In Spring 2003, Students from the UW School of Architecture and Urban Planning established a “storefront studio” at the former Tower Records space to assist small businesses and property owners design new facades for their buildings. These designs helped businesses and property owners apply for facade improvement money from the City. This project represented a win-win for the community: a vacant storefront was filled; business and property owners received assistance to improve their buildings; and students got a valuable learning experience. For more information contact Jim Nicholls.
Read more about this project in the Seattle-PI.