North Aurora Avenue has long been plagued by violence, drug dealing, and prostitution, making it a challenging area for businesses and residents alike. The complexity of bringing change to this neighborhood goes beyond surface-level solutions.
The rise in crime has significantly impacted the area. Developer Daniel Stoner, who built apartments near Aurora, has witnessed the effects firsthand. Nearby businesses have responded by adding bars to their windows, reducing operating hours, or closing altogether. Despite his commitment to the neighborhood, Stoner has paused a new apartment project after the vacancy rate in his 109th Street building doubled.
Between 2019 and 2023, reported crimes in the area rose three times faster than the citywide rate, with aggravated assaults increasing by 72%. In response, the City of Seattle has added concrete barriers along Aurora to disrupt prostitution and drug dealing.
Last week, the City Council’s Public Safety Committee approved legislation to recriminalize prostitution loitering, which was decriminalized in 2020, and to create Stay Out of Areas of Prostitution (SOAP) zones. The legislation (CB 120836) was introduced by Councilmember Cathy Moore, who represents the area.
Efforts to improve the north Aurora community are met with resistance. The neighborhood business association successfully opposed earlier initiatives to widen sidewalks and reduce traffic lanes on Aurora, which remains State Highway 99, a crucial freight corridor. Aurora is one of the few Seattle neighborhoods that accommodates businesses known for noise.
“There are so many places in the city where you can have a cafe or a restaurant, but there’s limited places where you can have a tire shop, or a scuba dive supply place or a Handy Andy’s,” says Dana Mongillo, who runs a doggy day care, Fuzzy Buddy’s, on Aurora because it was where she “could run a business that makes noise.”
Clearly, the City and the neighborhood face a difficult task as they work to make Aurora Avenue a safer and more welcoming area for residents and businesses.
