting in November, SDOT and Seattle Parks will start addressing the sorry state of affairs that is Westlake Square.
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The old unused bus shelter and low-level brick walls will be cleared away, and the park's broken fountain and ornamental lights will be salvaged for potential refurbishing and later use. The existing honey locust trees will remain and inlaid solar-powered pedestrian lighting will be added to the area.
This in itself will be a great betterment, but the improvements to Westlake Square are only the beginning. The low hanging fruit of the City's Westlake Hub Strategy. The real transformation will occur when part of Westlake Ave is closed, the 5-way intersection is no more, and a plaza integrating the streetcar stop with McGraw Square takes its place. Eee! I can hardly wait.
Click here to read more about the new Westlake Streetcar Plaza, and here to see all the improvements planned for Westlake Ave between Olive Way and 6th Ave.
