Front Porch - Seattle Department of Neighborhoods news and events

Mayor Durkan seeks member for the Landmarks Preservation Board’s Real Estate position

04/22/2019 by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

Pike Place Market Corner Market Building with a flower stand and people walking in the sun

SEATTLE (April 22, 2019) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan is seeking a new member to serve on the Landmarks Preservation Board in the Real Estate position. The 12-member Landmarks Preservation Board makes recommendations to Seattle City Council for landmark designation and reviews all proposed physical alterations to designated features of landmark properties.

The Board is composed of two architects; two historians; one structural engineer; one representative each from the fields of urban planning, real estate, and finance; a Get Engaged member (a position for ages 18-29); and three members at-large. All appointments are made by the Mayor and subject to City Council confirmation.

Board meetings are held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 3:30 p.m. In general, board members must commit approximately 10 hours per month to Landmarks Board business. The position is a 3-year term. Interested applicants must be Seattle residents, and Board members serve without compensation.

If interested in being considered, send a letter of interest and resume by Monday, May 27.

Please email your letter and resume to: Erin.Doherty@seattle.gov

(reference the Landmarks Preservation Board in the subject line)

Electronic submissions are preferred, if possible. To submit a paper copy, please address: Erin Doherty, Landmarks Preservation Board Coordinator, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, PO Box 94649, Seattle, WA 98124-4649. For more information, contact Erin Doherty at (206) 684-0380.

The City of Seattle is committed to promoting diversity in the city’s boards and commissions. Women, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, young persons, senior citizens, persons of color, and immigrants are encouraged to apply.

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Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Historic Preservation Program is responsible for the designation and protection of more than 400 historic structures, sites, objects, and vessels, along with eight historic districts located throughout the city.

Final schedule announced for Your Voice, Your Choice project development meetings

04/16/2019 by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

Your Voice, Your Choice: Parks and Streets project development meetings are now finalized. A full meeting schedule is posted below. At these meetings, participants will be responsible for evaluating the project ideas that are submitted and give each project numerical ratings.

Participation is open to all who live, work, go to school, receive services, volunteer, or have a connection to the City of Seattle. If you are interested in participating in these meetings, view the full schedule below.

If you cannot attend a meeting, but would like to evaluate projects, there will be an opportunity to do so online. Stay tuned for details!

Project Development Meetings

District 1

May 13, 5:30 – 7:30pm
Delridge Community Center

May 28, 5:30 – 7:3 0 pm
South Park Community Center

District 2

May 8, 5:30 – 7:30pm
Smart Buildings Center

May 16, 5:30 – 7:30pm
Rainier Beach Branch Library

District 3

May 30, 5:30 – 7:30pm
Douglas-Truth Branch Library

District 4

May 9, 5:30 – 7:30pm
Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center

District 5

May 6, 5:30 – 7:30pm
Lake City Branch Library

May 30, 5:30 – 7:30pm
Broadview Branch Library

District 6

May 20, 5:30 – 7:30pm
Ballard Branch Library

District 7

May 22, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Queen Anne Community Center

Learn more about the Your Voice, Your Choice Project Development phase on our website.

If you have questions, please contact Amy Nguyen at Amy.Nguyen@seattle.gov.

Applications for the Regional Census Fund (RCF) for Seattle and King County community groups are now open

04/16/2019 by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

Mayor Jenny Durkan, Seattle Foundation CEO Tony Mestres, and King County Executive Dow Constantine sign paperwork creating the Regional Census Fund

The Regional Census Fund is a $1 million fund to help community organizations prepare for the 2020 Census. This is the first-ever partnership between the City of Seattle, King County, and Seattle Foundation to fund Census outreach.

The application for the Regional Census Fund is now live, and all King County-based 501(c)3 organizations planning to conduct Census outreach are encouraged to apply. Funds will be available in summer 2019, and will be administered by Seattle Foundation.

Seattle’s community-based organizations are trusted messengers, and the Regional Census Fund will help them build community capacity to do the important work of engaging with community members, building trust, and preparing for the 2020 Census.

There’s a lot at stake for Seattle in the 2020 Census, because the federal government uses Census data to help decide where taxpayer money should go. The more accurate the Census count is in our community, the more likely our community will receive the resources that we need, like funding for Head Start, affordable housing development, and Medicare and Medicaid.

Because the Census happens only once every 10 years, the consequences of having inaccurate data are not just statistical. People’s lives could be significantly impacted for an entire decade. That’s why we’re working hard so you can know your rights and be counted.

To learn more about the Regional Census Fund and to apply, click here https://seattlefoundation.smapply.org/prog/2020_census/.

For more information about the work the City of Seattle’s is doing in partnership with our trusted community leaders, visit www.seattlecensus.org.

