SEATTLE — April 14, 2011 — Today the Seattle Housing Authority, together with the City of Seattle Human Services Department, issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Yesler Terrace redevelopment. This marks the conclusion of a comprehensive year-long environmental review carried out by a team of Seattle Housing staff, consultant engineers, scientists, designers and others. The Final EIS takes into account feedback provided by more than 50 different members of the public, government agencies and other stakeholders during the Draft EIS public comment period. You can access the Final EIS, the official Notice of Availability and related documents online at SeattleHousing.org.
Findings from the Final EIS confirm that redevelopment, within the scope of the Preferred Alternative—5,000 housing units; 900,000 square feet of office space; 88,000 square feet of retail space; 15.9 acres of public and semi-private open space; 65,000 square feet of neighborhood services; and 5,100 parking spaces—is feasible and any impacts can be mitigated.
"This is an exciting moment in time for everyone involved in the redevelopment project," said Anne Fiske Zuniga, Yesler Terrace project manager. "After working closely with the Citizens Review Committee, the City of Seattle, community organizations and others over the past four years on a vision for Yesler Terrace, the Final EIS puts us on the right track toward closer realization of this collective vision. It is based solidly on the principles adopted by the Citizens Review Committee – social equity, economic opportunity, environmental stewardship and sustainability and one-for-one replacement housing."
Findings from the Final EIS will serve to guide the Yesler Terrace Development Plan, which will include topics pertinent to the project, residents and other stakeholders. These topics include affordable housing and other uses on site, phasing considerations, relocation approach and right to return, community participation plan, project mitigations, sustainable practices, social infrastructure and funding partnership goals.
The Development Plan will be considered by the Seattle Housing Board of Commissioners at its monthly meeting on May 17, 2011. Planners hope to see the 20-year redevelopment project break ground in Fall 2013.