Safety concerns during peak party hours prompts study of Capitol Hill street closures
Jun 9, 2015, 1:20 PM | Updated: Jun 12, 2015, 3:14 pm
Safety has become an issue on Capitol Hill, which is why the Capitol Hill EcoDistrict wants to close off portions the neighborhood to vehicles during peak nightlife hours. (File photo)
(File photo)
Nightlife on Capitol Hill continues to grow and one group wants to make sure the crowds stay safe.
Capitol Hill EcoDistrict is planning to run a pilot program in August that would close specific areas of the city to vehicles.
The streets being considered for closure are Pike Street between Broadway and 11th and 10th and 11th streets between Pine and Union. The EcoDistrict is looking at those streets to see what makes the most sense, EcoDistrict Senior Planner Alex Brennan said. Exactly what is closed off is still up for debate.
“It’s an area with large crowds,” Brennan said. “We’re looking within there to see what makes the most sense.”
The idea for the street closures was sparked by public safety issues, not all involving vehicles. Reports of fights, assaults, hate crimes, and muggings have been increasing, Brennan said. It’s difficult for police to manage, he added.
The Seattle police department has taken notice, however. Police have increased their presence in the area and partnered with businesses to try to reduce hate crimes.
Under the developing plan, the chosen street or streets would be pedestrian-only from about 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, according to Brennan. There is a discussion about closing the streets off earlier in the day, but the late-night closures are more likely to happen in the near future. The closures would be modeled after Portland’s Old Town and Vancouver B.C.’s Grand Street.
The closures could either be every week or once per month. Brennan said the EcoDistrict would try not to impact parking in the area.
Closing off the streets for pedestrian-only use requires support from the community and city. The idea could fall into the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 plan.
If backed by the community, permits would need to be obtained from the city as well.
There is a budget of $30,000 for the project, which was part of a $160,000 grant from the Office of Economic Development.
If the pilot program is a success, Brennan said it could expand and transform into more community-driven events. That could include things such as street shows.
“If we see safety benefits, then that’s a big argument for doing it on a more regular basis,” Brennan said.
