>> GOOD MORNING.
FEBRUARY 26, 2020 MEETING OF
THE LAND USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
WILL COME TO ORDER.
I AM THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE, JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE
ARE ON THE TRADITIONAL LAND THE
FIRST PEOPLE OF SEATTLE, PAST
AND PRESENT AND HONOR WITH
GRATITUDE THE LAND ITSELF.
AND HONOR THE TRIBES AND PEOPLE
OF THE TRIBES.
WE HAVE FIVE ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA.
DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON
REAPPOINTMENT OF NATHAN
TORGELSON.
TWO APPOINTMENTS TO THE
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION BOARD
WARD.
AND TWO ORDINANCES. THE NEXT
REGULARLY SCHEDULED LAND-USE
THE NEIGHBORHOODS MEETING IS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 STARTING AT
9:30 AM HERE IN COUNCIL
CHAMBERS.
BEFORE WE BEGIN IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION IT IS
ADOPTED.
COMMENT ONLY ON THE ITEMS THAT
APPEAR ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
WE HAVE 20 MINUTES FOR TODAY'S
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM
EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY
CHAMBERS TODAY.
FIRST UP WE HAVE STEVE, WE WILL
STICK WITH TWO MINUTES.
I SEE A FEW PEOPLE I HAVE
SPOKEN TO ABOUT THIS, I AM
BEING VERY DILIGENT ABOUT HOW I
RUN PUBLIC COMMENT.
IT IS NOT REFLECTIVE OF ANY
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR ANYONE
IN CHAMBERS.
IT IS JUST HOW I WILL BE
RUNNING PUBLIC COMMENT HERE AND
THROUGHOUT MY TENURE.
WE HAVE STEVE, TIM, MING.
FIRST UP, STEVE.
>> MY NAME IS STEVE, I AM
SPEAKING AS CHAIR OF FRIENDS OF
SEATTLE'S URBAN FOREST.
AM SPEAKING REGARDING
APPOINTMENT OF NATHAN
TORGELSON.
I THINK HE HAS SHOWN HE IS A
DEDICATED HARD-WORKING GUY.
I'M GOING TO BE URGING THAT YOU
NEED TO HELP HIM IN TERMS OF
UPDATING THE TREE ORDINANCE TO
GIVE HIM AUTHORITY TO DO THINGS
THAT NEED TO BE DONE BECAUSE
THERE ARE LAPSES IN THAT
ORDINANCE.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT ALSO
A DISCUSSION WITH HIM IN TERMS
OF DEALING WITH THE CURRENT
ORDINANCE THAT IT SAYS UNDER
THE ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES,
THE DIRECTOR SHALL HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER TO
ISSUE PERMITS, IMPOSE
CONDITIONS AND ESTABLISH
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES,
GUIDELINES AND CONDUCT
INSPECTIONS NECESSARY TO CARRY
OUT THE PURPOSES OF THIS
CHAPTER.
UNDER THAT I WILL SAY THAT
AMONG OTHER THINGS HE HAS THE
ABILITY RIGHT NOW TO REQUIRE
THAT ARBORISTS WORKING IN THE
CITY ARE LICENSED BY SDOT.
THERE IS NO NEED TO COME BACK
TO THE COUNCIL IN TERMS OF AN
ORDINANCE FOR THAT.
IN TERMS OF THE ORDINANCE
ITSELF I WOULD NOTE THAT UNDER
THE SMC 2511 DURING DEVELOPMENT
EXCEPTIONAL TREES BEING
DETECTED.
THIS IS A LOOPHOLE.
THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE PEOPLE
THINK DON'T CLEAR CUT SEATTLE
BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROTECTION
BROTHER TREES DURING
DEVELOPMENT.
BASICALLY DEVELOPERS CAN REMOVE
ANY NON-EXCEPTIONAL TREE IN THE
LOT AND THEY DO THAT.
THE TREE REQUIREMENTS COMING
UNDER LANDSCAPING HAVE THIS
MINIMAL REQUIREMENT SAYING THAT
SINGLE-FAMILY 5070 200-9600
SQUARE FEET, ALL IT NEEDS IS A
MINIMUM NUMBER OF BREACHES OF
TREE ON LOTS 3000 SQUARE FEET
OR LARGER.
AT LEAST 2 CALIPER INCHES PER
1000 SQUARE FEET PICK THAT
MEANS YOU CAN REMOVE A HUGE
NUMBER OF TREES, PUT BACK A
COUPLE.
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT IS TIM.
AND THEN MEGAN AND THEN GEORGE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM TIM WITH HOUSING.
>> THE TOWER MICROPHONE ALSO
WORKS.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM WITH PLYMOUTH HOUSING.
A NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES
HOUSING FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE 14 BUILDINGS IN AND
AROUND DOWNTOWN.
I AM HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT
OF NATHAN TORGELSON'S
REAPPOINTMENT.
WE ARE TRYING TO TACKLE THIS
HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM IN OUR
CITY AND REGION BY GROWING
FASTER THAN WE EVER HAVE BEFORE
WITH FIVE NEW BUILDINGS, 500
UNITS IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
COULD NOT DO THAT WITHOUT
NATHAN TORGELSON . NATHAN AND
HIS TEAM ARE EFFICIENT,
PROFESSIONAL, THEY ARE ALWAYS
LOOKING TO FIND NEW WAYS TO
SUPPORT AFFORDABLE AND HOMELESS
HOUSING.
AND I THINK HE DOES A REALLY
GOOD JOB OF SELECTING THE
CITY'S PRIORITIES FOR ENDING
HOMELESSNESS AND SOLVING OUR
HOUSING CRUNCH.
I HAVE EXAMPLES.
ONE EXAMPLE IS THE EFFORTS
ROUND 2016 AND 2017 STREAMLINED
PERMITTING FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROVIDERS.
NATHAN IS CRITICAL TO THAT
PROCESS.
AND HE HAS MADE SURE HE AND HIS
TEAM ARE RESPONSIVE TO WHEN
THAT DOESN'T WORK.
AND PROVIDING PERMITS ON TIME
AND ON SCHEDULE SO WE CAN
PROVIDE HOUSING AS FAST AS
POSSIBLE FOR THOSE MOST NEEDY
IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IN FACT, I THINK NATHAN IS AN
EXAMPLE TO MANY OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS, SDOT, CITY LIGHT,
AND OTHERS THAT COULD DO MORE
IN STREAMLINING THE EFFICIENCY
FOR WHEN WE BRING THIS PROJECTS
ON.
I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS
ABOUT HIM.
ONE SPECIFIC EXAMPLE IS A
RECENT PROJECT, CITY OWNED THE
PLYMOUTH IS DEVELOPING RIGHT
ACROSS FROM THE SEATTLE CENTER.
WE GOT AIR PERMITS IN RECORD
TIME, LESS THAN 11 MONTHS START
TO FINISH.
AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT.
SO THANK YOU AND URGE YOUR
SUPPORT FOR HIS REAPPOINTMENT.
>> MEGAN, GEORGE AND THEN
ROBERT.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR MAJOR
SDCI REFORM.
TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC
ACCOUNTABILITY REVIEW SYSTEM IS
AT AN ALL-TIME LOW.
THE PUBLIC IS BEING CUT OUT OF
THE PROCESS.
EARLY DESIGN OUTREACH IS ABOUT
TO BE CHECKED BY DEVELOPERS AND
HAS NOT BEEN RESULTED IN
COOPERATION WITH THE COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS.
DIRECTOR NATHAN TORGELSON
RECEIVE THAT FEEDBACK LAST MAY
AND SAID HE WOULD REPORT BACK.
I LIKE AND WITH THE FINDINGS
WERE FOR THAT.
MEANWHILE OTHELLO WHICH WE
KNOW IS BEING WORKED ON
CONTINUES TO BE HARD FOR ALL
USERS, NOT JUST THE PUBLIC.
STAFF HAS FAILED TO POST KEY
PROJECT DOCUMENTS TO THE PORTAL
UNTIL MONTHS AFTER SUBMISSIONS
LEAVING THE PUBLIC IN THE DARK
ABOUT THE STATUS AND UNABLE TO
MAKE TIMELY COMMENTS THAT WOULD
RESULT IN POSITIVE CHANGES TO
THE COMMUNITY.
FINALLY AT A TIME WERE SEATTLE
STREETS ARE CRUSHED BY
CONGESTION, AND OFFSTREET
PARKING IS BEING CONVERTED TO
BUS AND BIKE LANES, SDCI
ANNOUNCED A DIRECTORS ROLE
WOULD BE IN PLACE BY THE END OF
2019 REQUIRING THAT HUGE MIXED-
USE TOWERS OF THE THOUSAND
PEOPLE AND MORE WOULD REQUIRE A
LOADING BIRTH AND TRASH THE
WOODEN BLOCK ALLEYS.
THEY WERE REPLACED AND THEN IT
WAS TAKEN AWAY.
THERE HAS BEEN NO NEW TIMELINE
AND WHEN THAT WILL BE ENACTED
IF AT ALL.