Landmarks Preservation Board to consider the nomination of the Conover House

04/15/2019 by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

Seattle’s Landmarks Preservation Board will consider the nomination of the Conover House (1620 16^th Avenue) on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, May 15 (rather than March 6 as originally scheduled). The meeting will be held at 3:30 p.m. in Seattle City Hall (600 4th Avenue, Floor L2) in the Boards & Commissions Room L2-80.

The public is invited to attend the meeting and make comments regarding the nomination. Written comments are also accepted and should be received by the Landmarks Preservation Board at the following mailing address by 3:00 p.m. on May 14:

Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
PO Box 94649
Seattle, WA 98124-4649

A copy of the Landmark Nominations will be available for public review at the Capitol Hill Branch Library, 425 Harvard Avenue E, and the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods office in Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Avenue, 4th Floor (206-684-0228). The nomination is also posted on the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods website under the heading of “Current Nominations.” A landmark nomination provides a physical description of the building, object, or site, and information on its history, current and historic photos, site plans, maps, drawings, and more. To learn about the nomination and designation process, visit our webpage.

Landmarks Preservation Board to consider the nomination of the West Woodland Elementary School

04/15/2019 by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

exterior of West Woodland Elementary School

Seattle’s Landmarks Preservation Board will consider the nomination of the West Woodland Elementary School (5601 4th Avenue NW) on Wednesday, May 1 at 3:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Seattle City Hall (600 4th Avenue, Floor L2) in the Boards & Commissions Room L2-80.

The public is invited to attend the meeting and make comments regarding the nominations. Written comments are also accepted and should be received by the Landmarks Preservation Board at the following mailing address by 3:00 p.m. on April 30:

Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
PO Box 94649
Seattle, WA 98124-4649

A copy of the Landmark Nomination will be available for public review at the Ballard Branch Library, 5614 22nd Avenue NW, after April 18, and the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods office in Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Avenue, 4th Floor (206-684-0228). The nomination is also posted on the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods website under the heading of “Current Nom i nations.” A landmark nomination provides a physical description of the building, object, or site, and information on its history, current and historic photos, site plans, maps, drawings, and more. To learn about the nomination and designation process, visit our webpage.

Public meeting scheduled to discuss zoning modification at Roosevelt High School

04/12/2019 by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

The public is invited to discuss the development plans for Roosevelt High School located at 1410 NE 66th St. The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 2, at 6 p.m. in the school library. The Seattle School District is requesting a modification (also known as a “departure”) from a City zoning regulation for reduced on-site parking in order to retain the six existing classroom portables.

The Seattle School District will make a presentation on the modification before the Roosevelt High School Development Standards Departure Advisory Committee, a group composed of neighbors and Seattle School District and City representatives. After the presentation, the public is invited to provide comments. Following public comments, the committee will deliberate and consider the District’s request. Additional meetings may be held, if needed.

If community members cannot attend the meeting, written comments can be submitted by Tuesday, April 30 to:

Maureen Sheehan
E-mail: Maureen.Sheehan@seattle.gov
Mailing Address: Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
P.O. Box 94649
Seattle, WA 98124-4649

For additional information or to request an interpreter (by April 25) for the meeting, contact Maureen Sheehan, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, at 206-684-0302.

The Major Institutions and Schools Program provides a way for neighbors of Seattle’s hospitals, universities, and colleges to be directly involved in the development plans for those institutions to ensure neighborhood concerns are considered when those plans are made. It is a program of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

Seattle Renters’ Commission urges City of Seattle to take action on two issues affecting renters

04/12/2019 by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

The Seattle Renters’ Commission has recently issued statements urging the City of Seattle to act on two issues affecting renters:

In line with their 2015 resolution, Seattle City Council and Mayor Durkan are urged to affirm their support of a repeal of the Statewide rent control ban; and once state ban is lifted, pass an ordinance to implement rent control in Seattle.
Seattle City Council should amend existing ordinance SMC 7.24.030 to provide renters with 180-day notice for any rent increase.

Excerpts on rent control:

“The unpredictability and rate of rent increases in the past decade has caused a massive burden on renters which has led to both homelessness and displacement of Seattleites. Meanwhile, Washington is the only remaining state or province on the west coast to have no form of rent control. With the passage of a rent control law, the City Council and Mayor can provide meaningful support to struggling communities in Seattle and Washington State.

Seattle renters are facing a crisis and our City Council and Mayor must act accordingly. If we do nothing, the cost of rent will continue to skyrocket while more and more Seattleites will be forced onto the streets or out of the region entirely. By passing robust rent control legislation now, you will not only help increase pressure on State Legislators to lift the ban, you will also avoid any delay in implementing rent control once the ban is lifted protecting more renters.”

