The Ave for All, first of two Saturdays in our pilot. Join us for the last one on Saturday, October 17.

Countdown to The Ave for All - Final Day

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The Ave for All, now in the Fall

A Car-Free University Way
Come Take Back The Ave. This fall, University Way is getting an upgrade: for one block, on two Saturdays, we are closing the street to cars and opening it up to people. Expect games, a giant chess board, live music, cafe seating, and the nearby farmers market in full swing. Whether you stop for five minutes or settle in for the afternoon, there is something here for you. 

Why it matters. The Ave is one of Seattle's most vibrant and culturally rich corridors, but its sidewalks are narrow, seating is scarce, and the street has always prioritized cars over the people who make it worth visiting. This pilot is a chance to show what University Way looks like when people come first.

Two Saturdays from 11am - 8pm:   October 10  &  October 17
Two Saturdays. One big question. Can a people-centered street on The Ave create real benefit for the neighborhood: its businesses, its residents, its community? We are here to prove it can. Every person who shows up helps make that case harder to ignore.

Get involved. Volunteers are needed to help set up, greet visitors, run activities, and gather feedback. No experience necessary, just enthusiasm for the U District and the idea that streets are for people.

Show up. Bring someone. Help us build something worth keeping. If it can happen at Pike Place Market, it can happen on The Ave. 

Download and share the poster for the fall pilot
Download and share the flyer for the fall pilot
Stay in the loop on this fall pilot project.
Help us make this project a success, and have fun doing it.
Support the project with a tax-deductible donation.
Map of proposed activation area, on The Ave between NE 42nd and NE 43rd Streets.

Make The Ave for All

Make The Ave for All

Supporters

440 Supporters

Jeff Acorn
Robbie Cunningham Adams
Krishna Adettiwar
Candice Andersen
Angelina
Ann
Courtney Asher
JJ B
Alexander Bachleda
Reggie Bahr
Zach Balter
Harrison Bambrick
Andrew Barella
Marshall Bender
Oliver Bengle
Jaylen Bennett
Margaret Berger
Mauricio Berho
Briar Bertolin
Cody Billingsley
Daniella Binder
Cindy M. Black
Maxi Boeckl
Maximiliane Boeckl
Molly Bradbury
Eric Bradley
Peter Breyfogle
Christian Briones
Linus Brogan
Sohriya Brown
Baxter Brugos
Mark Brunson
Lee Bruch
Amelia Bryant
Kaden Buchan
Jack Burnett
Marcella Buser
Steven Butler
Kari Cahill
Tara Camp
Brent Cantley
Lauren Carr
Gabriel Carroll
Wendy Case
Suresh Chanmugam
Alpha Chen
Imiao Chen
Jeffrey Chen
Karen Chen
Sammy Cheung
Shaila Childers
Julie Christoph
Stephanie Chuang
Isabella Ciabattari
Cadence Cirlin
Nathaniel Clapton
Travis Close
Sim Cogswell
Daniel Compos
Clay Compton
Riisa Conklin
Yen Thai Connolly
Cory Crocker
Jonas Crimm
Robert Cruickshank
Marty Curry
Derek D
Delia Darrah
Bill Davenport
Reed David
Will Dean
Trace Delange
Maria Delgado Gomez
Travis G DePrato
Mahinda Desai
Desiree
Ilse Dippenaar
Kay Dodge
Timothy Dooley
Shawn Murray Doran
Jeffrey
Jennifer Dubrow
Ary Eagan
Delaney Edwards
Lin Eldridge
Clayton Ellington
Elliot
Richard L Ellison
Kyle Ellman
Eric
Emily Etue
Marissa Evans
Tristan Fields
Tyler Folsom
Cameron Fraser
Andrew Freeling
Benjamin Fudal
Marilee Fuller
Will Gagne-Maynard
Liam Geissen
George
Nate George
Linh Giakonoski
Michael Gillenwater
AnnaJoy Gillis
Jane GK
Dylan Glosecki
Natalie Q Godfrey
Matt Greene
Audrey Griffitts
Matias Grioni
Mackey Guenther
Jane Gwin
Kolton Hahn
Liora Halperin
Alexandra Halverson
Abby Hamilton
Dylan Hanson
Katie Hanson
Lori Hanson
Zac Hanson
Zachary Hanson
Hannah Harman
Tyler Lee Hartley
Christophe Hays
Felicity Hays
Lucas Heber
Max Heimlich
Max Heimlich-McQuarters
Eric Helgeson
Jake Heller
Kaelan Hendrickson
Joel Heng Hartse
Amanda Hernandez
Catherine Hinrichsen
Max Hoffman
Lucy Hoffmeister
Carolina Hohl
Donna Howard
Cassie Hu
Jenny Hu
Austin Huang
Zhiming Huang
Tim Hughes
Carol Ann Hutchinson
Sarah Hutchinson
Isaac
Jackson
Stephen Jackson
Allison Jansen
Jessica Jasper
Divya Jayaraman
Kate Jelfs
Harrison Jerome
Leonard Jerome
JDKS
Jeffrey Johnson
Dennis Jolin
Jonathan
Raffaella Jones
Loraine Kanervisto
Kartik
Humairah Kazi
Jeremy Keeton
Kaiden Keiser
Mark Keithly
Jason Kiff
Taylor Kissner
Alex Kistner
Christopher James Kites
Caitlin Klask
Mitch Koch
Tadeus Korte
Hiromi Koyama
Kelly Krinsky
Ellen Kuwana
Kyle
Testimonials

