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May 19, 2012 at 8:41 pm #758678
miwsParticipantHi wren!
I’ve been doing this lately, since my transitional housing is downtown, and I go to the library most everyday.
From 1st to 2nd Av: The Exchange Building (beautiful Art Deco) on the SE corner of 1st & Marion, ride elevator to 4th(?) floor (It’s marked 2nd Av)
From 2nd to 3rd: cross both 2nd Av & Marion Streets, and ride both sets of escalators up, and cut through bldg lobby to 3rd Av.
From 3rd to 4th: one option is to cross 3rd, to the modern silver and glass bldg on the SE corner, ride escalators up, but there’s also a few stairs. Second option, is to cross both 3rd Av & Madison St, to SAFECO Plaza(?) (the old 50 story Sea-First “black box” that Space Needle came in) ;-) and ride escalators up, until you run out of escalators to ride up.
Then, either way, walk into the library, 10:00a-8:00p, M-Th, 10:00a-6:00p F-Sa, Noon-6:00p Su, and ride the escalator from 1st floor to 3rd, which will dump you out on 5th Av.
That’s probably about it for buildings with easy access, but it’s also about it, for the worst of the hills. (Unless you’re continuing up to First Hill!)
Mike
May 19, 2012 at 9:20 pm #758679
waterworldParticipantHere’s a link to a map of downtown that shows all the escalators and elevators that you can use to avoid walking up hills. There are also buildings connected by walking tunnels, generally with escalators to take you up to street level. One building to avoid, even though it’s on this map, is the New Federal Building, because security makes it hard to use it as a pass-through up the hill.
http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/accessible/accessmap-1009.pdf
May 19, 2012 at 10:16 pm #758680
JoBParticipantcool
May 19, 2012 at 10:55 pm #758681
SmittyParticipantEnter the Columbia Center at 4th and Cherry and you can make your way to 5th and Marion via escalator and elevator.
May 20, 2012 at 1:07 am #758682
SueParticipant1201 Third Avenue – between Seneca and University – you can travel between 2nd and Third Avenues. Escalators on the 2nd Ave. side near The Brooklyn restaurant (closer to University).
Harbor Steps Apartments – there’s an elevator that’s a little hard to find, but it’ll take you between Western and 1st Avenue (this is between University & Seneca).
Wells Fargo Building takes you between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, between Madison and Marion.
4th & Madison Building takes you between 3rd and 4th.
Safeco Plaza, I think it’s called, takes you between 3rd & 4th, between Spring and Madison. It’s the building that’s directly across the street from the Central Library on 4th.
May 20, 2012 at 2:23 am #758683
JiggersMemberLearn to use the escalators in building rather than walking up those steep streets like Cherry and Madison streets. You’ll save your knees and breath. Virtually every building is open for business between Monday thru Friday in downtown. The weekends you are screwed since they are closed. So learn which busses takes you uphill like the No.2 and get off next to the Central Library. Learn to save your breath and energy. I’ve been homeeless for years and know my way around downtown without having to walk much. Waterwold… the underground walkway tunnel is between 4th avenue and 6th ave. It starts were Gold’s Gym is on 4th which connects you to the Hilton and there is a very long escalator that takes you into One Union Square Tower. There’s a lot of businesses and places to eat along the way. The further you go it connects you up into the Washington State Convention Center were I like to sit in a chair over looking the freeway and watch the cars zoom by. That whole area connects you with free Wi-Fi so I have multiple choices to kill time on my laptop. The farther North in downtown you go the easier it is to walk since the streets which aren’t as steep as on the South end. You can ride for free from Westlake Mall to Uwajimaya in The International District in the tunnel or any bus or lightrail heading South, same thing going back North to Westlake. I avoid 3rd avenue until I come back to West Seattle.
May 20, 2012 at 2:32 am #758684
JayDeeParticipantWren:
I have even taken a friend’s family on what I call the Tour De Escalators. Use the map and your charm to ask directions. One of the key ones is the Central Library one from Fourth to Fifth, reached from the building immediately west which takes you from 3rd to 4th.
Also remember the Market Elevator in the Market Garage that drops you at Pike Street–walk south on Pike Place, turn left and cross first for a no-elevation walk along Pike.
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