SoDo (alternatively SODO) is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, that makes up part of the city's Industrial District. It is bounded on the north by South King Street, beyond which is Pioneer Square; on the south by South Spokane Street, beyond which is more of the Industrial District; on the west by the Duwamish River, across which is West Seattle; and on the east by Metro Transit's Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel and SoDo Busway, beyond which is the International District and the rest of the Industrial District.

SoDo was originally named for being located "South of the Dome", but since the Kingdome's demolition in 2000 the name has been taken to mean "South of Downtown". It includes Seattle's downtown stadium district with two venues: T-Mobile Park, a baseball stadium and home to the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball; and Lumen Field, which was built on the site of the Kingdome and is home to the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League, Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer, and Seattle Reign FC of the National Women's Soccer League. The Mariners' popular marketing campaign in the early 2000s used the SoDo moniker in the catchphrase "SoDo Mojo".

SoDo deliberately echoes SoHo in New York City, where, during the 1970s, cheap spaces vacated by departing factories were converted by artists into lofts and studios.

Transportation

SoDo main thoroughfares are First and Fourth Avenues S. and Alaskan Way S. (north- and south-bound) and S. Lander and Holgate Streets, Edgar Martínez Drive S., and S. Royal Brougham Way (east- and west-bound). The western terminus of Interstate 90, which travels east towards Boston, Massachusetts, is in SoDo.

The neighborhood is also served by public transit service. Sound Transit operates the 1 Line light rail service through the neighborhood, stopping at two stations: SODO at Lander Street, and Stadium at Royal Brougham Way. The SODO Busway runs along 5th Avenue South and carries bus routes from King County Metro and Sound Transit Express.

References

  • "SoDo rezone pits industry against developers", Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, September 26, 2002.
  • "It's gritty, blue-collar and sometimes home" Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 11, 1998
  • SODO Business Improvement Area