"The Ave has had numerous street openings over the years to provide more people space and create meaningful engagement opportunities in the community. These events have a track record of success, activation, and tradition, and such efforts need to be continued to support a healthy and dynamic community." - Matias 

"Here for walkable streets. Would be super cool to have a bike lane and the rest for walking or something, at least during the summers like Montreal has. Hope you can make this work at some point this summer." - Anonymous 

"I have lived on the ave for more than a decade and fully support Ave For All." - Anonymous 

"Many cities have shown that improving pedestrian/bike priority increases customer traffic to most local businesses, contrary to many business owners initial beliefs. Our city should not defer from testing these things due to a vocal minority." - Forrest 

"On those ave closure days, can the U of W open their parking for the public to park while walking the Ave?" - Anonymous

"I think this would be great!! Personally I would enjoy the ave much more without cars." - Zoe

"The Ave has declined during the last few years. Banning cars could spark a comeback." - Tyler

"We had been looking forward to attending this and checking out the businesses on the Ave. The concerned businesses on the Ave who opposed this should visit the new waterfront or Ballard Farmer’s market sometime to see pedestrianized streets can really make a place a destination for tons of people." - Jenny

"I was looking forward to visiting the car-free Ave next weekend, but apparently the city denied the permit to hold the event at the last minute. So much for "our city" that Mayor Wilson promoted. We need to have more and more streets pedestrianized, not less." - Daigoro

"Local people should be able to control local issues like this, unless there is an overriding reason for wider involvement, in which case there must be an open public discussion about the situation." - Rudolf

"I sat out in front of Bulldog News on the Ave for about a half hour around 6pm on Friday 5/23/26. While sitting for a mere thirty minutes, I witnessed: -two separate incidents of motorcycles greatly exceeding speed and noise limits - one vehicle conducting an illegal mid block u turn - a half dozen cars with unmuffled exhaust exceeding speed and noise limits . Any one of these events could easily have been fatal for a pedestrian or bicycle. This is what we consider normal, and what the denial of this permit is protecting. This is not a war on cars, this is our public space and our city and we want it back" - Matt 

"Despite vocal opposition from a small group, we should try this and see what happens. It might increase traffic to businesses but we won't know if we don't try. We shouldn't let one small group of people circumventing established processes prevent us from potentially learning something very valuable." - Ruth 

"In many countries there are pedestrian streets that draw friendly throngs of people. The U District would be a more welcoming place if it had one, even for a short time." - Petter

"The city needs more car free zones! As one of the densest neighborhoods in Seattle, the u district especially would benefit from pedestrianization." - Christian

"As a car free parent who lives near the Ave, it would be so wonderful to have more space for me and my daughter to roam. We love visiting the businesses and would spend more time and money there if it were pedestrianized." - Kelli

