Maroon, auburn, and brown line the streets of Columbia City, as the clouds move closer in to kiss the top of brick buildings. Made up of a few blocks of South Seattle, its turn-of-the-century warmth are apart of memories for many who call this neighborhood home. Autumn feels right here, feels like it belongs to the storefronts and side streets. Nestled in the middle of Rainier Valley, Columbia City’s charming atmosphere is eclectic, entertaining, and has just about anything for anyone.
Strolling along this part of Rainier Avenue makes you forget about the sirens of First Hill, the congestion of I-5, and the hustle and bustle of Downtown. Entering Columbia City is like stepping into a time warp, where people smile a little bit more and seem proud of the community they have created.
History
Founded in January 1893 and annexed into the city of Seattle in 1907, Columbia City has seen the best of times, and the worst of times. As a booming logging and railroad town, the business district was built in the early 1900s, and by the 1930s Columbia City had entered a period of gradual decline. The business district suffered from neglect, and deterioration until the 1970’s when residents decided to take action.
Columbia City Development Association led the charge for change helping with the designation of historic district in 1978, along with an initiative to improve the look and feel of the street scape. Since then several community led groups have worked to keep the neighborhood pedestrian, family, and diversity friendly.
Looking out over what Rainier Valley was, and has become the Columbia City Library is a fixture of the neighborhood. A major renovation in 2003 expanded the library, and its collection after voters decided in 1998 that Seattle deserved better libraries. Now with over 12,000 square feet, the expanded branch has collections in many different languages and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Change is A'Comin
Of the groups, Columbia City Revitalization Committee since 1995 has been responsible for some of the most prevalent and popular community events, the Farmers’ Market and BeatWalk.
Strolling along this part of Rainier Avenue makes you forget about the sirens of First Hill, the congestion of I-5, and the hustle and bustle of Downtown. Entering Columbia City is like stepping into a time warp, where people smile a little bit more and seem proud of the community they have created.
History
Founded in January 1893 and annexed into the city of Seattle in 1907, Columbia City has seen the best of times, and the worst of times. As a booming logging and railroad town, the business district was built in the early 1900s, and by the 1930s Columbia City had entered a period of gradual decline. The business district suffered from neglect, and deterioration until the 1970’s when residents decided to take action.
Columbia City Development Association led the charge for change helping with the designation of historic district in 1978, along with an initiative to improve the look and feel of the street scape. Since then several community led groups have worked to keep the neighborhood pedestrian, family, and diversity friendly.
Looking out over what Rainier Valley was, and has become the Columbia City Library is a fixture of the neighborhood. A major renovation in 2003 expanded the library, and its collection after voters decided in 1998 that Seattle deserved better libraries. Now with over 12,000 square feet, the expanded branch has collections in many different languages and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Change is A'Comin
Of the groups, Columbia City Revitalization Committee since 1995 has been responsible for some of the most prevalent and popular community events, the Farmers’ Market and BeatWalk.
BeatWalk is a unique music event in which local artists are invited to play in the storefronts of Columbia City. For five dollars, you can pay for a BeatWalk pass, and visit multiple businesses turned music venue. The last BeatWalk of the season will be December 5, 2008.
The Columbia City Farmers' Market is a member of the Neighborhood Farmers' Market Alliance that also supports markets in the U-District, Broadway, and Lake City. The Farmers' Market which is now closed for the season helps spotlight great community restaurants, and local growers. Founded in 1998, the market is a colorful piece of the community, but come 2010 it could be homeless.
According to the Neighborhood Farmers' Market Alliance website, HAL real estate developing has purchased the Columbia Plaza, currently the home to the Columbia City Farmers' Market, and will give CCFM until 2010 or 2011 "to work out a solution". Plans for the space include building " apartments or condos above street level retail stores".
Community members have responded by forming The Friends of the Columbia City Farmers Market which is "a group of market staff, neighbors, market supporters and others who have been meeting regularly to work on this issue for the past year and a half, investigating numerous alternate locations for the market."
