The Alley

“The Alley” cuts through the block on 47th and 18th NE connecting 47th to 50th. It is a one lane road that was intended to provide garbage storage and pick up space. Its’ “walls” are lined with cars, dumpsters, and the occasional tree. The main entrance, and only entrance for cars, is the south side of the alley. The majority of activity done in the alley is accomplished at this side as the majority of pedestrians are going to and from the University. When walking through “The Alley” it is obvious that the residents have taken over this garbage truck pathway. Cars line the edges. With this in mind the most numerous sites are the various parking lots. They range from simple open spaces to covered garages, from capacities of 2-3 cars to one that can fit 7-8 cars. An interesting and unique to the North side feature is the intricate back entry stairs. These stairs weave back-and-forth serving as both fire escapes and as an alternative entryway.

At the very end of the North side, the exit of “The Alley,” the “One Way” sign shows the intended flow of the alleyway. This aspect of the alley, that traffic is legally forced to go north and leave the Greek system and the UW campus, has altered the way the alley is used. People don’t often use the alley as a pathway to go to school, but often use it to return home.

A very interesting series of events is directly connected with the Greek lifestyle. Fraternities tend to drink a heavy amount of alcohol, typically in cans, which they throw away by the bag full on a weekly basis. There is a homeless couple that searches through the garbage dumpsters and collects the cans, crushes them, and takes them to sell back to the state for a nickel a can. It is interesting how the party oriented life of the Greek system helps a couple put food on the table.