"Car-free Seattle!" - Shaila 

"People take back the roads!" - Ary

"More car-free streets!" -Stephen

"Let's do it!" - Abby
More Supporters

Tom Lang
William Langevin
Jay Lazerwitz
Derek Lee
Juliette Lehman
Paige E Lewis
Craig Liesegang
Judy Lightfoot
Kevin Li
Alan Liu
Kevin Liu
Ben Limpich
Anjali da Victoria Lobo
Toni Long
Paige Lowe
Michael Lu
Maria Lyon
Brendan Lyons
Kimberly M.
Nat M.
Michael Machala
Eric Mackres
Nathan Maestas
Ashley Marie
Jonathan Marlow
Anthony Marcheselli
Sunaree Marshall
Orion Mastel
Matthew
Dylan Maxim
Nicole May
Jules McEvoy
Robert McLaughlin
Robert McPherson
John Meier
Ott Too Met
Nathan Miller
Rachel Miller
Westin Miller
Amy Mills
Zoe Mitchell
Rebekah MN
Trent Moca
Ryan Mohta
Carlie Moore
Andrew Mukavitz
Renae Muñiz
Marin Nagle
Michael Nash
Natalie
Nick Neary
Doug Nellis
Travis Newbill
Pauly Tarricone
Morgan Nixon
Petter Nordal
Eric Nunn
Isabella Nunez
Forrest Nussforfer
Meghan Oesterle
Thomas Payne
Matthew Perez
Jaida Perkinson
Marcia Peterson
Glenn Phillips
Tracey Pierce
Ronald Pike
Marcos Pinares
Brenda Pohlmann
Karl Pohlmann
Tony Porter
Alexander Price
John Putre
Rachael
Sally Radford
Elijah Rainey-Gibson
Meredith Rawls
Kelli Refer
Rudolf Risler
Vincent Rivera
Sean Roe
Marissa Romanucci
Rose
Victoria Rose
Cy Rossignol
Ursula Rothel
Daniel Rother
Evan Ruiz
Thomas Sanbeg
Clayton Sasaki
Katherine Scheulen
Austin Schey
Jennifer Schladweiler,
Ryan Schrader
Stephen Schuler
David Scott
Elijah Seed-Arita
Jeremy Sell
Paul Shafer
Talulla Shaughnessy
Chad Sheffield
Misty Shock Rule
Daniel Simmons-Marengo
Ashley Snow
Sophia Snow
Paul Son
Artem Sorokin
Bethany Stackhouse
Trevor Stull
Sudie
Maria Sumner
Shayla Sutliff
Angelica Taboada
Preston Tamkin
Allison Tamura
Tariku
Pauly Tarricone
Doris Taylor
Seth Taylor
Wyat Taylor
Brice Tebbs
Skylar Thompson
Kelsey Timmer
Ruth Tomandl
Kathryn Topper
Daigoro Toyama
Kevin Troutt
Noah Tsai
Reshen Tseng
Leo Tures
Brian Valentine
Braeden Van Deynze
Anna VanEssen
Vera
Becca Wade
Jim Walseth
Ellen Ward
Jonathan Warren
Matt Weatherford
Stefan Wehner
Rachel Weigelt
Jeff West
Matt Wild
Braeden Wiley
Chris Winter
Jack T Winterhalter
Miguel Wise
Jace Wisen
Gita Wolford
Robin Yang
Jaelyn Yanni
Jacob Yellowbird
Yiming
Carol Ying
Jae Yoon
Naomi Yota
Kevin Xiao
Zach
Victoria Zamora
Winston Zhang

plus 91 anonymous supporters
More Testimonials

"Putting a handful of businesses above the surrounding community is not the path forward for the U-District or Seattle. The committee should ask themselves who it is they represent." - Gabriel

"Seattle is no longer just a growing city, it is a BIG city. And big cities need spaces for pedestrians. The time of car dominance in Seattle needs to come to an end. Cities are for PEOPLE, not cars." - Doug

"Events such as this foster community, which is needed more than ever in denser housing areas of the city." - Toni

"It's so sad to hear that this event was cancelled. What about the recent complaints from businesses outside the proposed closed area were so compelling that they should be weighted more than the rest of the community?" - Amy

"It’s long past time to open up the Ave to pedestrians. Just imagine how cool it would be to have places to stroll and sit while enjoying lunch from one of the fantastic restaurants on the Ave. People would come from all over Seattle just for the experience. Having the light rail station there makes it easy to access without a car. Come on! It’s time the Ave opened up to more people." - Marcia

"Shared streets are good for business. Close the Ave!" - Tom

"A walkable Ave has been talked about for many years (I believe Andy Shiga proposed this idea many, many years ago). A plus for the community." - Carol

"It is shameful and ridiculous for the city to cancel The Ave For All's special events permits, JUST ONE WEEK BEFORE the event. These businesses didn't have an issue with the closure of car traffic on the ENTIRE stretch of the Ave for the U District Street Fair just a week ago, and yet now they claim that having ONE BLOCK of the Ave closed for ONE DAY will damage their business?  The street belongs to everyone, not just the businesses. People who walk, bike, and take transit spend money, too! I am insulted by the city's decision which flies in the face of everything the Mayor's office has campaigned on and advocated for."  - Marshall 

