SEATTLE—September 24, 2003—The NewHolly community and the Seattle Housing Authority shared in a symbolic wall-raising to commemorate the start of the third and final phase of redevelopment. The wall-raising brought together nearly 200 participants and featured guest speakers from the NewHolly community, including Dr. Anthony Chen of International Community Health Services, Diane Sugimura of City of Seattle's Department of Construction and Land Use, NewHolly resident Jerry Saltzman and Seattle Housing Authority officials.

The Emerald City Jazz Ensemble performed while participants observed construction and sampled local cuisines from Tony's Deli, Kusina Filipina, Willie's Taste of Soul, Fasica Ethiopian Restaurant and King Fried Chicken & Gyro. 

"This is one of the most important developments down here in South Seattle in years," commented Sugimura. "In many ways, Seattle Housing Authority projects are some of the most exciting in this city."

The final phase of NewHolly’s redevelopment addresses the 31 acres named Othello Place. Crews are building rental housing units and the Othello building, which will provide an International Community Health Services medical/dental clinic, 24 additional housing units, retail space and NewHolly management space. 

"We want to be a part of the community as it grows," commented Dr. Chen.

"I feel very proud to be behind this," Moro said.

The medical/dental clinic is a result of a partnership with International Community Health Services (ICHS). ICHS is a local nonprofit serving the health needs of all individuals, in a manner sensitive to the patient’s language and cultural needs. ICHS provides high quality health care with a focus on education, prevention and early intervention. It also serves as an educational and advocacy resource in the larger health care community, based on experience working with culturally diverse communities.

"It's not bricks and mortar that make a neighborhood, but the people," said Moro, who works in Seattle Housing Authority's Community and Support Services for NewHolly. "There's a social and community parallel process to buildings." 

NewHolly resident Jerry Saltzman agrees. "I think I can easily say I have never been happier that I am living here," Saltzman said.

"People here want to be connected and living at NewHolly gives me a sense of being at home," he added. "I have no doubt that this redevelopment project will be a success and the next 20 years here will be the most significant of my life."

Homes for sale in Othello Place will be built by private home builders; property is now listed through CB Richard Ellis. The goals of the NewHolly homes for sale program are to allow for the widest diversity of income, to generate revenue for comprehensive site redevelopment, and to reach a target percentage of affordable homes for sale in the community.

Approximately $275 million has been invested in creating the 118-acre NewHolly community, which will provide nearly 1,400 units of housing to the once dilapidated housing in this area. The entire NewHolly redevelopment will be completed after Phase III concludes in 2006. For more information on the NewHolly redevelopment, click here.