Excerpts on 180-day notice for rent increase:

“The unpredictability and rate of rent increases in the past decade has caused a massive burden on renters which has led to both homelessness and displacement of Seattleites. By providing renters with 180 days, the City will give tenants adequate time to make financial adjustments, save money, or find new housing when faced with a rent increase.

Seattle has rapidly become one of the most expensive cities to live in over the last decade and as a result, rent increases have become a key driver in economic evictions, displacement among women, families, poor communities, and people of color. Meanwhile, Seattle has not addressed rent increase notices since 1999…
Currently, forty-six percent of Seattle renters are rent burdened and a worker earning minimum wage at $15 per hour at 40 hours per week will spend 73 percent of their earnings on an average Seattle rent of $1,770 per month.”

Read the full statements from the Seattle Renter’s Commission on our website under “Statements from the Commission.”

The Seattle Renters’ Commission (SRC) provides information, advice, and counsel to the Mayor, Seattle City Council, and departments concerning issues and policies affecting renters. Learn more at seattle.gov/neighborhoods/seattle-renters-commission. The SRC is staffed by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

P-Patch community garden plots available in select neighborhoods

04/11/2019 by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

Would you like to have a plot in one of Seattle’s fabulous P-Patch community gardens? Do you want to grow fresh organic produce for yourself and your family? Would you like to learn great gardening techniques from your gardening neighbors? If so, we have P-Patch plots available for a small fee in these select neighborhoods and gardens:

West and South Seattle
• Highland Park: Longfellow Creek P-Patch (25th Ave SW and SW Thistle)
• NewHolly: NewHolly 29 P-Patch, 29th Ave S & S Brighton St
• NewHolly: NewHolly Youth & Family P-Patch (32nd Ave S & S Brighton St)
• High Point: MacArthur Park, 2726 MacArthur Lane

North Seattle
• Jackson Park: Jackson Park P-Patch (13048 10th Ave NE)
• Haller Lake: Haller Lake P-Patch, 13045 1st Ave NE
• Pinehurst: Pinehurst P-Patch, 11525 12th Ave NE
• Maple Leaf: Maple Leaf P-Patch, 5th Ave NE & NE 103rd

To get on the Interest List for one of these gardens (or any garden), sign up here or call 206.684.0264 and press 1.

Learn more about P-Patch Community Gardening Program on our website and become a part of the largest municipally-managed community gardening program west of New York.

Neighborhood Matching Fund report shares highlights from 2018

04/11/2019 by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

Drummers playing lively music and a woman dancing and smiling

MÁS Movimiento Afrolatino Seattle’s “Pregones de Mi Tierra” (photo by Leo Carmona)

As Neighborhood Matching Fund starts another cycle of offering community grants, we are reflecting on the highlights from 2018. Seattle communities are bursting with good ideas and putting in the hard work to make those dreams a reality with support from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. You don’t have to be a seasoned community organizer to receive grant money. In fact, the Neighborhood Matching Fund is intentional about supporting new applicants and the 2018 awardee list shows that 48% of grant recipients were first-time applicants. The projects chosen during the last year also reflect the program’s emphasis on putting race and equity at the center of all we do. Read the report to see summary statistics, stories, and photos highlighting some of the 2018 Small Sparks and Community Partnership Fund Projects.

Interested in applying for funding for your community idea? Neighborhood Matching Fund Workshops are coming up. Click here to find out dates and more information.

Learn about Seattle’s Neighborhood Matching Fund at upcoming workshops

04/05/2019 by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

NMF Small Sparks recipient: Equinox Rising (Photo: Naomi Ishisaka)

Do you have a community project idea, but need some support to help make it happen?

The Neighborhood Matching Fund, a program of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, invites you to any of our three workshops where you’ll learn how to get funding for your project. Each workshop will provide an overview of the Neighborhood Matching Fund, the qualities of a strong application, and the review process. Community and neighborhood groups interested in the fund are invited to attend.

WORKSHOPS

All workshops will occur on Saturdays from 10 – 11:30 a.m. The dates and locations are as follows:

Saturday, April 27: Loyal Heights Community Center, 2101 NW 77^th St
Saturday, May 4: Filipino Community Center, 5740 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S
Saturday, May 1: Youngstown Community Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW

To attend one of these workshops, RSVP to surveymonkey.com/r/nmf-summer2019 or contact us at 206-733-9916 or NMFund@seattle.gov.

FUNDS

The Neighborhood Matching Fund program has two funds:

The Community Partnership Fund provides funding up to $25,000 with three opportunities to apply a year. The deadline for the next round is June 3.
The Small Sparks Fund provides funding up to $5,000 per project, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis through October 31.

More than 5,000 projects have occurred across the city since this program began in 1988. To learn more about the Neighborhood Matching Fund and its support to community-initiated projects, visit our website.

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