"Pedestrian streets closed to traffic are wonderful and common features of many cities outside of the US. Montreal, Antwerp, Oslo, Dublin, Beijing, Kobe, and so many other cities enjoy such streets and they make so much sense. Merchants benefit from a steady flow of passerby and outside dining tables fill up. They are such pleasant areas and draw people just for the pleasure of being in these welcoming spaces. Seattle, and the US generally, need to copy these wonderful, working, examples." - Allison

"If the Ave would be pedestrian only, it would make it more of a destination to hang out and will likely attract more people. Especially if outdoor dining would be also be part of it; it could be a similar model to UVillage." - Maximiliane

"It could be said that this is a timely notion. Instead, it is long-overdue (and essential for our community)!" - Jonathan

"Moving toward a less car centric lifestyle, which favors people over cars."  - Paul

"Cars ruin the Ave!!!!" - Pauly

"I have long loved the idea of closing the Ave to vehicles. Every day." -Jeff

"We need more public/pedestrian community spaces! Cars ruin community" - Kolton

"Not really, but I do love the Ave and do want it to be 'for all,' I mean, WTF, why not?" - Cindy

"On one shopping district in Tokyo, a street becomes pedestrian-only every evening, creating a lively space for community interaction. A nearby university even holds a weekly class on the street. I believe that closing The Ave to traffic could create similar opportunities for people to gather and connect." - Hiromi

"Love the Ave for all!! Keep it going" - Taylor 

"It’s ONE STREET. No one needs to drive here. Having places like this makes cities so much nicer to live in." - Kaiden

"Keep up the great work! Would love to donate if any fund is set up!" - Anonymous

"FREE THE AVE!" - Andrew

"What a pleasure to walk ON the Ave! I went into some shops I’d never been in before, just be it was a lovely day to be out." - Julie
Still More Testimonials

"We desperately need more third spaces" - Gita

"I welcome the "frankly European" transition in Seattle." - Marcos

"I support 100% the closing of more Seattle streets to automobile traffic." - Anonymous

"This is what we need!" - Anonymous

"Reclaiming the disproportionate amount of space cars currently occupy will allow more people to dine, shop, socialize, and build community together in safety." - Bethany

"Car-free Ave. Car-free Ave. Car-free Ave." - Jaelyn

"I would visit the Ave much more if it was Pedestrian only." - Maxi

"Do it. It makes sense!!!" - Anonymous

"Love the idea, common worldwide !" -Eric

"I have no doubts that people will continue to patronize businesses on the Ave if traffic is restricted, and that it will be safer for everyone!" - Nicole

"More car free zones in the city?  Yes please!" - Shawn

"Please make this a reality! The people yearn for walkable streets." - Zac

"Pedestrianize the Ave all the way to NE 50th Ave!!" - Pauly

"A woonerf for the Ave would be a welcome addition to the U District." - Brent

"To make enhance an already vibrant neighborhood the ave should be pedestrianize." - Alexander

"Not every single possible corridor between every single row of stores HAS to have cars!" - Elijah

"One solution to this is making the Ave a shared street instead of fully pedestrian where speed limits are 10 mph or less." - Anonymous

"Pedestrianizing the Ave is the best thing we can do for the neighborhood." - Eric

"Just do the whole Ave forever! The population of U-District does not own cars at the same rate as other neighborhoods." - Anonymous

"This is a no brainer :)" - Jeremy

"With the light rail, Seattle has the ability to become the easiest city to live without a car west of Chicago." - Derek

"Prioritize people over cars!" - Anonymous

"One-off tests are great but long-term closure will change people habits and drive adaptations that can't be replicated at the single-day scale." - Anonymous

"We need such new concept to regenerate an area, test new ways of thinking. We could make the area greener and a real gathering spot for community." - Anjali

"Cars can do down every single other street in the area, it doesn’t need to go down the busiest and most vibrant business corridor in U District too." - Krishna

"The time is now for bold decisions to reshape our streets." -Dylan

"Pedestrianizing the Ave is an elegant solution to the reality that the sidewalks there are too small for the number of people walking in the area." - Michael

"I’ve been dreaming of this since arriving in Seattle." - Michael

"Making this narrow street car-free would vastly improve the experience for residents and visitors alike." - Anonymous

"I see absolutely no reason to allow cars on the Ave." - Daigoro

"Long overdue!" - Thomas

"Cars don't eat at restaurants, cars don't shop, cars don't spend money. People do." - Anonymous

"Data from other pedestrianization initiatives show this is also good for businesses along the street. I see zero downsides." - Kyle

"A car-free Ave is a step toward a people-focused neighborhood. We need this!" - Tom

