U District residential boom predicted to continue over next 20 years
The University District is poised for skyrocketing residential growth over the next 20 years with three dozen projects either announced or currently under construction.
The newly released 2026 U District Economic Report notes that the neighborhood is home to more than 38,000 people, a 47% increase from just 15 years ago.
Almost 50 housing projects have opened since 2017, ranging from traditional apartments and condos to dorm-style student housing.
The neighborhood now contains more than 16,300 housing units, up 27% the past five years. It is the densest neighborhood in the city of Seattle, with about 121,000 people per square mile. Placer.ai, which tracks foot traffic via cell phone data, reported more than 37 million visits last year.
https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2026/03/04/u-district-residential-growth-rezoning.html