A Community on the Web
As a part of a pilot program created by mayor Greg Nichols, Columbia City is a free wireless Internet hotspot. The goal of the project is to attract more customers to business districts, support small businesses, and to encourage the use of public parks and facilities.
The community has taken advantage of the free Internet by starting an online forum of community concerns, events, and general information. The Rainier Valley Post is a blog for and by concerned citizens of Rainier Valley. Run like a small newspaper, the page editor and staff writers take pitches and stories from people in the community, investigate, and report them.
This and other community based websites for the neighborhood of Columbia City has transformed public discourse. Whether the topic is the new auditoriums in the Columbia City Cinema or a health problem in the local Safeway, citizens have tools like the Columbia citizens wiki and Captain Columbia City to share opinions and receive feedback.
Restaurant Row
A food lover’s dream is tucked amongst the shops and restaurants on Rainier Avenue. Columbia City Bakery's neon sign reads “ bakery”, which mirrors its status in the neighborhood. This bakery isn't about frills and catchy marketing, and as one of the last coffeehouses still serving True North Coffee it is a dying breed. Whether you choose to sit inside amongst the rustle of espresso tamping or outside where leaves the size of notebook paper fall carelessly about the sidewalk, you will be experiencing a little bit of Columbia City culture.
Sitting sweetly across the street from the bakery is Geraldine’s Counter, a diner inspired restaurant that serves a mean brunch anytime of day. With a sister restaurant on Capitol Hill, Geraldine’s Counter was packed from door to window the Saturday morning I decided to venture through door. I quickly swept away by one of the waiters to a table, and served a fair sized mug of Caffe Vita coffee.
With my personal kryptonite being a bad cup of coffee, I was pleased with a familiar name and familiar quality. I chose the biscuits and gravy, and although the gravy did not have that southern “yum” factor I’m used to and the hash browns lacked the crispness of fresh starch and butter, the local art on the walls was a true palette saver.
You don’t have to walk far between breakfast and lunch in Columbia City, but one place especially is worth the trip. Jones’ Barbecue is a Seattle institution, and on those early days of fall after the barbecue pit has been packed away, fret not because Jones has rib tips just the way you remember them. With a special sauce featured on the Food Network show “ Great Northwest BBQ”, Jones has received national notoriety that we in Seattle can taste first hand.
The Art of Entertaining
For those of us who don’t reside in Columbia City, the biggest draw might just be its Arts community. Without the nightlife of major hitters like Pioneer Square and Capitol Hill, Columbia City emphasizes family friendly entertainment options.
Columbia City Cinema brings the movie business back down to earth. Since expanding the current auditorium to three screens, people are raving about more first run screenings. CCC offered various memberships to help raise money for the project. With ticket prices well below that of its downtown rivals ($8 for general admission, and $6 for matinee) CCC is well worth the trip.
Columbia City Gallery,founded in 1999, is a “ artist cooperative where artists belong as members and work” said mosaic artist, Dianne Bradley. The gallery currently has three exhibits Arts, Adornments, and Artiques made by local artists.“ [This community] is creative, responsive, and a source of energy for artists,” said Bradley. This holiday specific collection is running from November 12 to January 18,2009.
This neighborhood might know about food, but they kept a rhythm over the years with music at Columbia City Theatre. Chris Cottingham, owner of Columbia City Theatre said that since moving in four years ago he has “fallen in love with Columbia City”. And by the looks of the theatre who wouldn’t fall in love with the last remaining Vaudeville style theatre in Seattle. Built in 1919, Columbia City Theatre has seen its fair share of the Seattle music scene over the decades.
With acts ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Smashing Pumpkins, the stage if you can imagine is like a window into the past, and Cottingham hopes a window into the future. “My hope for Columbia City Theatre is that it will be the lighthouse for Seattle to once again become a music mecca,” said Cottingham.
Columbia City is a true diamond in the rough, and is surrounded by a community that understands and values diversity. From restaurants to art galleries, Columbia City is an up and coming Seattle neighborhood that is honest about staying grounded and in touch with the community.