"Increasing foot traffic is good for Washington as we run on sales tax. There is also less crime in more dense areas as more people are walking (perfect example is Pikes Place)." - Desiree

"More walkable neighbourhoods means a healthier community and businesses." - Jeffrey

"This will be a success for Ave businesses and people!" - Thomas

"Being one of the oldest businesses in the neighborhood the Blue Moon Tavern fully supports more closures of University Avenue for community events." - Timothy

"The U-District has so many streets and parking available for cars, but many of its residents do not have cars so cannot benefit from it. The Ave would be excellent as a people-first street, and as we've seen from Pike Place Market business will only be better without cars." - Skylar

"As a UW faculty member working with urban planning students, we have often focused on the U District and how it serves as an important urban gathering space. We definitely need more public spaces including building on the few that exist." - Marty

"Keep up the good fight. Seems wild we won't allow the highest use of that space even temporarily. God speed." - Kevin

"I work at UW and was excited to bring my family (via transit and/or bike) to The Ave on one of these days to buy food at local businesses and show them around. It was devastating to learn the event was canceled. Maybe we'll head down to LWB for a Bicycle Weekend instead." - Meredith

"For the love of god, let us have FUN and be a COMMUNITY!!!!!!!!" - Anonymous

"I work at UW Tower, where we often need to walk over to campus for meetings or events. It’s absurd how dangerous crossing the Ave can be, just to get to a work meeting. As a cyclist and transit user, I think our city could greatly benefit from more people-forward, car-free spaces, and the Ave— a place usually bustling with foot traffic, outdoor dining, students on their way to class, commuters walking between transit modes, etc.— is a perfect testing ground." - Caitlin

"I was looking forward to visiting the pedestrianized Ave today on my way home from the farmers market. I don't usually stop on the Ave, but would have today. I read the news the event was cancelled before I left so I changed my plans. I would've been one of the attendees who doesn't typically frequent the area, patroning the neighboring businesses." - Anonymous

"I support a car free ave.  i have too many times seen people nearly get hit by cars in pretty preventable accidents and I dont think its that much to ask that this one section of street adjacent to very car friendly" - Briar

"Please extend it all the way till NE 50th St" - Diyva

"The Ave should be pedestrian only all the time." - Jules

"I'm a business owner and have a studio in the Neptune building, I spend a lot of time on The Ave and would love it if it were pedestrian oriented." - Sim

"Our family is car free and live near the U district. Open streets events allow our family to celebrate our neighborhood and worry less about traffic safety. We love to support the businesses on the Ave and an event like this is guaranteed to have us spend more money at our favorite local businesses." -Kelli

" THANK GOODNESS this is happening. I hope it expands to more than a single block in the future, what an exciting time!" - Artem

"This is a no-brainer. Let's do this!" - Jeremy

"Love this - the Ave for non-vehicle purposes, what a concept!" - Matt

"Streets are for everyone!" - Craig

"We need more areas like this around Seattle! The Ave is a great place to start." - Maria

"This event was the first time I felt happy walking down this street. Please make this permanent" - Jason

"Make the Ave safer for all!! Traffic is already terrible let’s clean up a road that is so heavily foot trafficked." - Lauren

"Please push this forward the city needs it!" - Max
"Streets are for the people, not cars!" - Cody 

"Pedestrian friendly please!!!! Make U Ave a destination!" - Maysen

"F##K car dependency!" - Kevin 

"Cars ruin The Ave!!" - Pauly 

"Pedestrianize it!" - Nick

"The Ave is a perfect example of a street that would benefit from being pedestrianized." - Nathan

"Yay!!!!!! Ave for All!!" - Juliete

"If not every day it should be all weekends." - Richard

Press

U District Advocates host “Ave for All” event amidst pushback

By Mary Andolina, The Daily - October 14, 2026
A street sign marks University Way Northeast in Seattle.

A two-block section of the Ave was closed to cars and all traffic last Saturday, in a pilot program from neighborhood activist group U District Advocates. The nonprofit’s plan to pedestrianize the Ave between Northeast 42nd Street and Northeast 43rd Street was initially scheduled for this summer, but Seattle’s Special Events Committee denied its permit in May. The denial was a direct cause of significant pushback from local businesses, including those in the affected area of the Ave. Now, after more than four months, a meeting with the mayor, and an approved permit appeal, the pilot has been implemented.

