Also known as Pill Hill, First Hill is the heart of Seattle’s medical establishment with Swedish, Virginia Mason and Harborview hospitals, the Puget Sound Blood Center and numerous specialty clinics. Officially part of the Downtown area, the City Clerk’s Neighborhood Map Atlas divides it into First Hill and Yesler Terrace (home of a large public housing project as well as Harborview Medical Center), but commonly understood boundaries are I-5 in the west, 12th Ave on the east, Pike on the north and Main or Jackson on the south. In addition to predominantly apartment and condominium dwellings, First Hill is home to Seattle U, a Catholic (Jesuit) university and several prominent private schools including Bishop O’Dea High School, the Northwest School and SAAS (Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences). St. James Cathedral is the seat of the Seattle Archdiocese of the Catholic Church. Other religious institutions include First Baptist and First Presbyterian churches. The Yesler Community Center is located in the middle of the Yesler Terrace Housing project.
Given its proximity to downtown, it is no surprise that numerous busses over service downtown and to other locations. These include 2, 3, 4, 9, 12, 27, 60, 64, 84, 205, 211, 303, 941 & 984 many of which connect to the bus tunnel downtown with access to Link Light Rail. A new Link Light Rail station is opening soon next to Cal Anderson Park on Broadway & Denny.