—Union-Cherry-Jackson 2013 Community Development Project
Things are happening. The beating hearts of the Central Area along 23rd Avenue—at Union, Cherry and Jackson—are where people gather, shop, work, go to school, worship and live … and they are changing. This great neighborhood is full of history, character, shops, organizations, schools and most importantly a community of people from a diversity of backgrounds. It is time to come together to identify key priorities for these three community cores—to honor its history and shape its future.
Like many neighborhoods, changes generate fragmentation and disappointment as well as excitement and expectation. The community has worked together to create the Central Area Action Plan I (1992) and Action Plan II (1999) to manage growth and changes. These plans are living, breathing documents that reflect the vision, goals and character of the Central Area community.
This year as part of a City-community collaboration, the City of Seattle and the community will revisit relevant elements of Action Plan II with a focus on three specific locations: 23rd Avenue and E. Union; 23rd Avenue and E. Cherry; and 23rd Avenue S. and S. Jackson Street. Together we will develop a shared vision and action plan aligning the goals and values of the community and the City. As a result we hope to make this great neighborhood a healthier, more equitable and viable destination for all people who call the Central Area home.
Come Join Us
There will be several partnership opportunities where community stakeholders (people who live, work, learn, shop, worship, own property, play or otherwise call this area home) can get engaged.
Community Workshop & Resource Fair
Turn your passion into action! Joins us for this year’s first 23rd Avenue Action Plan Community Workshop and Resource Fair on Saturday, April 13, 2013, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Garfield Community Center, 2323 E. Cherry Street. Together we will identify new actions and a shared vision for health, equity and character of three important Central Area community cores: 23rd & Union, Cherry and Jackson.
Meeting Details
When:
Saturday, April 13
9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where:
Garfield CommunityCenter
2323 E. Cherry Street
Community Workshops
The City will host a series of workshops where participants will identify assets, opportunities and challenges. This input will lead to the creation of specific actions that address community priorities.
Community Resource Fairs
These three Central Area community cores have several active groups, individuals and organizations that work to preserve and enhance the health, culture and vitality of the neighborhood. Community resource fairs will be opportunities for them to showcase their work and services.
Action Teams
Phase II (see below) of the 23rd Avenue Action Plan project will include the formation of action teams who will work in unity to leverage resources and political will to address specific implementation items identified through input provided by the community.
The 23rd Avenue Advisory Core Team
The 23rd Avenue Advisory Core Team (ACT) will serve in a collaborative role, working directly with the City and the community to ensure that the vision and implementation actions reflect the voices and balanced interests of the community. In addition, the ACT will carry the 23rd Avenue Action Plan beyond this project—maintaining the shared vision, unity, and commitment needed to make the changes possible.
Our Commitment to Outreach and Engagement
As part of the City of Seattle’s commitment to inclusive outreach and engagement, various approaches will be used to improve accessibility and provide opportunities for various levels of community-wide stakeholder participation. This includes efforts to specifically reach historically-underrepresented community members whose opinions often go unrecognized in civic process. In partnership with the community, the ACT, and Public Outreach and Engagement Liaisons, the City will work to include voices of our youth, seniors, the African/Black American community, immigrants and refugees, people living with disabilities, working families, the Hispanic Community, and small business owners.
In February and March of this year, we convened focus groups including neighborhood associations, business owners, members of historically-underrepresented communities, and others to help us better understand the current condition of the neighborhood and how to best reach out to and engage the broader community.
In spring 2013 (Phase I), we will engage community stakeholders through a series of exercises to identify community shared vision, assets and opportunities.
In summer (Phase II), we will work with the community to identify community priorities based on the consolidated community input and build action teams who will focus on implementation of those priorities.
In fall 2013 (Phase III), the final draft of the 23rd Avenue Action Plan will be presented to the community for review. Implementation for the 23rd Avenue Action Plan will ideally take place over the next six years.
The Central Area – A Great Neighborhood
Great neighborhoods like the Central Area are comprised of a strong community, healthy people and a physical environment that supports the community and its people.
The Healthy Living Framework is a planning approach that connects people and places, increases equity and improves health through the development of achievable, community-based, outcomes and stronger participation.
For more information, visit our website, www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/unionjackson/Overview/, or contact:
Kerry Wade, Outreach Specialist
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
(206) 733-9091
kerry.wade@seattle.gov
Quanlin Hu, Senior Planner
Seattle Department of Planning & Development
(206) 386-1598
quanlin.hu@seattle.gov