'The Ave for All' Transforms U District's Main Thoroughfare

By Ryan Packer, The Urbanist - October 13, 2026
This past Saturday, the stretch of University Way NE between NE 43rd Street and 42nd Street turned into a strolling space, game board, and street plaza all in one. (Ryan Packer)

Seeing a street festival take over University Way NE through the heart of the U District is a common sight throughout most of the year. But this past Saturday, the attraction wasn't food vendors or craftspeople – it was the street itself. Visitors to one of the city's most beloved shopping districts were treated to a fully pedestrianized street as part of "The Ave for All", which continues this upcoming Saturday, October 17 for a second weekend.

U District's Ave Goes Car-Free for Two Saturdays, 71 Years After First Pitch

By Nicole Black, Hoodline Seattle - October 9, 2026
The Ave.

One block of University Way NE will shut down to car traffic for two Saturdays this month, as organizers test out a car-free vision for Seattle's U District that dates back more than 70 years. The Ave for All closes the stretch between NE 42nd and NE 43rd streets to vehicles on Saturday and again on October 17, running from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with games, a giant chess board, live music and café seating filling the reclaimed street space.

U District’s The Ave to go car-free for two Saturdays this October

By Kelly Dougher, Secret Seattle - October 8, 2026
The Ave pictured during the 53rd Annual U District Street Fair. Photo by Alabastro Photography.

One block along The Ave will become an experimental pedestrian-only space on October 10 and 17, with games, live music, and more. 

 A block of University Way NE, known locally as The Ave, will close to vehicle traffic for two Saturdays this October as part of an event focused on pedestrian activity and public space. “The Ave for All” is scheduled for October 10 and October 17, with the block between NE 42nd and NE 43rd streets reserved for people from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Ave’s Car-Free Pilot, Ferry Engineers Call In Sick for Better Pay, and Paid Parking Expands

By Jane C. Hu, City Cast Seattle - October 6, 2026
Media: City Cast Seattle

Framing: The episode positions the Ave experiment as following the Pike Place Market pilot, with a new car-free trial on University Ave, and links to theaveforall.udistrict.org. 

Who's talking: Host Jane C. Hu interviews urbanist organizer L. Harrison Jerome about the goals of closing the street to cars.  

Transforming the Ave into a massive car-free street party this Saturday, Seattle’s U District is celebrating with a beer garden, live music, and $6 bites

By Kelly Dougher, Secret Seattle - September 28, 2026
U District Chow Down 2024 by Alabastro Photography

Another Saturday of The Ave, going Car-Free:
If you need an excuse to spend a Saturday eating your way through the U District, this is it. The U District Chow Down & Street Party returns Saturday, October 3, bringing 78 neighborhood restaurants, $6 food specials, live entertainment, and a car-free stretch of The Ave. The event runs from 11 AM to 8 PM and celebrates the fifth anniversary of the U District light rail station. What started in 2021 as a small food walk has grown into one of the neighborhood’s biggest annual celebrations.

Despite U District cancellation, efforts around car-free space on Capitol Hill rolling forward with Seattle Streets Alliance party

By Justin Carder, Capitol Hill Seattle Blog - June 1, 2026
E Barbara Bailey Way will host the Seattle Street Alliance’s 15-year anniversary party Saturday

A University District block party seen as inspiration for a new wave of efforts to pedestrianize key areas of the city — including a stretch of Capitol Hill — was supposed to shut down The Ave to car traffic this weekend but was denied permits and canceled. UW’s The Daily reported on the city’s Special Events Committee denial. “Because this event is happening in the heart of a business district with complex and unique business needs, mitigating anticipated event impacts will be critical for this activity in the public right-of-way,” officials wrote.

U District event canceled, but some businesses deny having been opposed

By Nicholas Deshais, The Seattle Times - May 30, 2026
Media: Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times, 2024

A block party planned for this Saturday that would’ve closed University Way Northeast to cars was canceled after the city of Seattle denied organizers a permit just eight days before it was to occur, citing opposition from nearly 80 local businesses.  Some of those businesses, however, say they never objected to the event, and are unsure why they’re on a petition that led to the city’s denial, or were told that in signing their names, they were objecting to a permanent closure of the road.

U District Advocate’s Plan to shut down the Ave is denied by city’s Special Events Committee

By Mary Andolina, The Daily - May 25, 2026
A pedestrian crosses the street on University Way NE on May 21, 2026.

U District Advocate’s (UDA) event plan to shut down parts of the Ave this summer has been canceled after the City of Seattle’s Special Events Committee said they will not issue the necessary permits. Special events committee chair Kiah Patzkowsky explained in an email to UDA President Cory Crocker that, although UDA had met the necessary qualifications to host the event, significant pushback from local businesses influenced their decision to deny the permits.

