Seattle's South Lake Union a Jobs Bonanza

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.

1 minute read

August 30, 2011, 10:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"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.

Saturday, August 27, 2011 in The Seattle Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 7, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

People biking along beach path with moored ship in San Diego, California.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan

The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

May 2, 2025 - SD News

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Close-up of elevated planter box in sidewalk with alternating grass and concrete patches.

Grassroots Dutch Movement Replaces Pavement With Green Space

Neighbors engage in a practice known as “tegelwippen,” picking up paving stones and replacing them with permeable surfaces, often with the support of local governments.

15 minutes ago - Reasons to Be Cheerful

Pump station with blue pipes coming out of concrete wall in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle Builds Subway-Sized Tunnel — for Stormwater

The $700 million ‘stormwater subway’ is designed to handle overflows during storms, which contain toxic runoff from roadways and vehicles.

May 13 - City Observatory

Sign for Deschutes National Forest in Oregon.

Feds Clear Homeless Encampment in Oregon Forest

The action displaced over 100 people living on national forest land near Bend, Oregon.

May 13 - The New York Times

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.