When city leaders proposed redeveloping the South Lake Union area of Seattle, they made big promises for job growth. Just a few years in, their expectations have already been exceeded.
"Years after a huge political and cultural battle over whether to convert a worn-down part of town into a sort of loft for the creative class - and after we kicked out the mayor who staked his career on it - an early verdict is in on South Lake Union.
It worked. In terms of jobs, it has worked spectacularly. It's exceeding even the optimistic claims made years ago by its most starry-eyed promoters.
When does that ever happen? When do local leaders over-deliver?
By the close of 2010, the Vulcan-developed "Allentown" area was judged to be home, already, to 14,000 jobs. That's 30 percent more than Sommers had projected by this time under his rosiest scenario."
With large corporations opening offices in the area, the job growth is expected to continue.
FULL STORY: South Lake Union's barely noticed boom
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