The Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD) has proposed draft legislation related to the redevelopment of Yesler Terrace. The proposal includes a rezone, documents regulating environmental mitigation, changes to the street system, and funding agreements between the City and Seattle Housing Authority (SHA). The proposal builds from Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan and SHA’s redevelopment plan, and includes requirements for affordable housing, parks, community gardens, and street improvements.
In part, the proposal is intended to allow SHA to sell property for private development in order to generate funds for affordable housing and a variety of public benefits. The new zoning would allow:
- Up to 4,500 residential units, including 561 SHA replacement units and 1,240 new affordable housing units at a variety of income-restriction levels.
- A mix of midrise buildings up to 85 feet in height and a maximum of 13 high rises ranging from 160’ to 300’ in height.
- Up to 900,000 square feet of office, medical services and lodging adjacent to Harborview Medical Center.
- Small nonresidential uses throughout the site, with required retail and services at the intersection of Yesler and Broadway.
Learn about the City’s proposal and provide comment
Public Meeting
Yesler Community Center, 917 E. Yesler Way
Wednesday, March 7, 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Interpretation provided: Amharic, Tigrinya, Somali, Oromo, Vietnamese, Cantonese, and Spanish
Drop-in Talks with City Staff
Yesler Community Center, 917 E. Yesler Way
Saturday, March 10, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.;
Thursday, March 15, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Get more information or provide more detailed comments with a City planner. Interpretation available with advance notification (see contact information below).
Document Review
- Draft documents are available at: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/yeslerterrace;
- The DPD Public Resource Center, 700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000
(Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on MWF; 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. TTH)
- The Yesler Community Center, 917 E. Yesler Way.
DPD invites public comments through Monday, March 19. Following the comment period, DPD will send a revised proposal to City Council for further public hearings, review, and approval.
Background
For 70 years, Yesler Terrace has provided quality housing for extremely low-income people. Today, aging buildings and infrastructure make it increasingly difficult for SHA to maintain safe and reliable housing at this site. Since 2006, SHA has worked with residents and other stakeholders to shape a development plan that includes replacement housing, additional affordable housing, commercial uses, and public open space.
To move forward with this plan, SHA needs various approvals from the City. City departments including DPD, the Office of Housing, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Department of Transportation, Seattle Public Utilities, and the Office of Sustainability and Environment have worked to develop a departmental proposal that is consistent with City goals and policies, meets the needs of SHA, and will benefit current and future Yesler residents, as well as Seattle as a whole.
Contact
For more information or to provide comments, contact:
Dave LaClergue – (206) 733-9668, dave.laclergue@seattle.gov; or
Gary Johnson – (206) 615-0787, gary.johnson@seattle.gov
Website
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/yeslerterrace
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