As The Ave prepares to close one block this summer, Capitol Hill organizers set sights on Barbara Bailey Way

By Anna Hull, UW News Lab, Capitol Hill Seattle Blog - May 12, 2026
E Barbara Bailey is already closed to traffic every Sunday for the farmers market

As the U District experiments with closing one block of The Ave to cars, Capitol Hill organizers say their neighborhood could be next if the city can balance business concerns, programming costs and climate goals. It might feel like a blast from the past.

U District Advocates to close section of the Ave this summer in pilot program

By Mary Andolina, The Daily - April 23, 2026
Media: Samantha Bushman

For three Saturdays this summer, U-District residents will get a taste of what a car-free Ave could look like. U District Advocates, a local nonprofit, announced their plan to close University Way Northeast between Northeast 42nd Street and Northeast 43rd Street to cars in an April 1 newsletter, detailing plans for outdoor seating, games, and live music.

Part-Time Politicians, a Car-Free Ave, and Have We Reached Peak Beer?

By Jane C. Hu, City Cast Seattle - April 7, 2026
Media: City Cast Seattle

City Cast Seattle reports "We are going to have one block on University Ave in the U District go car-free for three weekends or three days coming up May 30, June 6, June 13. It's going to be between 42nd and 43rd on University Ave. If you know The Ave, it's like basically the street you would expect. I mean, it's like a block off from where light rail is. I just think that it will be a fun little project to see what it's like to not have any cars in that portion ... As a driver, I avoid that street completely now."

Save the Date: Bustling University Way to Become a Walker's Paradise

By Paige Browning, KUOW - April 6, 2026
Media: KUOW

KUOW's Seattle Now reports "A quick save-the-date, Seattle's bustling University Way will become a walker's paradise three times this spring. The U District Advocates, a neighborhood booster group, will shut down The Ave to cars between 42nd Street and 43rd Street according to The Urbanist. Cars will be banned May 30, June 6, and June 13. It is a test pilot the neighborhood has long floated making The Ave car-free permanently."

Car-Free Saturdays Come to Seattle’s University District As The Ave Turns Into A Pedestrian Plaza This Spring

By Kelly Dougher, Secret Seattle - April 6, 2026
Media: Alabastro Photography

Seattle’s University District is testing a new idea: turning part of its busiest street, “The Ave” (University Way), into a pedestrian-only space. On three Saturdays—May 30, June 6, and June 13—a central block between NE 42nd and NE 43rd streets will be closed to cars from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Instead of traffic, the street will feature outdoor seating, patios, and space for people to walk and gather.

U District's Ave Going Carfree for Three Saturdays in May, June

By Ryan Packer, The Urbanist - April 6, 2026
Media: Doug Trumm

U District neighborhood boosters are trying something new this spring, when it comes to a longtime push to convert The Ave into a pedestrian-oriented urban oasis. On three Saturdays across May and June, one of the street's most central blocks will be turned over to street patios and strolling space, with vehicle traffic diverted elsewhere.

U District's Ave Going Carfree for Three Saturdays in May, June

On Reddit - April 6, 2026
Media: Doug Trumm

r/Seattle channel on Reddit for comments

Archive of the Ave: reimagining a better tomorrow

By Gabi Treece The Daily - August 24, 2025
The College Inn

After gaining significant traction in 1969, with local movements such as “The Pedestrian Strikes Back” heavily advocating for a pedestrianized Ave, the community’s development dream was unable to get the leasing due to lack of building owners’ support. The University District Development Council, those responsible for the implementation and funding of the pedestrianized Ave, then halted its construction. However, many community members and residents still believe a car-free Ave is more than a far-away pipe dream.

A Car-Free Ave? U District Residents Envision Pedestrianizing University Way

By Alison Jean Smith, The Urbanist - April 9, 2024
Media: Doug Trumm

A UW student is seeking to spark a conversation about finally pedestrianizing The Ave after decades of dreaming. Around 60 U District residents filed into University of Washington (UW)’s Gould Hall for the “A Car-Free Ave?” event, put on by Community, Environment, & Planning (CEP) major Jaykub Rafael for his senior capstone. Students and retirees alike clustered around eight tables to discuss their visions for a pedestrianized University Way or colloquially just “The Ave,” from yoga classes to a daily market.

Popular Votes from U District Streetfair

3,342 Votes in Support

From public engagement booth at the U District Streetfair

The Ave, a People Street

Streetfair of 2022 asked folks to vote if they want to see The Ave become a pedestrian-priority street.

823 total votes - All results


Car-Free Ave

Streetfair of 2024 asked folks to vote if they want The Ave to prioritize pedestrians and create safe, vibrant gathering spaces.

