There wasn’t anything closer? I wouldn’t want to struggle with Mercer every day.
https://www.walkscore.com/WA/Seattle/South_Lake_Union
Faster to ride a bike than take the bus to downtown, SLU is bit longer.
EK, OP is also lolking at another apartment near Amazon as one of her 3 current options.
The Mercer traffic is horrid between 3 and 6. It sounds like the OP’s D will be working long hours, so she will miss that excitement.
Got another location to run by those Seattle savvy folks - 1300 block of Marion near the university (from looking on the map I think they mean East Marion) - how would that compare with the 4th and Clay location?
Decent neighborhood, up above “pill hill” near the hospitals and Seattle U (“the” university is UW, not SU), walkable (about .5 miles) to both the middle of Capitol Hill and the International District but a longer walk to Amazon.
It’s much more of a residential neighborhood than 4th and Clay. I should be close to there tomorrow evening if you want me to swing by for specifics.
Do you have an exact address? 1300 Marion comes up as Swedish Hospital. Ha! never mind . . . I see now why you say East. Duh . . .
Ok, this looks like it is near the bottom of pill hill/ Seattle U, I can swing by that area tomorrow. 
There is a ton of places to eat in that area.
BTW, there should be good bus connection to the SLU area, and the trolley should be running soon…
It’s actually up over the crest just east of Seattle U as far as I can tell. Close to Broadway and all that action. Farther from Amazon and you’d want to check bus routes. There have been some incidents around Seattle U so it would be a place to be careful walking in the wee hours.
There are bus routes that go towards SLU, and the trolley tracks are all in - so, fingers crossed, the trolley will be up and running soon. The majority of the incidents, AFAIK, were typical cell phone robberies and stuff that you would expect in a place filled with kids who are preoccupied with their cell phones while walking late at night. UW attracts way more criminal element (proportionally to the # of potential victims, I guess). Most of the stuff that happened, happened after 10 pm or even later. I generally do not feel unsafe walking in that area late at night, but I keep my eyes peeled and off the phone.
Checked the Metro trip planner: bus 9 down Broadway, then 8 towards SLU. Trip time 20 min total. OK, but not stellar because of the transfer. On a good day, I would walk the whole distance, not just the last 0.4 miles… 
http://tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/#
Transfers: 1
Travel Time: 18 min
From: Seattle University To:
AMAZON - 410 TERRY AVE N plus
Walking Distance: 0.41 miles
Trip Cost: $2.75 (cash)
9 BROADWAY EXPRESS
Leaving at 8:13a
At Stop: Broadway & E Marion St (NB)
Arriving at 8:19a
At Stop: Broadway E & E John St (NB)
Step Transfer to 8 SEATTLE CENTER
Leaving at 8:24a
At Stop: E Olive Way & Broadway E (WB)
Step On 8 SEATTLE CENTER
Arriving at 8:31a
At Stop: Denny Way & Westlake Ave (WB)
Walk to your destination: Walk a short distance E on Denny Way. Turn left on Westlake Ave N. Walk approx. 1 block N on Westlake Ave N. Turn right on Thomas St. Walk a short distance E on Thomas St. Turn left on Terry Ave N. Walk approx. 1 block N on Terry Ave N.
…
The stupid SLUT extension would not go all the way to Amazon, just down Broadway… Defeats the purpose!
so how would the marion place compare to 4th and clay (which is walking distance to Amazon and in the middle of all the tourist stuff?)
4th and Clay is much more concrete jungle and not very residential though there are a few other apartment buildings and condos in the area. Its location is better for short term, real close to the Space Needle and EMP, perfect location for the Folklife Festival, pretty close to Seattle Sculpture Park and the Myrtle Edwards beach. A ton of people and traffic every day but it is not really a neighborhood where many people live.
14th and East Marion is right at the edge of Seattle U, probably not too busy during the summer but also at the edge of blocks of decent middle class houses on the tree-lined streets. It will have a residential feel that will not be there at 4th and Clay.
Turns out my wife will be home earlier than expected so I won’t be over in Seattle today. Go to Bing Maps and use Birds Eye view to see, the difference is apparent.
https://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?q=seattle+birds+eye+view&mkt=en&FORM=HDRSC4
I am in the area today, and what Magnetron said is true. Nice residential area with stores and cafes; I would not feel unsafe here. Seattle U has a very compact and gorgeous, almost park-like campus with a green dog lawn. It is well-patrolled by campus security. Downtown is just a few blocks up and down any of the major streets that go towards the water. Getting to Amazon might be a less convenient proposition than from other places (except the one on Queen Anne), but it is doable.
My thinking is that for a short term stay where she will work on weekdays and sightsee on weekends - being next to the space needle with the shorter commute (by foot) makes more sense?
Without knowing much of your D’s personality it is tough to say. Being near the Space Needle is good for about 3 weekends worth of entertainment, maybe not a prime consideration. The local restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores and nightlife within walking distance would be on the other side of the Seattle Center in Lower Queen Anne. Walking to work is a huge bonus.
I would worry that a reasonably priced furnished tower apt like that would have a very transient/high turnover resident profile. It may look more struggling unemployed than young professional. Anyone know for sure?
I’m not saying the other place is necessarily better, just different, more of a slice of life of a typical Seattle neighborhood. It’s only a couple of blocks from Diesel (http://www.yelp.com/biz/diesel-seattle-seattle-2), a Seattle biker gay bar. Wife and I drove by it on a Friday afternoon two weeks ago and were surprised by the popularity. We’ve been to the Oola Distillery next door.
NOTE: We have Section 8 housing right near my work and it is not scary at all, just low income, not trying to imply anything other than it might not be many tech sector 9-5ers. Same goes for Diesel - no issues with gay bars, just implying a mostly locals spot compared to mostly tourists around the Space Needle.
Yes, the area definitely has more of a local residential neighborhood look than a tourist hangout. Seattle U student presence is not an issue: there is no greek life and rowdiness associated with frats. The Jesuits are a tame bunch. 
Google maps says it is 1.5 miles to walk to Amazon from here. I would not bother with taking the bus even if it rains!
Just drove though the area. The intersection of 13th and Marion is a very quitet residential area; the streets are just wide enough for 2 cars, and in the middle of it there is a flower bed with a birch tree (I think - I did not have the time to study it, lol). Seattle U admin offices are on the same street; less than a block away there are: Seattle U Law School building, a Subway, a Starbucks, a bunch of affordable food places and a deli. Looks nice! Oh, and for a glass of adult beverage, there is the Chieftain, the favorite watering hole of SU students anf professors, as I was told. And I took a couple of pics of the middle of the intersection.
“Yes, the area definitely has more of a local residential neighborhood look than a tourist hangout. Seattle U student presence is not an issue: there is no greek life and rowdiness associated with frats. The Jesuits are a tame bunch”
I dunno. I went to Seattle U, and those Jesuits are a bunch of wild and crazy guys. Or not. Though I thought it was kind of weird being taught a class on sex and marriage by a Jesuit priest. I honestly don’t remember a single word he said!
Lol, bus! The modern bunch is much tamer.
If they are tamer than the old guys…snooze…