I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST NATHAN
TORGELSON.
HE IS A FINE MAN AND WORKING
HARD.
BUT WHEN QUESTIONED ON THESE
MATTERS HE PROVIDES LITTLE
RESPONSE AND NO ACTION.
HAVE READ HIS ANSWERS TO
COUNCIL QUESTIONS AND THEY
DON'T ADDRESS ANY OF THE
ISSUES I HAVE RAISED HERE.
MY QUESTION IS, HOW WILL
ANYTHING CHANGE UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP GOING FORWARD?
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT IS GEORGE, ROBERT, AND
THEN ALICIA.
GOOD MORNING GEORGE.
>> MY NAME IS GEORGE, A
DOWNTOWN RESIDENT.
AS YOU CONSIDER NATHAN
TORGELSON'S REAPPOINTMENT I
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WHAT I HAVE
LEARNED IN THE LAST 2.5 YEARS
OF REVIEWING AROUND 70 MAJOR
APPLICATIONS AND READING OVER
1000 SDCI STAFF EMAIL.
AFTER MY REVIEW I CAN SAY THAT
NATHAN TORGELSON'S DESCRIPTION
OF DEPARTMENT PROBLEMS
INCLUDING PERMITTING DELAYS,
STAFF SHORTAGES, STRESS AND
TURNOVER, DEVELOPER PRESSURE,
DOCUMENT UPLOAD ERRORS, THE
OTHELLO DEBACLE, INCOMPLETE
CORRECTION NOTICES, ETC., ARE
MOSTLY COVERED IN THE
QUESTIONNAIRE ANSWERS.
THESE PROBLEMS HAVE LED TO A
DYSFUNCTION WORK ENVIRONMENT
THAT IS PERFECTLY ILLUSTRATED
BY AN ESPECIALLY TROUBLING
EMAIL FROM A LAND-USE PLANNING
SUPERVISOR WHO SAID "THERE
APPEARS TO BE INCONSISTENCY
BETWEEN WHAT THE CODES REQUIRE
AND WHAT ZONING REVIEWERS ARE
SEATTLE ASKED TO DO BY SOME
SUPERVISORS.
PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AND MAKE
THEM WORK NOT JUST FOR THE
DEVELOPERS BUT THE RESIDENCE.
IN HIS ANSWER TO QUESTION
NUMBER 1 WHERE HE SAYS HIS ROLE
IS TO KEEP OUR DEPARTMENT
FUNCTIONING AT A HIGH LEVEL
WHILE STAYING TRUE TO OUR
PURPOSE STATEMENT IN HELPING
PEOPLE BUILD A SAFE LITTLE AND
INCLUSIVE SEATTLE, FOR RESIDENTS
OF DOWNTOWN, SDCI HAS NOT BEEN
FUNCTIONING AT A HIGH LEVEL FOR
YEARS.
UNFORTUNATELY UNDER MR. NATHAN
TORGELSON'S WATCH RESIDENTS
THAT TRY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER
HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION
THAT MR. NATHAN TORGELSON'S
MAIN JOB IS TO KEEP THE
DEVELOPERS HAPPY.
PLEASE LISTEN TO SEATTLE'S
RESIDENCE.
THEY PROVIDE VALUABLE INPUT AND
ARE VERY FRUSTRATED WHEN IT'S
DISMISSED.
THANK YOU.
>> ROBERT AND THEN ALICIA.
>>
>> I AM A MEMBER OF SAVE THE
MARKET ENTRANCE.
88,000 FOLLOWERS.
THIS ORGANIZATION HAS
RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF MR. NATHAN
TORGELSON IS DIRECTOR OF SDCI.
MY ORGANIZATION HAS COME TO
BELIEVE THAT DURING HIS TENURE
THE PUBLIC PROCESS HAS BEEN
COVERED BY A DESIGN REVIEW MADE
UP OF ONLY THOSE WAS SO
INVESTED INTEREST.
'S FAILURE TO MANAGE STAFF
SHORTAGES, GIVING DEVELOPERS
WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BLANK CHECK
IN THE PERMIT PROCESS.
ALSO, FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AND
UPDATE THE MANY CODES WRITTEN
PROCEDURES AND DIRECTORS RULES.
HE ALSO HAS IGNORED, WHICH IS
TROUBLING, UW'S TRAFFIC LAB AND
SDOT ISSUES OF DELIVERING AND
LOADING STUDIES.
ONE BIG, BIG PROBLEM WE HAVE
IS, WE HAVE STUFF WE HAVE TO
STOP PUTTING THE CART BEFORE
THE HORSE.
MEANING, CONCERNS ARE ON THE
TABLE BEFORE DESIGN REVIEW IS A
DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> UP NEXT IS ALICIA, GORDON
AND THEN COLIN.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS ALICIA.
I AM HERE TO REPRESENT THE
MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF
SNOHOMISH COUNTY.
WE REPRESENT NEARLY 300
MEMBERS.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF MR. NATHAN
TORGELSON.
HE MAY NOT WANT OUR SUPPORT, BUT
WE DON'T AGREE ON MUCH, BUT HE
IS ALWAYS WILLING TO LISTEN AND
WE FEEL THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
TRAIT OF A STRONG LEADER.
LIKE I SAID, HE ALWAYS COMES TO
THE TABLE TO LISTEN TO SEVERAL
OF OUR MEMBERS.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY HE ALWAYS
PERSONALLY ATTENDS CERTAIN
MEETINGS AND I THINK THAT SENDS
A STRONG MESSAGE TO STAFF THAT
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IS A BIG
PRIORITY TO THE CITY AND WE
THANK THEM FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
UP NEXT IS GORDON AND THEN
COLIN AND THEN STEVE.
IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO
SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
THERE IS A SHEET.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
>> I CAN HEAR YOU FIND.
>> WITH REGARD TO NATHAN'S
REAPPOINTMENT, HAVE TO READ
THIS.
MY NAME IS GORDON.
I AM AN ARCHITECT WHO HAS
DESIGNED MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS
IN MANY SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED IS
THAT PREDICTABILITY IN THE
APPLICATION OF CODES,
ORDINANCES AND GUIDELINES IS
ESSENTIAL FOR PROMOTING GOOD
DESIGN.
THIS HAS LED ME TO VOLUNTEER TO
JOIN COMMITTEES THE CLARIFY AND
IMPROVE THESE CODES, DANCES AND
GUIDELINES.
HOW ARE THEY BEING APPLIED
TODAY?
CURRENTLY I HAVE OBSERVED A
DISCONNECT WITHIN SDCI
DEPARTMENTS IN BETWEEN, FOR
EXAMPLE SDCI AND SDOT.
GOOD DESIGN AND DESIRABLE
SOLUTIONS ARE LOST WITHOUT GOOD
COMMUNICATION.
MY GOAL IN DESIGNING ANY PROJECT
IS TO KEEP THE DEVELOPER
FOCUSED ON THE INTENT OF THE
CODES, ORDINANCES AND GUIDELINES
. MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT
DEVELOPERS OFTEN TRY TO PLAY
ONE DEPARTMENT OFF AGAINST
ANOTHER. AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE, A
DECLARATION BY THE DEVELOPER
THAT SDOT WON'T ALLOW
SOMETHING.
A STATEMENT THAT IS NOT TRUE.
WITH A STEADY INCREASE IN LARGE
DEVELOPMENTS THE NEED FOR
CLARITY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE
IMPORTANT. RESPONSIBILITY TO
THE CITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS
DICTATES THAT WE WORK TOGETHER
TO HELP EACH PROJECT FIT INTO
THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UP NEXT IS COLIN AND THEN STEVE.
>> GOOD MORNING MY NAME IS
COLLIN, DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPMENT FOR MERCY HOUSING
NORTHWEST.
I SERVE ON THE CITY'S HOUSING
LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF MR. NATHAN
TORGELSON.
MERCY HOUSING NORTHWEST IS AN
ACTIVE DEVELOPER OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN SEATTLE AND ACROSS
THE STATE.
WE HAVE ABOUT 2500 UNITS.
AND WE HAVE SEVERAL RECENT
PROJECTS IN SEATTLE THAT WE
HAVE WORKED WITH NATHAN AND HIS
TEAM ON.
AND I WILL SAY THAT NATHAN'S
LEADERSHIP IN SDCI AND WITH HIS
LEADERSHIP TEAM AND STAFF, TO
HELP AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROJECTS MOVE THROUGH THE
PERMITTING PROCESS AND REALLY
COME ONLINE AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS OUR
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN SEATTLE
IS EXEMPLARY.
ON TWO RECENT PROJECTS WE
ISSUED CHALLENGES TO OUR DESIGN
TEAM AND LOOKED TO NATHAN'S
DEPARTMENT TO PERMIT THOSE
PROJECTS AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
AND ON BOTH, THE STAFF WORKED
QUICKLY AND DILIGENTLY.
WE HAVE A PROJECT IN THE
ROOSEVELT COMMUNITY, 254 UNITS.
