Attending the All-America City Award: A Transformative Experience by Linda Li, Community Liaison Attending the All-America City Award was nothing short of inspiring. Cities from all across the country had gathered—big, small, rural, urban. We heard amazing stories about resilience, equity, innovation, and community building—it became immediately clear that this… [ Keep reading ]
Nestled between the Ballard Locks and the Salmon Bay (railroad) Bridge, the Salmon Bay Natural Area is a hidden neighborhood gem that serves an important purpose. Together with the street end and adjacent publicly owned land, the Salmon Bay Natural Area protects over 680 linear feet of largely undeveloped estuarine… [ Keep reading ]
“It’s about bringing in a community, having that experience that you’re not going to get with streaming, you’re only going to get with a room full of people.” After more than 50 years of catering to students, film buffs, and neighbors looking for a space to gather and belong, Seattle’s… [ Keep reading ]
“Preserving these spaces isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about ensuring future generations know who came before them, the battles fought, and the resilience that built this city. Seattle thrives when it honors its past while building its future.” The landscape of the Central Area has changed drastically over the past 50… [ Keep reading ]
The Pioneer Square Pergola by Michelle M. Our city is full of unique places that play a significant role in shaping our communities and our individual and collective identities. As Seattle continues to grow and change, we asked the community to share some of the local places that hold compelling… [ Keep reading ]
Upon receiving the pitch about “Handrails of Seattle” by Bob Hayman for our Disability Activism story series, it dawned on us that while accessibility sometimes gets unfairly boiled down to curb ramps and captions, these more foundational elements are not just useful, but sometimes elegant, too. Bob’s reflections remind us… [ Keep reading ]
As part of our “Stories in Place” series, the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods collaborated with community member Tracey Thompson to celebrate a group of women known as the High Point Mommas. Tracey, whose mother was part of the Mommas, grew up in High Point in the 1960s and 1970s. She… [ Keep reading ]
The Hill by Amber Flame As part of our Stories in Place series, local artist, writer, activist, and educator Amber Flame reminisces about sunny days on “the hill” next to Spectrum Dance Theater on Lake Washington with her friend and mentor, Terry Koyano. After Terry’s death in 2015, Amber developed… [ Keep reading ]
East Kong Yick By Elana Lim Twin four-story brick buildings, East and West Kong Yick, were opened as the center of a new Chinatown in 1910.[i] Back then, the 1889 Washington State Constitution forbade “aliens” to own property,[ii] but over 170 Chinese pioneering men found a way to work within… [ Keep reading ]
Grandpa’s Room by Betty Lau Grandpa moved out; our extended family having become even more extended. Mom, dad, two younger siblings and I, Aunty Alice Louie with her three, and Dad’s 14-year-old cousin Ken Lowe, all lived above our machine laundry in an 1892 building in the remnants of the… [ Keep reading ]
