All across Seattle, new and upcoming buildings are not only changing the skylines but also the look and feel of neighborhoods. The folks at National Trust for Historic Preservation want to remind you that bigger and newer doesn't automatically mean better.
All across America, blocks of older, smaller buildings are quietly contributing to robust local economies and distinctive livable communities. This groundbreaking study demonstrates the unique and valuable role that older, smaller buildings play in the development of sustainable cities. Building on statistical analysis of the built fabric of three major American cities, the research demonstrates that established neighborhoods with a mix of older, smaller buildings perform better than districts with larger, newer structures when tested against a range of economic, social, and environmental outcome measures.
Check out their interactive map of Seattle here. You can get pretty granular, even down to a specific block, to see how old the buildings are in that area. No real surprise to see Downtown, Belltown and South Lake Union contain many of Seattle's newer buildings. If you'd prefer a neighborhood chocked full of century-old buildings, head to Queen Anne, Capitol Hill or Central District.
· Older, Smaller, Better [NTFHP]
· Seattle Median Building Age Map [NTFHP]