AGAIN WE ISSUED A CHALLENGE TO
NATHAN AND HIS TEAM THROUGH OUR
DESIGN PROCESS SO WE COULD
BRING THOSE ONLINE.
AROUND THE SAME TIME LIGHT RAIL
SERVICE OPENS.
ON HIS FIRST REVIEW, THEY
ACTUALLY BEAT THE DEADLINE.
THEY LOOKED AT OUR FIRST CYCLE
IN FIVE WEEKS.
NOT ONLY DOES HE SIMPLIFY A LOT
OF THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT HE
WORKS WITH HIS TEAM TO ACTUALLY
MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I WOULD URGE THE COUNCIL TO
SUPPORT REAPPOINTMENT OF
NATHAN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UP LAST IS STEVE.
AND MORNING.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> GOOD MORNING.
I HAD A FUN TRIP ON THE BUS
WHERE I LEARNED MOST OF
SEATTLE'S VIEWERS ARE ALL
DISABLED BECAUSE THEY WERE
SITTING IN THE SEATS FOR PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES AND THEY
ERTAINLY WEREN'T SENIORS.
THAT IS JUST PART OF THE NEW
SEATTLE AND IT'S NOT YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT
HERE IS MORE YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY.
I DON'T SEE ANY ACTION TOWARDS
LOOKING AT THE 50-50 THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE IN MHA.
MHA WAS SOLD AS A PROMISE THAT
50% OF THOSE LOW, LOW BARGAIN
RATES, THAT MANY OF THE STUPID
CITIZENS SAID WERE TOO DARN LOW,
AND IN THE NORTH END OR AT
LEAST THE AREA OF TOWN I LIVE
IN FREMONT, I SEE VERY FEW
PEOPLE ACTUALLY PUTTING THE
UNITS BELOW MARKET.
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK THIS IS VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT.
THE PREVIOUS MEMBERS OF THIS
COUNSELING COMMITTEE, OF WHICH
I THINK I ATTENDED MORE MEETINGS
THAT ALL OF YOU LAND-USE IN THE
LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS COMBINED,
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO TAKE A
LOOK AT WHAT THE PROMISE IS AND
WHAT IS BEING DONE.
I THINK MANY PEOPLE HAVE LISTED
SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE
CITY AND WE HAVE MANY OF THEM
IN LAND-USE.
WE ARE GETTING GENTRIFICATION.
WE ARE GETTING, WE TALK ABOUT
DIVERSITY, IT'S BECOMING A
LIGHTER SHADE OF PALE.
I CAN'T JUST HOLD MR. NATHAN
TORGELSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT
BECAUSE UNLIKE SOME PEOPLE
BELIEVE THE DEMOCRACY RUNS THE
CITY, I THINK THE ELECTED
PEOPLE RUN THE CITY.
I HAVE SEEN MANY TIMES WHEN
ELECTED PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS,
APARTMENTS TURN VERY QUICKLY.
THEY UNDERSTAND WHO IS IN
CHARGE.
SO, FOR MANY THINGS I WILL MORE
HOLD THE ELECTED, THE PEOPLE
BEFORE YOU HERE, AND NOW YOU
HAVE A CHANCE TO IMPROVE THAT
SITUATION.
>> THANK YOU.
WOULD ANYONE WHO DID NOT SIGN
UP LIKE TO SPEAK?
IF YOU LIKE THE SIGN IN?
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL FOLKS
SIGNED UP ON THERE?
GOOD MORNING.
>> MY NAME IS JEN, I WORK FOR A
NONPROFIT CALLED FACING
HOMELESSNESS IN THE BLOCK
PROJECT.
I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF MR. NATHAN
TORGELSON.
NATHAN HAS BEEN AN AMAZING
SUPPORTER OF THE WORK WE DO FOR
HOMELESS HOUSING.
I KNOW THERE IS SO MANY FACETS
TO HIS JOB.
AND I AM CONSTANTLY AMAZED THAT
EVERY INTERACTION I HAVE WITH
HIM IS COLLABORATIVE.
IS GENUINE.
IT'S PURPOSEFUL.
AND, I JUST CAN'T SPEAK HIGHLY
ENOUGH OF HIM IN THE WORK HE IS
SHOWN TOWARD OUR PROJECTS
SPECIFICALLY.
OUR PROJECTS IS PUTTING SMALL
DETACHED ACCESSORY DWELLING
UNITS IN BACKYARDS HELPS THE
DENSITY AND ALSO HOMELESSNESS
BASIS.
IS AN ARCHITECT IN SEATTLE AS
WELL IS THE PRINCIPAL AT LOCKE
ARCHITECTS I ALSO HAVE LOTS OF
SMALL BUSINESSES THE COME TO
ME, A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS AND AM
CONSTANTLY SENDING PEOPLE DOWN
TO THE SDCI COACHING COUNTER
AND HAVING THEM EMAIL SDCI
STAFF AND THEY ALWAYS COME BACK
BEING VERY HAPPY BECAUSE THEY
HAVE SEEN HELPFUL SUPPORT.
IT'S A GOOD EXPERIENCE.
THAT IS TO MEET LEADERSHIP,
GOOD LEADERSHIP.
AND SO IT SHOWCASES THE SMALL
BUSINESSES AND HOMEOWNERS IN
OUR CITY ARE GETTING THE
SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION FROM
THE SDCI STAFF I WOULD HOPE.
IN TOTAL SUPPORT OF NATHAN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU JEN.
ANYONE ELSE?
AS WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL
SPEAKERS WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE
WHO HAS COME TO TESTIFY THIS
MORNING.
IT IS CLEAR WE HAVE A LOT OF
PEOPLE WORKING TO CREATE THE
ADDITIONAL HOUSING UNITS WE NEED
TO CREATE THE HOUSING FOR
PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN CHRONICALLY
HOMELESS.
AND NEED SUPPORTIVE LIVING.
AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO KEEP
THE THINGS THAT MAKE SEATTLE
UNIQUE, BE ABLE TO BE RETAINED
AS WE DEVELOP INTO A GLOBAL
CITY.
AND STEVE, I APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMENTS ABOUT WRITING ON THE
BUS.
THE SOCIAL CONTRACT WE HAVE
BETWEEN US, IN OUR CITY IS
CHANGING WITH INCREASED AMOUNT
OF PEOPLE IN THE CHANGES WE
HAVE GONE THROUGH.
SOMETIMES THAT MEANS WE NEED TO
STAND CLOSER TO EACH OTHER ON
THE BUS, TO THE RIGHT ON THE
ESCALATORS AS WE USE THEM.
SO MANY OTHER THINGS AS OUR
CITY IS CHANGING.
THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT
OUT.
OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS
TODAY IS A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION AND A VOTE ON THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF SDCI DIRECTOR
MR. NATHAN TORGELSON.
PRESENTERS PLEASE JOIN US AT
THE TABLE.
01456.
REAPPOINTMENT OF NATHAN G.
TORGELSON AS DIRECTOR, SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS, FOR A TERM TO
JANUARY 1, 2024.
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE JOINED BY DEPUTY MAYOR
CASEY SIXKILLER . WOULD YOU
LIKE TO GET US STARTED?
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
MY NAME IS CASEY SIXKILLER,
DEPUTY MAYOR.
ON BEHALF OF MAYOR DURKAN I AM
PLEASED TO PRESENT TO THE
COMMITTEE MR. NATHAN TORGELSON
TO SERVE AS ANOTHER FOUR-YEAR
TERM AS DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT
OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS.
HE HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB
LEADING THE DEPARTMENT DURING
FOUR OF THE BUSIEST PERMITTING
YEARS IN THE CITY'S HISTORY.'S
ACCOMPLISHMENT INCLUDE
OVERSEEING IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE MANDATORY HOUSING FOR
ABILITY PROGRAM.
DEVELOP MORE FLEXIBLE
PERMITTING HOUSING SOLUTIONS
FOR THE CITY'S HOMELESS
RESPONSE.
COORDINATING INTERDEPARTMENT
OVERSIGHT OF MAJOR PROJECTS
SUCH AS THE NORTHGATE MALL
DEVELOPMENT AND CONVENTION
CENTER EXPANSION.
IS ALL OF YOU KNOW NATHAN IS NO
STRANGER TO THE HOLES AROUND
HERE.
HE FIRST JOINED THE CITY IN
1990.
HE'S HELD A VARIETY OF
POSITIONS INCLUDING ROLES AT
THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT.
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
POLICY ANALYST FOR MARY NICKLES.
AND SERVING AS A CORE MEMBER OF
THE WATERFRONT SEATTLE TEAM
PARKS AND RECREATION.'S
COMMITMENT TO THE CITY AND LONG
TENURE MAKES HIM ONE OF THE
MOST RESPECTED CITY EMPLOYEES
AMONGST MANY COLLEAGUES ACROSS
THE DEPARTMENTS AND CERTAINLY
OUR CABIN.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU ON A NUMBER OF
PRIORITIES SHARED BY BOTH THE
MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL IN COMING
YEARS.
