Final Reflection

My general first impression of Ballard was that it is quite walkable and despite the major arterial running through the center (Market Street) as soon as you walk a block south you find yourself on many smaller streets, some with outdoor restaurant seating filling the street and pedestrians crossing safely. Fremont was somewhat similar, and though it did have quieter streets, access to the Burke Gilman, and a farmers market filling a few large streets, much of the rest of the urban village was along busy roads. They both had a generally pedestrian-safe feel, however, and there were many people walking around both.

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I saw evidence of city planning in both neighborhoods, Ballard having lots of mixed use buildings (usually the first floor being retail or restaurant space with upper floors being residential or office space) and Fremont having many areas with potential for community gathering/open space to spend time and access to commuter resources such as bus lines, bike paths, etc. The planning was somewhat different once you left both urban villages, where in Ballard as you walk north there is a lot less commercial space and more houses, and moving south takes you to an industrial working waterfront. Fremont was quite similar, where as you left there were less mixed use buildings and more houses, as well as busy roads with quieter neighborhood roads being the only ones with less cars.

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Someone's lived experience might be different living within the urban village versus outside as living inside the urban village would mean a lot faster access to public transit and bike friendly areas, as well as access to healthcare, community centers, and work centers, while outside you may have to travel further or use a car to access these things. Ballard had much less office space than Fremont, so someone living in an urban village such as Ballard may have to travel further to an area with offices (unlike someone living in Fremont).

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