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Newsletter - Building Community
Awards & Recognition
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Redevelopment at
Yesler still in the future
Plans will begin
taking shape in 2005 at the earliest
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SEATTLE—April 22, 2004—As construction continues on the new Community
Center at Yesler, questions about the redevelopment of Yesler Terrace
itself are being asked more frequently.
Built in 1939, this community was actually the very first public
housing development that was built by the Seattle Housing Authority.
Residents and planners alike have recognized that – sooner or
later – these aging structures will need to be replaced. The
question looming in the minds of many is, When?
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At this time, Seattle Housing has no concrete
plans for the redevelopment of Yesler Terrace. However,
planners are beginning to discuss it and to consider a general framework for redevelopment. Before serious
planning efforts begin, a broad vision for the new neighborhood will
be developed, with help from both residents and immediate
neighbors, and from the wider community. |
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View from Yesler Terrace |
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Seattle Housing expects that serious planning efforts will not
begin until mid-2005 at the earliest. And the planning process
itself will take two to three years, possibly longer. In the
meantime, the agency will continue to collect background information
in preparation for the planning effort.
When the planning process formally begins,
a number of important principles will guide the effort.
First, on a one-for-one basis, every unit
presently at Yesler Terrace will be replaced in Seattle.
Seattle Housing will continue their excellent track record in
this area. SHA has already purchased 21 replacements for the
Yesler units demolished to make room for the new community
center. A total of 857 units in the four HOPE VI
redevelopments have been replaced so far. This is already 38 percent of
the goal. |
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Second, SHA expects to build a portion of the
Yesler replacement units at the current site. However, until a
vision and plan are created, it is impossible to know how many
low-income units will be replaced on site.
One key variable in the planning will be
determining the number of total units that can be built on the site.
It is anticipated that the new Yesler Terrace will most likely be a
mixed-income community, with about a third of the total units being
low-income rentals. It may also have some mixed-use elements as
well, such as retail or office uses.
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Yesler Terrace overlooks the city
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Once the development process at Yesler begins,
it will most likely be accomplished over an extended period in small
stages – a block or two at a time over several years. This means
that many Yesler residents may be able to stay on site during the
process.
All residents who are required to move from
Yesler Terrace will receive relocation benefits and assistance
finding housing. At some point, several years from now, an
announcement will be made as the official beginning date for the
redevelopment project. From that date on, all Yesler Terrace
residents who are required to move will be eligible for these
benefits.
As part of the redevelopment planning process,
there will be an extensive outreach program to solicit ideas from
residents and neighbors. Seattle Housing will establish a formal
Yesler Advisory Committee, which will include residents and other
community stakeholders, as one avenue for community involvement.
There will be additional less formal efforts as well.
The Seattle Housing Authority Board of
Commissioners has made the redevelopment of Yesler a priority for
the next ten years. With the ongoing withdrawal of federal support
for low-income housing, the redevelopment of Yesler Terrace is a key
component in Seattle Housing's strategy to continue to serve
Seattle’s low-income residents.
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