1,638 total votes - All results


The Ave for All

Streetfair of 2026 asked folks to vote if they want our public right-of-way to prioritize people & small businesses—not just cars?

881 total votes - All results


495 Letters Sent to the Mayor

From campaign to express disappointment with denial of our permit to host the pilot.

Fundraising

Donate to the Project

Consider donating whatever you can to make this pilot project a success!
Donate to Project
Donations to our 501c3 nonprofit are tax deductible.

Fundraising Goal

Grant funding provided by the Neighborhood Matching Fund of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

Additional crowdsource funding from folks like you is helping the project reach its revised  goal of $9,500. 

$8,145 raised!

Sponsor a Table

Sponsor a table for the pilot, with the option to add your name to it.

For Small Business Owners

The Project and Why It Matters for Your Business

This fall, University Way between NE 42nd and NE 43rd Streets will come alive. On two Saturdays, we will temporarily close that block to vehicles and transform it into an open, welcoming public space, with lawn games, a giant chess board, live acoustic music, and cafe-style seating. Every activation will coincide with the existing farmers market, which already draws strong Saturday crowds. Together, the two events create a compelling reason for more people to come, stay longer, and spend more.
The benefits for your business: more foot traffic, and more of it lingering.
Our team personally walked every business on the block to understand how you serve your customers: at the counter, table-side, or through deliveries. We are meeting individually with every owner within a one-block radius, on your schedule, to listen to your concerns and build accommodation plans around your specific needs. Alternative delivery drop-off coordination is already underway. No accessible parking will be displaced.

This is a pilot — and it only works if you do.

These two activations are a test. We are here to explore how a pedestrian-friendly block on The Ave brings measurable benefit to the businesses that anchor it. Your participation, your feedback, and your willingness to engage with us directly are what make that case. We are not asking you to take anything on faith; we are asking you to be part of building the evidence. The Ave's merchants are the cultural backbone of this neighborhood, and this project exists to bring more people to your door.

Dates: - New dates!

• Saturday, October 10, 2026  from 11am - 8pm 
• Saturday, October 17, 2026  from 11am - 8pm 

For Small Business Owners

For more information on the project, download the one-pager:

Outdoors On The Ave activation of September 2021 (during the pandemic)

Sponsors & Partners

Funding provided by the Neighborhood Matching Fund of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Additional funding provided by Tech 4 Housing, Seattle Placemakers, and U District Advocates. 
City of Seattle
Tech 4 Housing
U District Advocates

Get in touch

theaveforall.org
info@theaveforall.org
Seattle, Washington USA

Footnotes

70% Car-Free

Although the City of Seattle demographics data list households in the University District without a vehicle at 42% (compared to 19% citywide), the U.S. Census Bureau’s household survey estimates that "About 70% of households in the ID have no cars, and the U District registers a similar rate even without including dorms."

87% Renters

The City of Seattle demographics data reports that 87% of households in the University District are renters.

Deficit of Open Space

1. Five acre deficit: The City of Seattle calculated a five-acre deficit of public open space in the University District in their 2015 U District Urban Design Environmental Impact Statement: On page 3.7-8, in Table 3.7-3, it states that the 2013 Deficit is 2.9 acres, while the 2035 deficit is 5.1 acres. Note that this determination was prior to the 2017 rezone of the University District to high-rise development up to 33 stories. 

Public comment received on the U District EIS: "While the adjacent University of Washington campus has open space, it serves the student and employee population of the University, and not the general public, and the DEIS correctly excludes the University of Washington from the analysis on open space.” 

Furthermore, in the 2015 University District Parks Plan Update, on page 12, it states: “While the District features a few excellent parks, along with access to active recreation in Cowen Park and attractive passive open spaces throughout UW’s campus, there is an existing shortfall of open space in terms of the City’s goals (as of 2013). The approximately 1,500 housing units under construction and the additional 4,000 more expected of the 20 years will exacerbate this issue. By 2035, the deficit is expected to grow unless the additional parks and open spaces can be provided.” 

The 2013 U District Urban Design Framework, page 13, states: “The University District Park Plan (2005), which addresses the existing and future open space deficit in the U District. It includes priorities for the Parks Department in terms of new open space investments.” 

The 2012 University District Urban Design Framework - Existing Conditions Report, page 56, states: “The Seattle Parks Department published the University District Park Plan in 2005. The plan identified an existing deficit in publicly-owned open space, as identified by Comprehensive Plan open space goals for the University District Northwest Urban Village.”
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