SUCH AS STREAMLINING OR
PERMITTING PROCESS TO SPEED
DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECTS.
NEW REGULATIONS AROUND TREE
PERMITTING AND UNREINFORCED
MASONRY BUILDINGS.
UPDATING THE CITIES TREE
PROTECTION ORDINANCE.
WHILE I JOINED THE CITY LAST
MONTH, AND IN MY TIME HAVE
ALREADY BEEN IMPRESSED BY
NATHAN'S PASSION FOR HIS JOB,
APPRECIATION FOR HIS STAFF,
COMMITMENT TO SEATTLE AND
TOLERATING ME CALLING HIM EVERY
DAY.
WITH THAT, I AM PLEASED TO
PRESENT NATHAN TO THE COMMITTEE
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
WOULD YOU LIKE US TO ASK
QUESTIONS?
>> I WANT TO SAY I AM HUMBLED
THAT MAYOR DURKAN HAS SUBMITTED
MY NAME FOR RENOMINATION AS
DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS.
AND I WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> I APPRECIATE THE RESPONSES
YOU PROVIDED FOR LONG LIST OF
QUESTIONS.
I KNOW WE HAD A LONGER LIST WE
PARED DOWN.
I SPEAKS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF
YOUR ROLE AS WE TRANSITION FROM
THE TOWN WE HAVE BEEN INTO A
GLOBAL CITY.
CHANGE IS NEVER HARD, I'VE BEEN
PERSONALLY DISTRAUGHT TO WATCH
THE NEIGHBORHOOD I GREW UP IN
BULLDOZED.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFIT
THE COMES AS WELL.
MUCH MORE VIBRANT MARKET STREET
IN DOWNTOWN BALLARD.
REGARDING PERMITTING, IN YOUR
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS NUMBER 3
AND NUMBER 4, YOU MENTIONED
STAFF MEMBERS HIRED TO ADDRESS
THE BACKLOGS, HAVE YOU SEEN
IMPROVEMENTS FROM ADDITIONAL
STAFF AND YOU BELIEVE THIS IS
SUFFICIENT TO ADDRESS THE
BACKLOGS?
>> THE 13 POSITIONS WERE UNDER
CONTINGENT BUDGET AUTHORITY.
THEY ARE TERM LIMITED POSITIONS.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE POSITIONS
WERE IN ZONING REVIEW WHERE WE
WERE SEEING THE MAJORITY OF THE
BACKLOG.
WE HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MASTER USE
PERMITS FOR SMALLER AND MEDIUM
SIZE PROJECTS.
STILL, WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO
ON THE MORE COMPLEX PROJECTS,
BUT OF COURSE THOSE ARE IN THE
SYSTEM LONGER.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT AS THE NEW
COMPLEX PERMIT PROJECTS COME
IN, WE WILL SEE MUCH FASTER
TIMELINES.
THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE
CONTINGENT BUDGET AUTHORITY
POSITIONS IS AS YOU HAVE STAFF
TURNOVER, RETIRING, TAKING NEW
JOBS, THE PEOPLE IN THOSE
POSITIONS ARE WELL POSITIONED
TO TAKE THOSE PERMANENT
POSITIONS AND IF AT THE END OF
THE THREE-YEAR CONTINGENT
BUDGET AUTHORITY TIMELINE, WE
FIND YOU STILL NEED THE EXTRA
STAFF, WE CAN CERTAINLY ASK THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO HIRE
ADDITIONAL CONTINGENT BUDGET
AUTHORITY STAFF OR CONTINUE
THOSE POSITIONS.
OF COURSE AT ANY TIME WE CAN
COME TO COUNCIL FOR AUTHORITY
TO HIRE NEW PERMANENT STAFF.
>> IT'S ALWAYS A BIT OF
CAUTION, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING
FOR YEARS ABOUT THE ECONOMY
SLOWING DOWN.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.
SO WE HAVE TO TRACK THE ECONOMY
CAREFULLY.
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS.
I WILL DEFER TO OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO
JUMP IN.
>> I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
THAT I'M OKAY WITH WAITING.
>> GO FOR IT.
>> I WILL JUMP IN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING
HERE AND JOINING US AT THE
TABLE.
I APPRECIATE OUR INTERACTIONS
DURING MY FIRST MONTH AND
>> THE VACANT ROOM.
TO PUT UP A FEW PARTITIONS
BETWEEN THE WALLS, I KNOW
SOMETIMES THAT CAN BE COST
PROHIBITIVE TO SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS OR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS.
IS THAT SIMILAR FOR CHILDCARE
AS WELL?
>> CORRECT.
WE'VE HELPED OUR ARTIST ORIENTED
CITIES.
>> MY LAST QUESTION RELATES TO
EXPEDITING THE PROCESS FOR
KNOWN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
THAT ARE USING UNION LABOR.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS IN AUSTIN
TEXAS?
IS THERE A WAY TO EXPEDITE THE
PROCESS SO MORE CONSTRUCTION
CAN HAPPEN BEFORE AN ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN HAPPENS IN BEFORE IT'S
MORE COSTLY FOR FOLKS TO BUILD
LATER ON?
>> I THINK THAT IS A GREAT
QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU.
IN THE PAST HISTORY, OF SDCI
AND DPD WE DID ALLOW APPLICANTS
TO PAY STAFF OVERTIME TO
EXPEDITE PERMITS. WE HAVE
ACTUALLY DISCONTINUED THAT
PRACTICE BECAUSE IT FAVORED
PEOPLE WHO WERE ABLE TO AFFORD
TO PAY MORE TO EXPEDITE THOSE
PERMITS.
AGAIN, WE CAN'T EXPEDITE ALL
PERMITS BECAUSE NO PERMITS
WOULD BE EXPEDITED.
WE HAVE REALLY FOCUSED ON
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND NOW
LOOKING AT MIDDLE INCOME
HOUSING, AS FAR AS LABOR BACK
TO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT
WAS A DISCUSSION WE WOULD NEED
TO HAVE WITH COUNCIL AND HOW
THAT MIGHT WORK.
>> WE WILL SHARE WITH YOU WHAT
WE LEARN FROM OUR FRIENDS IN
AUSTIN.
>> I DON'T LOVE THE CONCEPT OF
PAYING TO GET FIRST IN LINE BUT
I DO UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A LOT
OF FOLKS WHO WANT TO EXPEDITE
THAT PROCESS WHO HAVE STRONG
SAFETY STANDARDS AND HAVE BEEN
THROUGH THE PROCESS BEFORE BUT
ARE STILL ON THE SAME
TIMEFRAME.
THAT IS FRUSTRATING.
>> EXCELLENT QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR AND DIRECTOR
AND DEPUTY MAYOR FOR BEING
HERE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TWO DECADES
OF SERVICE TO OUR CITY.
YOU HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE
HUGE MOMENT VOLUME OF PERMITS,
AMAZING TO GET THROUGH THAT
VOLUME OF PERMITS WITH A
LIMITED STAFF AND I AM
HEARTENED TO HEAR THE POSITIVE
ESTIMONIALS FROM PLYMOUTH
HOUSING AND MERCY HOUSING IN
TERMS OF PRIORITIZING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ADDITIONAL
FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I
ALSO APPRECIATE THE RENEWED
FOCUS ON SMALL BUSINESSES.
I ALSO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND
CONCERNS I RECEIVED FROM
CONSTITUENTS.
I WILL ASK SOME OF THOSE NOW.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING
ALL THE QUESTIONS YOU RECEIVED.
I'M STILL FRANKLY WORKING MY
WAY THROUGH THE ANSWERS.
I MAY NEED MORE TIME TO GET
THROUGH THOSE.
LET ME JUST ASK A COUPLE OF
CLARIFYING QUESTIONS NOW.
THEY FOCUS ON MONITORING AND
REPORTING ON THE MANDATORY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
ALSO ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT.
AND THEN TALKING ABOUT THE TREE
ORDINANCE.
ON MHA, I KNOW THE POLICY GOAL
IS TO HAVE 50% OF THE UNITS
BUILT ON SITE, THE BENEFITS
THERE ARE ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, WE ARE
BRINGING THOSE UNITS ONLINE
FASTER.
ALSO BENEFITS IN TERMS OF
LEVERAGING ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.
ALTHOUGH THAT HAPPENS LATER.
SORT OF THE BALANCING WHICH IS
PROBABLY WHY THE PREVIOUS
COUNCIL SETTLED ON A 50-50
SPLIT.
WHAT IS BEING DONE TO MONITOR
THAT, WHEN DEVELOPERS APPLY FOR
A PERMIT, THEY INDICATE WHETHER
THEY ARE GOING TO PAY IN LIEU?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
WE DO ANNUAL REPORTING ON MHA.
MHA HAS NOT BEEN IN EFFECT THAT
LONG.
WE ARE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT
INFORMATION TO COUNCIL AND WE
HAVE A TALLY OF HOW MANY UNITS
ARE BEING CREATED ON SITE
THROUGH PERFORMANCE.
