Hillman City: Difference between revisions
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'''Hillman City''' is a neighborhood in Seattle, King County, Washington, United States. |
'''Hillman City''' is a neighborhood in Seattle, King County, Washington, United States. |
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Hillman City was settled in the 1890s |
Hillman City was settled in the 1890s and is named after the colorful Clarence D. Hillman, a real estate developer and con man, who made his fortune selling real and imagined plots of land to out of state speculators.<ref>http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=3080</ref> Hillman City was never as populous as Columbia City to the north, but it did have a stop on the Rainier Avenue streetcar line. Hillman City was part of the short lived city of Southeast Seattle, which was annexed into Seattle proper in 1907.<ref>http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~public/annexations/annex_list.htm</ref> |
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Today, Hillman City is centered on the intersection of Rainier Avenue and Orcas |
Today, Hillman City is centered on the intersection of Rainier Avenue South and South Orcas Street, with a small, somewhat beleaguered old business district containing some fine historic buildings. It is often viewed by locals as a less gentrified version of its northerly neighbor [[Columbia City, Seattle, Washington|Columbia City]], but many expect that reinvestment and renewal are not far off, given its classic housing stock, walkable core, and proximity to popular Columbia City. Housing prices have appreciated considerably, despite the downturn in the economy. |
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| ⚫ | Some worry, however, that the neighborhood may lose its identity as it changes.<ref>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2003895938_realneighborhood230.html</ref> The Hillman City Neighborhood Alliance has improved the quality of life by organizing neighborhood patrols and litter cleanups. While rundown buildings, graffiti, and litter still plague certain portions of the neighborhood, these are now considered more of a nuisance than a threat.<ref>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2003895938_realneighborhood230.html</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Part of Hillman City's growing prosperity seems to be based on location. |
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| ⚫ | Part of Hillman City's growing prosperity seems to be based on location. Seattle's new [[Link Light Rail]] offers a station at South Edmunds Street, within walking distance of the neighborhood. Increased foot traffic has already helped several new local businesses thrive, including a West African restaurant and a bakery. To the east, [[Seward Park, Seattle|Seward Park]] and its surrounding wealthier neighborhoods are a ten-minute walk up South Orcas Street. |
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A major local initiative has |
A major local initiative has focused on transforming Hitt's Hill, which overlooks the retail cores of Hillman City and Columbia City, from an overgrown and trash-strewn lot into a park and greenbelt featuring a hiking trail.<ref>http://www.seattle.gov/hittshill/default.htm</ref> |
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The Hillman City Hellcats [http://www2.seattle.gov/parks/athletics/scores.asp?Activity_ID=1&Season_ID=61&League_ID=508&Team_ID=5151] are the neighborhood's softball team. |
The Hillman City Hellcats [http://www2.seattle.gov/parks/athletics/scores.asp?Activity_ID=1&Season_ID=61&League_ID=508&Team_ID=5151] are the neighborhood's softball team. |
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Revision as of 20:58, 11 August 2012
Hillman City is a neighborhood in Seattle, King County, Washington, United States.
Hillman City was settled in the 1890s and is named after the colorful Clarence D. Hillman, a real estate developer and con man, who made his fortune selling real and imagined plots of land to out of state speculators.[1] Hillman City was never as populous as Columbia City to the north, but it did have a stop on the Rainier Avenue streetcar line. Hillman City was part of the short lived city of Southeast Seattle, which was annexed into Seattle proper in 1907.[2]
Today, Hillman City is centered on the intersection of Rainier Avenue South and South Orcas Street, with a small, somewhat beleaguered old business district containing some fine historic buildings. It is often viewed by locals as a less gentrified version of its northerly neighbor Columbia City, but many expect that reinvestment and renewal are not far off, given its classic housing stock, walkable core, and proximity to popular Columbia City. Housing prices have appreciated considerably, despite the downturn in the economy.
Some worry, however, that the neighborhood may lose its identity as it changes.[3] The Hillman City Neighborhood Alliance has improved the quality of life by organizing neighborhood patrols and litter cleanups. While rundown buildings, graffiti, and litter still plague certain portions of the neighborhood, these are now considered more of a nuisance than a threat.[4]
Part of Hillman City's growing prosperity seems to be based on location. Seattle's new Link Light Rail offers a station at South Edmunds Street, within walking distance of the neighborhood. Increased foot traffic has already helped several new local businesses thrive, including a West African restaurant and a bakery. To the east, Seward Park and its surrounding wealthier neighborhoods are a ten-minute walk up South Orcas Street.
A major local initiative has focused on transforming Hitt's Hill, which overlooks the retail cores of Hillman City and Columbia City, from an overgrown and trash-strewn lot into a park and greenbelt featuring a hiking trail.[5]
The Hillman City Hellcats [1] are the neighborhood's softball team.
References:
- ^ http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=3080
- ^ http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~public/annexations/annex_list.htm
- ^ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2003895938_realneighborhood230.html
- ^ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2003895938_realneighborhood230.html
- ^ http://www.seattle.gov/hittshill/default.htm
The Hillman City Business Association (HCBA)