You are here

Seattle Housing Authority communities rally to win City support for neighborhood improvements

09.11.2018

Seattle Housing Authority communities rally to win City support for neighborhood improvements

SEATTLE— September 11, 2018—Three Seattle Housing Authority communities won enough popular votes in the City of Seattle’s Your Voice, Your Choice: Parks & Streets program to receive funding for local improvement projects. A particularly enthusiastic SHA Community Builder at Rainier Vista spearheaded a campaign that generated enough votes to make Rainier Vista one of the top three vote getters in the city, as well as the top vote getter for youth votes and Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese votes. The program is a participatory budgeting initiative in which Seattle residents democratically decide how to spend a portion of the City's budget on small-scale park and street improvements. The winning projects SHA residents promoted were selected from more than 1,000 ideas submitted by, and voted by, community members across Seattle.

“The winning campaigns for street and park improvements in each of these three communities serve as a great example of the important role SHA Community Builders play in connecting community members to each other and to resources that help them improve their lives.”

Rainier Vista was awarded $90,000 to fund development of design drawings that residents hope will lead to construction of a permanent street park, where there is a temporary one. Two years ago, community groups concerned about traffic safety worked through the Seattle Department of Transportation’s Pavement to Parks program to install the temporary park to block off a segment of a troublesome road. The park, which features play hills, a teen-designed and painted street mural, small tables and chairs, and planters is considered a big success from a safety standpoint and as a community gathering space.

NewHolly will also receive $90,000. The money will fund design of a marked walkway on 33rd Avenue South between Graham and Holly Drive South, providing safer conditions for pedestrians.

The Lake City grant is $100,000 and will support street crossing improvements and walking improvements on 33rd Ave NE, between NE 125th Street and NE 130th Street. The work will include the installation of curb ramps to improve accessibility for disabled persons, a marked and signed crosswalk and a walkway. The project will improve access for residents at SHA’s Lake City Court and Lake City House as well as others living in or visiting the neighborhood. 

“The Seattle Housing Authority appreciates support from the City to improve the physical environment for Seattle residents living in SHA communities,” said SHA Executive Director Andrew Lofton. “The winning campaigns for street and park improvements in each of these three communities serve as a great example of the important role SHA Community Builders play in connecting community members to each other and to resources that help them improve their lives.”

Media Contact:
Kerry Coughlin
Director of Communications, Seattle Housing Authority
206.615.3506 or kerry.coughlin@seattlehousing.org