AGAIN, WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT
IS THAT IS BEING FUNNELED INTO
THE CITIES AFFORDABLE HOUSING
REFUND.
YOU RAISE A GREAT POINT.
IT'S GOOD TO GET AFFORDABLE
UNITS ON SITE AND IN PROJECTS
BUT IT'S GOOD TO BE ABLE TO
LEVERAGE THOSE DOLLARS THROUGH
THE AFFORDING HOUSING LEVEES
FUNDING SOURCES.
I THINK OUR VANTAGE TO BOTH.
>> ARE WE GETTING A REPORT ON
HOW THINGS ARE GOING ON A 50-50
SPLIT?
OTHER WE ARE ACHIEVING THAT?
>> I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT
DEADLINE, BUT I DO KNOW, WE ARE
PROVIDING INFORMATION, WE ALSO
PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE CITY
AUDITOR LOOKING AT HOW WE ARE
DOING ON TRACKING WITH MHA.
ANECDOTALLY WHEN PROJECTS ARE
COMING THROUGH, AT LEAST FOR MY
DISTRICT, EVERY TIME IT IS THE
DEVELOPERS CHOOSING TO PAY IN
LIEU.
I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF YOU ARE
ANYWHERE NEAR THE 50%.
DO YOU HAVE ANY EARLY
INDICATION OR PREVIEW FOR US ON
THAT?
>> I DON'T HAVE A NUMBER ON THE
TOP OF MY HEAD BUT CERTAINLY WE
ARE GETTING MORE PEOPLE PAY A
FEE IN LIEU OF.
THAT COULD ALSO BE BECAUSE
COMMERCIAL PROJECTS, OBVIOUSLY
IF YOU HAVE A COMMERCIAL OR
OFFICE PROJECT ARE NOT
PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON
SITE.
THOSE DEVELOPERS ARE ALSO
PAYING A FEE.
IN LIEU OF.
>> I'D BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT
INFORMATION TO COUNCIL MEMBERS
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY GETTING
IT ON MHA PERFORMANCE.
>> THE POSITIVE TESTIMONIALS
ABOUT EXPEDITING THE
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW LOW-INCOME
HOUSING IS REALLY HELPFUL TO
HEAR THAT.
ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE
HEARD, AND HAVE SEEN THIS IN
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT IS A
CONCERN OVER DISPLACEMENT OF
BASICALLY THE DEMOLITION OF
NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND THAT IS OFTEN
REPLACED BY HOUSING THAT HAS
RENTS THAT ARE HIGHER THAN
HOUSING THAT WAS JUST
DEMOLISHED.
YOU MIGHT GET A FEW MORE UNITS,
BUT THEY ARE NOT AT THE RENTS
THAT ARE REALLY AFFORDABLE
BELOW MARKET RENTS.
DEVIOUSLY. HOW IS SDCI TRACKING
THE NET LOSS OR GAIN OF UNITS?
THAT ARE AFFORDABLE?
>> IT IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO
TRACK THE LOSS OF NATURALLY
OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE ARE ABLE TO TRACK TENANTS
WHO ARE DISPLACED WHO QUALIFY
IN OUR TENANT RELOCATION
PROGRAM.
THEY HAVE TO QUALIFY 50% OF
MEDIAN INCOME.
AND THE DEVELOPER IS REQUIRED
TO PAY 50% ALONG WITH THE CITY
50% RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
WE ARE ABLE TO TRACK THAT.
I WILL SAY THAT THROUGH MHA AND
ESPECIALLY THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT AND DOWNTOWN, THE
NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT
WE ARE ABLE TO CREATE THROUGH
THAT PROGRAM WILL FAR OUTSTRIP
THE NUMBER OF UNITS LOST
BECAUSE OF DISPLACEMENT.
YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF NEW
UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED.
>> BUT IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE AFFORDABILITY IS OF THE
UNITS WE ARE LOSING, HOW DO WE
KNOW, I GUESS I AM STRUGGLING,
HOW DO WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE
MORE AFFORDABLE UNDER THE NEW
UNITS?
>> MAYBE THE NUMBER OF UNITS
WILL BE HIGHER?
BUT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHETHER
THEY WILL BE MORE AFFORDABLE.
>> YOU ARE CORRECT.
WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.
THE NATURALLY OCCURRING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE DON'T
HAVE A WAY TO KNOW WHAT THE
LEVELS ARE OR INCOMES OF THE
PEOPLE BUT WE DO KNOW THAT
THROUGH THE MHA DOLLARS THE
HOMES BEING CREATED THROUGH
THAT PROGRAM INCOME QUALIFY AND
ARE PRIMARILY PEOPLE AT 60% OR
30% OF MEDIAN INCOME OR BELOW.
THING I HEARD WAS TO ASK THAT
ON A ANNUAL BASIS WHEN WE
RECEIVE A LIST OF RENTS FOR THE
UNITS IN THE BUILDING SO WHEN
THEY COMPLY WITH RENTAL HOUSING
REGISTRATION ORDINANCE THEY
PROVIDE IT AND WE WILL KNOW IF
IT'S JUST AN IDEA. OR NOT.
>> YOU ARE NOT THE FIRST WAS
SUGGESTED THAT.
I THINK THERE WERE SOME LEGAL
CHALLENGES WITH THAT.
AND HAPPY TO VISIT THAT WITH
THE LAW DEPARTMENT.
>> IF YOU HAVE THE TENANTS
NAMES, THAT MIGHT HELP.
JUST THE UNIT AND RENT FOR
EXAMPLE, OR COULD BE AGGREGATED
SO AT LEAST WE KNOW ON AVERAGE,
WAS IT MORE AFFORDABLE OR LESS
AFFORDABLE.
TREE ORDINANCE, WE LOOK FORWARD
TO GETTING A NEW TREE ORDINANCE
THAT WE CAN DELIBERATE ON HERE.
I'M REALLY HOPEFUL WE GET THAT
SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
GETTING IT BEFORE THE BUDGET
PROCESS THIS YEAR WOULD BE
IDEAL.
I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE
CURRENT SCHEDULE BUT I JUST
WANT TO FLAG THAT THAT WOULD BE
IDEAL TO GET IT SOONER RATHER
THAN LATER BECAUSE I KNOW
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING A LONG
TIME FOR THAT.
THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT
ITERATIONS OF IT.
PREVIOUS ITERATIONS THERE WERE
ARGUMENTS, HE DIDN'T REALLY
PROTECT TREES AS STRONGLY AS IT
COULD.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR THAT THAT
REALLY PROTECTS THE TREES.
UNDER EXISTING AUTHORITY, ONE
OF THE QUESTIONS WE RECEIVED,
EARLIER LAST NIGHT OR THIS
MORNING IS, IF THERE IS AN
EXCEPTIONAL TREE ON SITE, ARE
YOU ABLE TO HAVE THE REAL
ESTATE DEVELOPER MAKE
ACCOMMODATIONS TO SAVE THAT
TREE?
SO THAT YOU MAY BE GIVE THEM
ADDITIONAL HEIGHT SO THE
ADDITIONAL HEIGHT CAN WORK
AROUND THE TREE.
WE GET THE BENEFITS.
THE CLIMATE AND HEALTH BENEFITS
OF RETRAINING RETAINING THAT
TREE.
>> THAT WAS SOMETHING WE WERE
ABLE TO DO WITH COUNCILMEMBER
JOHNSON.
AN EXAMPLE IN THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS CENTER, WE
ALLOWED SOME ADDITIONAL HEIGHT
AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SAVE A
TREE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
CONCERN ABOUT TREES.
IT'S SOMETHING OUR DEPARTMENT
TAKES VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE ARE
WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ON A NEW
ORDINANCE. I JUST WANTED TO
MENTION WE HAVE HIRED TWO NEW
TREAT REVIEWERS AND WE ARE
ABOUT TO HIRE A THIRD.
WE ADOPTED A NEW DIRECTOR
THROUGHOUT THE 2018 AND WE'RE
DOING A MUCH THAT HER JOB ON
TRACKING AND COLLECTING
PENALTIES AND BEING ABLE TO
MEASURE THE VALUE OF A TREE
WHEN IT IS ILLEGALLY CUT DOWN.
SO WE ARE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS
AND WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU ON A BETTER
ORDINANCE.
>> ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS
RAISED BY PUBLIC COMMENT WAS
REQUIRING ARBORISTS LICENSES
THAT ARE TAKING DOWN THE TREES.
>> THAT IS A QUESTION WE'RE
LOOKING AT.
I'M AWARE OF SDOT'S PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK WHAT YOU ARE HEARING
FROM US IS A STRONG DESIRE FOR
INNOVATION IN FOR AN EARLY
HEADS UP ON SOME OF THE
STRATEGIES YOU MAY NEED TO BOTH
BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
CREATE GREEN SPACE, SETBACKS,
WE HAVE PUT SO MANY POLICIES IN
PLACE NOW AND WE ARE REALLY
LOOKING TO YOUR ADVICE IN THE
COMMUNITY'S ADVICE TO HELP
ADVANCE THOSE POLICIES SO THEY
CAN BE IMPLEMENTED AND WE ARE
NOT JUST IN THE POLICY
GENERATING MODE WHICH WE HAVE
BEEN IN WITH MHA FOR THE PAST
FEW YEARS DUE TO SOME AUDITORY
LITIGATION THAT HAPPENED.
