SEATTLE—June 22, 2007—Since it first began meeting in October 2006, the Yesler Terrace Citizen Review Committee has immersed itself in both the practical and the philosophical issues around the possible redevelopment of Yesler Terrace.
Chaired by former Seattle Mayor Norman B. Rice, the committee is made up of community stakeholders, including residents, who are invested in the future of Yesler Terrace. All of the citizens’ committee meetings are open to the public. Interpreters are present at all meetings to make the meetings accessible to people who are not proficient in English.
The committee's monthly meetings have included a mix of engagement with Yesler Terrace residents and committee discussion of principles to guide redevelopment. Initial discussion topics included social equity, economic opportunity and environmental stewardship. Now the committee is moving on to discuss issues relating to the specific planning framework for the new community.
Residents have expressed concern about whether or not they would be able to return to a new community. Both members of the committee and Seattle Housing Authority directors have assured residents that all who remain public-housing eligible will be able to return. According to Judith Kilgore, "We hope to be able to build new housing in stages, so that people can stay in the neighborhood if that is what they want."
In connection with this issue, the concept of replacement housing has also been discussed at length. SHA expects to replace any low-income housing lost to development. Planners are beginning to explore the possibility of expanding the boundaries of the Yesler Terrace project so that housing might be replaced in a slightly larger area, within a quarter of a mile, for example. Questions of how dense the site should be and what other uses should be promoted for the site are also being considered.
In addition to the monthly meetings of the Citizen Review Committee, SHA staff and Chair Norman Rice have been meeting with the residents at the site on a regular basis, in meetings where interpretation into Yesler residents' languages is available.