Capitol Hill Plaza Revitalization Considered in Crisis Center Budget Plans

an overgrown, vacant urban lot at a city street corner featuring an old, isolated concrete stairway surrounded by tall weeds, with Pacific Northwest mid-rise br

AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.

Revitalization Plans for Capitol Hill's Stairway to Nowhere

Capitol Hill's long-neglected 'stairway to nowhere'—a concrete remnant atop an overgrown, triangular lot just north of Madison where Broadway and Harvard intersect—may soon see new life. King County officials have revealed that the site could become a public plaza or green space as part of the new Central Crisis Care Center project, scheduled to open on Broadway late next year.

Property’s History: From Scottish Rite Cathedral to Vacant Lot

The site’s origins date back to 1911, when the Scottish Rite Cathedral was built by Frank Allen on a vacated city right-of-way. For decades, this two-story edifice with classical pillars and Freemason insignia served as a community hub for the Scottish Rite. When the organization relocated in the late 1950s, the site went through several brief incarnations: it became the Music-Go-Round musical theater in 1961, an antique shop called Stop & Shop in the 1970s, and Club Broadway nightclub through the mid-1980s. After the nightclub closed around 1988, the building was demolished, leaving only the now-iconic concrete stairs behind.

Community Advocates Envision a Public Plaza

Community members have long pushed for redevelopment of the fenced, unused triangle, hoping it could become a landscaped green space or public plaza. Their efforts date back decades, with proposals for a pedestrian corridor connecting to First Hill and calls for a welcoming plaza that would make use of the historic stairway. Despite significant redevelopment in neighboring areas, these visions have yet to be realized.

Crisis Center and a Path Forward

The renewed focus on the lot follows the county’s latest updates to the construction budget for the Central Crisis Care Center and discussions with facility operators and the City of Seattle. According to a county spokesperson, community requests for more green space are being considered, and planning for the site will involve assessments and input from stakeholders. The site is now tied to a broader vision that includes a citizen-led Seattle Community Advisory Group, which is helping allocate a $3 million county mitigation fund intended to address local public safety and street conditions surrounding the facility.

Challenges and Public Safety Considerations

Officials acknowledge that keeping any new plaza space safe and clean will require investment beyond the initial construction. Other nearby projects, like the AIDS Memorial Pathway plaza above Capitol Hill Station, have highlighted the ongoing need for city and county support for maintenance and programming to ensure these public spaces remain active and accessible.

Project Timeline and Future Steps

The transformation of the former Polyclinic medical building into the Broadway Crisis Center is now targeted for completion and opening in late 2027 at the earliest. The Crisis Center is planned as the second in a regional network of five facilities funded by a 2023 voter-approved levy, providing 24/7 walk-in and emergency care mental health clinics. As planning progresses, the fate of Capitol Hill’s 'stairway to nowhere' may finally be resolved, offering the community the public plaza it has long envisioned.