Yellow Birds on the U-District Skyline

 

8/24/21 Maple Leaf neighborhood

When Rip Van Winkle awoke in the U-District last week, it was disorienting to see all the new buildings going up where familiar landmarks used to be. Walking through the ‘hood this week, I found a spot on heavily trafficked Banner Way Northeast that looks straight down toward the U-District a couple of miles to the south. I counted five big yellow birds on the horizon.

For reference, I labeled UW Tower (formerly Safeco Tower and formerly the tallest building in the U-District) and the spire of Blessed Sacrament Church, which I’ve sketched a few times. Also for reference are the triple radio towers on Capitol Hill another few miles to the south.