I finally went back to the old Northgate Mall in Seattle after five years

Everyone talks about how these places just get worse and more trashed, but I saw the opposite. In 2019, the food court was a total mess, with busted tiles and graffiti everywhere. I went again last month, and a lot of the spray paint was gone, and someone had cleared a path through the fallen ceiling panels in the main hall. I think a local film crew or maybe urban explorers have been keeping it somewhat tidy for shoots (I found some fresh footprints and a dropped lens cap). It felt less like a dump and more like a quiet, empty building. Maybe people are starting to care for these spots instead of just wrecking them. Has anyone else seen a place get cleaner over time, not dirtier?

3 comments

3 Comments

nelson.nancy1mo ago

I always figured Northgate would just fall apart more each year. Guess some spots can get a little better when people use them.

phoenix291mo ago

Yeah, that's a good point from @nelson.nancy. It's like a self-fulfilling thing, where more use can actually push for more care.

rodriguez.diana1mo ago

Totally. Pressure from regular folks is the only thing that ever gets a pothole filled around here.