Northwest Columbia City

Today's 7.2 mile walk in the northwest corner of the Columbia City neighborhood filled in streets between prior walks and took me through the part of Rainier Vista on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr Way S. My husband and I had walked through the portion on the west side of MLK Way and it appears that the west side has more of a mix of townhouses, apartments and social services while the east side has more duplexes and a few stand alone houses.

Both sides have playgrounds and green space.

Looking at the New Home Information kiosk and observing all the construction going on, I fear I may have to return someday to walk streets that do not yet exist.

Walking north of Rainier Vista, I came across a mix of residential, commercial and transit areas. The light rail runs along MLK Jr Way and separates the two parts of Rainier Vista. This is the area where the light rail becomes elevated before entering the Mount Baker Station (or descends to street level after leaving the station).

Near the station, I used the overpass to cross MLK Jr Way

and look down to see public art.

Along Rainier Avenue S, I passed Rainier Square Plaza with many stores including Safeway and Ross (pictured in a prior post),

observed new buildings and construction in process,

a few medical marijuana establishments, a large mural

and the Rose of Sharon P.I. and Academy of Theology.

Sandwiched between MLK Jr Way and Rainier Avenue S is a mostly hilly, residential area where some streets are paved and others are not, staircases connect streets and I observed a few tree houses,

the tiny but tidy York Park






and Lake People Park with its trails and informatve sign.

This area is home to To God Be the Glory church (which, I suspect, may not be occupied because posted on it is a land use action sign proposing a sewage overflow tank),

This is the Holy Ground church, United House of Prayer for All People (pictured in a prior post), Cafe Ibex Ethiopean Restaurant, Emerald City Fired Arts, Slush & Hush

and public art near the light rail.

Along the way, I spotted an impressive tree

and a mural.

Once again, there were many things to see on my walk.