NOW WE GET THE GO-AHEAD.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD IS FOR
YOU TO HELP US IDENTIFY WAYS TO
HELP YOUR DEPARTMENT SO WE ARE
NOT MIRED IN LONG WAIT TIMES
AND HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS
ABOUT CONCERNS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYTHING FROM
ADDITIONAL GREEN SPACE TWO WAYS
TO EXPEDITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
GIVE US AN EARLY HEADS UP ON
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LOVE
TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IS THE
ARCHITECT INVOLVEMENT.
THERE HAS BEEN COVERAGE IN THE
MEDIA RECENTLY ABOUT OUR CITY,
PERHAPS IF IT'S MORE
APPROPRIATE TO DO FOLLOW-UP
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYORS
OFFICE I CAN DO THAT, I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT UNCOMPENSATED
LABOR FOR ARCHITECTS BEING
ASKED TO PROVIDE D-BACKS AND
VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME FOR THE
MODEL.
THAT IS NOT FOR EXAMPLE WITH
THE CITY OF LACEY DOES.
THERE WAS A GOOD ARTICLE
RECENTLY IN FEBRUARY, IT TALKS
ABOUT HOW THIS IS A GREAT
POLICY, BUT NOT A GREAT PEOPLE
MENTATION PLAN TO REQUIRE
ARCHITECTS TO VOLUNTEER THEIR
TIME.
CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT ANY
STRATEGIES TO BRING ON
ARCHITECTS TO COMPENSATE THEM
FOR THEIR TIME?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA IS
REFERRING TO THE CITY'S DESIRE
TO PROMOTE MORE DETACHED
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY ELEMENT IN THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION ISSUED A CALL OUT
TO THE DESIGN COMMUNITY FOR
STANDARD PLANS, MORE LIKE A
DESIGN COMPETITION.
I AM AWARE OF THAT CONCERN FROM
SOME OF THE DESIGN COMMUNITY
THAT I WILL SAY WE RECEIVED
OVER 150 SUBMITTALS. SO
DEFINITELY A DESIRE FOR THE
DESIGN COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE
IN THAT PROCESS.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO NARROW
THAT DOWN.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY
WILL BE CHOSEN.
IT MIGHT BE AROUND 10.
BUT ARCHITECTS THAT ARE CHOSEN
WILL BE COMPENSATED FOR THE
PROCESS AS FAR AS HOW MANY
TIMES THAT PLAN IS SELECTED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I ALSO WANTED TO ADD,
INNOVATION, ONE OF MY
PRIORITIES HAS BEEN TO
PRIORITIZE INNOVATIVE TYPE
HOUSING, TALL TIMBER BUILDINGS,
WE HAVE NEW STATE BUILDING CODE
COUNCIL REGULATIONS THAT ALLOW
THOSE BUILDINGS TO GO UP TO 12
OR 18 STORIES.
THERE IS SUSTAINABLE LIVING
INNOVATIONS WHICH IS PANELIZED
CONSTRUCTION THAT CAN BE DONE
MUCH FASTER AND AT LESS COST.
THERE IS A PROJECT IN THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT USED THAT
METHODS OF TECHNOLOGY.
I THINK IT WAS CALLED 42 AND
TWO.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NAME.
THE PROJECT MENTIONED EARLIER
IN TESTIMONY, WE HAVE BEEN
PROMOTING MODULAR CONSTRUCTION
AS WELL.
THESE ARE ALL INNOVATIVE WAYS
OF CONSTRUCTION, LESS EXPENSIVE
AND CAN BE BUILT MUCH FASTER.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS.
>> I HAVE A QUICK FOLLOW-UP
QUESTION ON THE CROSS LAMINATED
TIMBER PIECE.
JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, DO THE
NEW STATE GUIDELINES REQUIRE
ANY MUNICIPAL CODE CHANGES OR
BUILDING CODE CHANGES ON OUR
END?
OR IS THE DEPARTMENT GOOD TO
GO?
>> IT'S GOOD TO GO?
EXCELLENT.
>> WE MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE SOME
SLIGHT TWEAKS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN
ADOPTED IN THE STATE BUILDING
CODE WE CAN PROCESS THOSE
PERMITS.
>> I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
>> I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO MY
QUESTION.
LIKELY FOLKS AT THE TABLE,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN ASKED MY
QUESTION ABOUT TREES.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA ASKED MY
QUESTION ABOUT INNOVATION.
SO I WILL TAKE ONE MORE QUESTION
BECAUSE I HAVE A COUPLE AS
WELL.
>> GREAT.
I'M GOING TO CHANGE THE TOPIC A
LITTLE BIT TO TALK ABOUT ALLEYS.
THIS IS A PARTICULAR CONCERN TO
A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS IN
DISTRICT 7 WHO LIVE DOWNTOWN,
CONCERN ABOUT CONGESTION IN
ALLEYS.
A LEGISLATION INTENT ASKING THE
DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH SDOT ON
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE AND
MITIGATE CONGESTION IN OUR
GROWING DOWNTOWN.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN GIVE
AN UPDATE TO THE COMMITTEE ON
WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT AND WHAT
YOUR PLANS ARE GOING FORWARD
AND YOUR NEXT TURN TO FOCUS ON
MITIGATING THE IMPACT.
>> THIS WAS REFERRED TO IN
PUBLIC TESTIMONY, WE ARE A
LITTLE BEHIND.
BUT NEW REGULATIONS AND THE
DIRECTOR'S ROLE IS COMING.
HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN IN THE AGE
OF e-COMMERCE A LOT MORE
DELIVERIES TO RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTIES. HISTORICALLY WE
HAVE THOUGHT OF DELIVERIES TO
COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, BUT NOW
WE ARE SEEING A LOT TO BOTH
KINDS OF PROPERTIES.
WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH SDOT
AND UTILITIES LOOKING AT HOW WE
CAN IMPROVE ACCESS TO LOADING
BAYS AND HOW MANY LOADING BAYS
SHOULD BE REQUIRED.
LOOKING AT SOLID WASTE STORAGE
AND ACCESS WITHIN MULTIFAMILY
BUILDINGS.
WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH BOTH
RESIDENTIAL GROUPS AND
BUSINESSES ABOUT THE
REQUIREMENTS.
SO LOOK FOR A DIRECTORS RULE
HELPFULLY RESIDENTIAL LOADING
DOWNTOWN AND AN ORDINANCE LATER
THIS YEAR THAT LOOKS AT ACCESS
SPACE, BUT ALSO LOOKS AT THE
ISSUE OF SOLID WASTE ACCESS
WITHIN MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS.
THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE WHERE
SOME PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS
BECAUSE REQUIRING ACCESS TO
GARBAGE AND SOLID WASTE ON
EVERY FLOOR IN MULTIFAMILY
BUILDINGS TAKE AWAY ONE UNIT.
BUT WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE
MORE LIKELY TO RECYCLE IF THEY
HAVE EASIER ACCESS TO THOSE
FACILITIES.
IT IS A COMPROMISE.
LOOK FOR THAT DIRECTORS RULE
SOON.
>> HAVE A QUICK FOLLOW-UP.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWER,
DIRECTOR, BUT IT JUST GOES BACK
TO, YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF
THE OUTREACH AND FEEDBACK, I
HAVE JUST HEARD A LOT OF, I'VE
HEARD A LOT OF CRITICISM FROM
SOME FOLKS ORGANIZING RESIDENCE
IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE THAT ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND DON'T
THINK THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN
AS PROACTIVE AS IT COULD BE OR
THAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE BEING
INCORPORATED.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS
GOING TO BE A RULE COMING OUT
IN APRIL.
MY REQUEST GOING FORWARD WOULD
BE WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
STRATEGIES OVER THE NEXT FOUR
YEARS TO MAKE SURE THOSE FOLKS
FEEL LIKE THEY ARE BEING
CONSULTED, INCLUDED, PART OF
THE PROCESS.
RIGHT NOW THERE IS A CONCERN
THAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE BEING
TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE GOING
FORWARD WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO KEEP THEM IN THE LOOP
ON THIS AND LEGITIMATELY
INCORPORATE THE FEEDBACK.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT COMMENT.
I THINK WHEN THE DRAFT
DIRECTORS RULE COMES OUT THERE
IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DIRECTORS
AND RESIDENTS TO COMMENT ON THAT
AND WE CAN, AS NECESSARY, IF
THERE ARE SUGGESTIONS THAT LEAD
TO IMPROVEMENTS, THE PROOF IS
STILL IN THE PUDDING WHEN THAT
DIRECTOR'S RULE COMES OUT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS YOU
ASKED ONE QUESTION I HAD ON
DECK.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
THE INTEGRAL DEPARTMENT TEAM
THAT CREATED THIS REPORT ARE
BOTH BUDGET PROVISOS OF THE
STATE OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE
TO ME AS WELL.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN I SEE
YOU HAVE ONE FINAL QUESTION.
>> YOU MENTIONED MODULAR
HOUSING.
I WAS IN VANCOUVER AND SAW
MODULAR HOUSING THERE FOR
FORMALLY HOMELESS PEOPLE.
IT LOOKS LIKE AN APARTMENT
BUILDING.
I WANTED TO CLARIFY, ARE THOSE
RULES IN PLACE ALREADY, THAT WE
CAN HAVE MODULAR HOUSING?
>>
>> I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE
DEMONSTRATION, THIS WAS A
PROJECT RIGHT OFF OF AURORA AND
NORTH 96 SOUTH OF THE CEMETERY
WHERE WE GOT TO SEE THE MODULAR
UNITS BEING LIFTED AND PUT INTO
PLACE.
IT IS PRETTY AMAZING.
>> THAT HIS APARTMENT
BUILDINGS, OKAY.
THANK YOU.
LAST QUESTION IS ABOUT TREES
AGAIN.
I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND, IF
A TREE IS BEING TAKEN DOWN,
WHAT DO RESIDENTS WHO MIGHT BE
CONCERNED, IF THEY WANT TO
CONFIRM THIS WAS AUTHORIZED,
WHAT DO CITIZENS DO?
>> THEY CALL OUR DEPARTMENT AND
WE RESPOND.
THEY WRITE LETTERS. AND IN SOME
CASES, IT IS LEGAL TO TAKE DOWN
THE TREE.
AND IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, IT
IS NOT LEGAL.
WE HAD A CASE IN WEST SEATTLE
LAST YEAR WHERE AN EXCEPTIONAL
TREE WAS TAKEN DOWN IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND IT
PRECEDED A FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
PROPOSAL I BELIEVE WE WERE ABLE
TO COLLECT $11,000 AS A
PENALTY.
THAT WAS A PRETTY EGREGIOUS
EXAMPLE.
THAT WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL TREE.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY FINAL
QUESTIONS?
>> I WILL KEEP MY SHORT.
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED MANY.
ON PAGE 3 OF YOUR ANSWERS TO
COUNCIL QUESTIONS, YOU
MENTIONED BUILDING MONITORING
PROGRAM AND SPECIFICALLY
REFERENCED DEMOLITIONS THAT SDCI
AUTHORIZED.
YOU KNOW HOW MANY EMERGENCY
DEMOLITIONS WERE AUTHORIZED AND
WAS THERE A COMMON FACTOR IN
THESE CASES?
THE REASON I ASK IS WE HAVE A
NUMBER OF VACANT OR PROBLEMATIC
LOTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY THE
NEED TO HAVE ACTION TAKEN TO
WORK WITH COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW
AND CONDEMNATION OF A LOT HERE
IN THE CITY.
I LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO
SAY.
>> I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL FOR
THEIR SUPPORT FOR VACANT
BUILDING MONITORING.
WE HAVE A MUCH MORE
SOPHISTICATED AND
TECHNOLOGICALLY SAVVY WAY TO
TRACK THOSE VACANT BUILDINGS
NOW.
AS A CITY, WE MEET REGULARLY,
POLICE, FIRE, FAS, TO LOOK
THROUGH THE VACANT BUILDING A
INGLIS LIST TO FIND WAYS WE CAN
WORK BETTER.
I HAVE IN MY TERM AS DIRECTOR
FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, I'VE
ISSUED SEVEN EMERGENCY
DEMOLITIONS FOR BUILDINGS. IN
THIS CASE, I HAVE TO WAIVE SEPA
REGULATIONS TYPICALLY BECAUSE
OF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
IT IS KIND OF ON A CASE-BY-CASE
BASIS, USUALLY THE SITUATION
IS SO DIRE WITH LEGAL ACTIVITY,
ILLEGAL HAPPY GET ILLEGAL
ACTIVITY HAPPENING HAZMAT
ISSUES, THAT IT'S REALLY IN THE
PUBLIC INTEREST TO GO AHEAD AND
ALLOW DEMOLITION.
IN THAT CASE THE PROJECT
PROPONENT IS USUALLY WAITING
FOR A PERMIT FROM OUR
DEPARTMENT.
IS GOING THROUGH THE REVIEW
PROCESS.
AND THEY HAVE A VACANT WELDING.
IN ORDER FOR US TO DO THAT WE
HAVE TO HAVE A WILLING HOLDING
OWNER OR PROJECT PROPONENT WHO
DOES WANT TO DEMO THE BUILDING.
WHEN WE HAVE A BUILDING THAT IS
VACANT AND WE HAVE SORT OF AN
ABSENT LANDLORD NOT DOING
ANYTHING, IT'S A LITTLE MORE
COMPLICATED.
IN SOME CASES WE CAN ORDER THE
DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDING BUT
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A COMPLEX
LEGAL PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES
ASKING ALL THE HARD QUESTIONS
SO I CAN HAVE THE EASY ROLE.
I LAST QUESTION TO YOU TODAY,
JUST TO GIVE YOU THE FLOOR,
WHAT ARE YOUR MAJOR GOALS FOR
SDCI WITH THIS APPOINTMENT?
>> I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
MAYOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER
PERMITTING AND HELPING TO
IMPLEMENT THOSE ACTIONS. WE
NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON
HOUSING PRODUCTION IN THE CITY.
THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING IS FAR
OUTSTRIPPING THE SUPPLY COMING
ONLINE.
THAT IS A HUGE PRIORITY.
WORKING WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS
COMMUNITY, AGAIN WORKING ON A
NEW TREE ORDINANCE IS A HUGE
PRIORITY FOR THE MAYOR AND FOR
OUR DEPARTMENT.
EVERYTHING WE DO IS UNDER THE
UMBRELLA OF SOCIAL JUSTICE.
WE KNOW NOT EVERYONE HAS THE
WHEREWITHAL TO COME DOWN TO THE
SEATTLE MISCIBLE TOWER OR CITY
COUNCIL CHAMBERS OR TO HIGHER A
LAND-USE ATTORNEY.
ONE THING I AM REALLY PROUD OF
IS OUR DEPARTMENT EVERY YEAR
SPONSORS TWO HOME FARES IN THE
COMMUNITY. THIS PAST YEAR WE
HAD ONE AT THE FILIPINO
COMMUNITY CENTER.
ALSO AT THE MEADOWBROOK
COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE STAFF FROM ALL
FACETS OF OUR BUSINESS AND
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS.
NUMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN COME
IN AND ASK QUESTIONS AT THEIR
LEISURE.
THOSE ARE GREAT EVENTS.
>> ANOTHER PRIORITY IS,
UNREINFORCED MASONRY BUILDINGS.
WE ARE NOW WORKING WITH COUNCIL
ON A JOINT RESOLUTION SO THE
PROGRAM CAN MOVE FORWARD ON
THAT.
AND VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE IN OUR
CITY.
AGAIN, I MENTIONED, JUST
FIGURING OUT WAYS TO PROMOTE
INNOVATIVE HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU.
IF YOU ARE DOING OUTREACH AT
THE MEADOWBROOK I ALSO SUGGEST
LAKE CITY IT'S NEARBY AND VERY
DIFFERENT.
>> WE WILL CONSIDER THAT FOR
NEXT YEAR.
WE TEND TO CHANGE LOCATIONS.
>> THAT'S FAIR.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AT THIS TIME, I DO APPRECIATE
YOUR CANDOR AND YOUR ANSWERS TO
ALL THE QUESTIONS BOTH WRITTEN
AND ORAL.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE
APPOINTMENT OF 01546.
TO HEAR A SECOND?
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE VOTE
AYE.
SEEING THREE.
ANY OPPOSED VOTE NO AND RAISE
YOUR HAND?
ANY ABSTAINING?
>> ABSTAINING.
>> THANK YOU.
THREE VOTES IN FAVOR AND ONE
ABSTENTION THIS MOTION PASSES.
THANK YOU DIRECTOR MR. NATHAN
TORGELSON AND DEPUTY MAYOR
CASEY SIXKILLER.
>> I APPRECIATE AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
>> THIS WILL BE CONFIRMED.
OUR NEXT TWO ITEMS OF BUSINESS
ARE THE APPOINTMENTS TO THE
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION BOARD
BOARD.
WILL OUR PRESENTERS PLEASE JOIN
US.
>>APPOINTMENT OF DEAN.
E. BARNES AS MEMBER, LANDMARKS
PRESERVATION BOARD, FOR A TERM
TO AUGUST 14, 2022.
ANDAPPOINTMENT OF LANCE NEELY
AS MEMBER, LANDMARKS
PRESERVATION BOARD, FOR A TERM
TO AUGUST 14, 2022.
>> WONDERFUL.
AND WILL THE FOLKS AT THE TABLE
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
IT IS GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE.
>> MY NAME IS DEAN BARNES.
I'M CURRENTLY RETIRED.
MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
WORKING IN RESOURCES FOR A
NUMBER OF COMPANIES.
MY LAST 20 YEARS APPROXIMATELY
HAVE BEEN IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE
DEPARTMENT.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK
AARON AND HER STAFF FOR
SHEPHERDING THIS INTERVIEW
PROCESS AND ALSO TO THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I AM OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU
MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM ERIN DOHERTY WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND
I WILL SAY WE HAVE ALSO ASKED
THE PROPERTY OWNERS FOR TWO
DESIGNATED PRINCES TO JOIN US
AT THE TABLE.
>> I AM SARAH, I AM THE CITY
HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER.
SARAH SODT.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM JULIE BLAKESLEE,
DIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER.
>> I AM RICHER RICHARD ROGERS,
I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE
OWNERSHIP OF THE BUILDINGS.
>> IT SEEMS WE HAVE OVER
PRESENTERS FOR THIS ITEM AND
THE NEXT ITEM.
FOR THOSE WHO JOINED US AT THE
TABLE FOR THE NEXT ITEM ON THE
AGENDA, PLEASE HANG TIGHT AND
WE WILL GET TO YOU IN JUST A
MINUTE.
I UNDERSTAND LANCE NEELY WAS
UNABLE TO ATTEND.
WOULD YOU REMIND US OF HIS
BACKGROUND?
>> I CAN ALSO GIVE YOU SOME
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT
DEAN BARNES UNLESS YOU'D LIKE
TO ASK HIM QUESTIONS DIRECTLY.
LANCE NEELY IS A REAL ESTATE
BROKER.
HE HOLDS A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN
SOCIOLOGY.
AND A MASTER OF ARTS IN
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY.
HE IS A PROPRIETOR OF A
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE FIRM
HERE IN SEATTLE WITH A FOCUS ON
HISTORIC HOMES.
>> WONDERFUL.
TO MY COLLEAGUES AT THE TABLE
HAVE QUESTIONS TO GET IT
STARTED?
QUESTIONS?
DEAN, DO YOU HAVE, YOU MADE
SOME REMARKS, DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING?
>> SURE, I CAN TALK A LITTLE
BIT.
>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT MY PACKET,
MOST OF MY EXPERIENCES BEEN
EITHER IN FINANCE AND
ACCOUNTING HUMAN RESOURCES.
AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
LANDMARKS COMMISSION, THAT
SEEMS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN
SOMEONE WHO MIGHT HAVE A
CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OR
ARCHITECTURE BACKGROUND.
MY INTERST HAS BEEN A
HISTORIAN IN THAT I LOVE TO
READ THE HISTORY, PARTICULARLY
ABOUT SEATTLE AND THE SEATTLE
COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN IN SEATTLE FOR ALMOST
50 YEARS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I FIRST MOVED
TO SEATTLE IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE
THE SPACE NEEDLE IS COMPARED TO
WHERE SMITH TOWER IS, AT THAT
TIME THERE WAS NOTHING IN
BETWEEN.
TO SEE THE CONSTRUCTION HAS
OCCURRED IS TREMENDOUS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS ALWAYS
INTERESTED IN WAS WATCHING
CONSTRUCTION AND AT THE SAME
TIME LOOKING AT, WHAT IS IT
DOING TO THE CITY ITSELF?
HOW IS IT CHANGING THE CULTURE?
WE HAVE ISSUES IN TERMS OF
HOMELESSNESS IN BUILDING
HOUSING AND SUCH, SEATTLE IS
RELATIVELY YOUNG CITY.
THERE IS THIS IDEA OF LET'S
TEAR THIS DOWN AND BUILD A
BACKUP.
AT THE SAME TIME WE LIKE TO SEE
THE LANDMARK COMMISSION LOOK AT
WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAINTAIN THE
CULTURE OF THE CITY, THE
CHARACTER OF THE CITY.
THINK THAT IS ONE THING THAT IS
IMPORTANT.
PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT
SOME OF THE OLDER BUILDINGS
THAT HAVE ARCHITECTURE IN THE
OUTSIDE MOLDINGS THEY HAVE, I'D
LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THAT
REMAIN.
SO WE DON'T TEAR ALL BUILDINGS
DOWN.
ANOTHER PART I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE HAVE THE LANDMARKS THAT ARE
IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
THERE HAS BEEN A HISTORY OF
THOSE BEING TORN DOWN FIRST
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE
VOICE TO BACK THAT.
I'D LIKE TO MAINTAIN THE
COMMISSION HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO MAINTAIN THOSE AS PART OF
THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
>> WONDERFUL.
THAT IS A GREAT PERSPECTIVE AND
YOU HAVE AN EXTENSIVE HISTORY
WORKING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT HUMAN
RESOURCES DEPARTMENTS.
I THEY ALSO YOU WORKED FOR
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
IN WHAT PERSPECTIVE CAN YOU
BRING TO THE PRESERVATION BOARD
THAT ALSO ASSISTS US IN
DEVELOPING MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I WAS WITH HOUSING AUTHORITY,
JUST BEFORE THEY STARTED THE
BIG PROJECT, WE HAD HIGH POINT
AND THE ONE SOUTH, IT ESCAPES
ME, BUT ALSO TO TAKE A LOOK AT
WHEN YOU DO TAKE A LOOK AT FOR
EXAMPLE THE TERRACE, YOU HAVE
THE HOUSES BUILT IN THE 30s, AT
THE TIME THE FIRST INTEGRATED
PUBLIC HOUSING PROCESS, AND TO
SAY WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THOSE
OUT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAINTAIN
THE CULTURAL ASPECT OF IT.
ANDREW LOFTON AND MR. TURNER
WERE CEOS AT THE TIME AND HAVE
DONE A GREAT JOB MAINTAINING
THE CHARACTER AND THE CULTURAL
ASPECT IS CONNECTED TO THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
THOSE ARE THINGS THE LAND BOARD
COMMISSION COULD DO TO BE
INVOLVED IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS
AND MAINTAIN THOSE CULTURAL
ASPECTS.
>> WONDERFUL.
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
CITY, DO YOU SEE FOR THE CITY
TO BETTER SUPPORT HISTORIC
PRESERVATION EFFORTS?
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES IF ANY DO
YOU SEE FOR THE CITY TO BETTER
SUPPORT HISTORIC PRESERVATION
EFFORTS?
>> I THINK THE DISCUSSIONS THAT
ARE GOING ON, WHICH I'M SURE
ERIN AND THE STAFF ALSO, THE
RSJI ISSUE AND ALSO NOT JUST IN
TERMS OF DOLLAR AND SINCE BUT
WHAT IS IT DUE TO THE CULTURE
OF THE COMMUNITY, THE MAKE OF
THE HOUSING, YOU MENTIONED
BALLARD, LOOK AT ALL THE
CONSTRUCTION GOING ON AND YOU
SEE A LOT OF HOUSES BUILT IN
THE 1940S AND 1950s.
THEN THEY HAVE THESE BIG BOX
HOUSES THE LOOKOUT OF CHARACTER
WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES.
THE LANDLORD COMMISSION LOOKING
AT MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ON
HOW THOSE ARE WORKING WITH THE
PREVIOUS DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION, MAKE SURE WE DO
TAKE A LOOK, WHEN WE DO BUT
THOSE HOUSES WHERE THEY GOING TO
AFFECT THE COMMUNITIES AS WELL?
>> WHEN PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED
THAT CHANGES THE FABRIC OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
VICE CHAIR?
>> I'M INTERESTED IN YOUR
BACKGROUND ON HOUSING.
I THINK ONE OF THE COMMENTS WE
HEAR A LOT IS THAT THESE BIG
BOXES ARE DISPLACING INDIVIDUALS
WHO LIVE THERE.
HOWEVER LIVING IN A BOX THAT IS
A TOWNHOUSE NOW LIVING IN ONE
OF FOUR TOWNHOUSES IN A PLOT
THAT USED TO JUST HAVE ONE
HOUSE, ONE THING I THINK WE
SHOULD TRY TO DO IN EVALUATING
THE BENEFITS OF POTENTIAL
CONSTRUCTION IS WHAT MAKES THE
CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AND THAT IS THE PEOPLE.
AND THE MORE PEOPLE, THE MORE
CHARACTER AND CULTURE WE HAVE.
IF THERE IS A WAY TO PURSUE THAT
AND HELP INDIVIDUALS STAY IN
PLACE, LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY,
NOT GET DISPLACED, I THINK THAT
IS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR
HOPE IS FOR HOW TO DO
PRESERVATION AND ALSO ADD NEW
HOUSING, WHETHER IT'S
AFFORDABLE OR MIXED INCOME?
AND STRATEGIES YOU WOULD LIKE
TO SEE THE LANDMARKS
PRESERVATION BOARD TAKE ON THAT
WOULD POTENTIALLY PRESERVE THE
FACDE BUT ALLOW FOR GREATER
HEIGHT AND AFFORDABILITY FOR
MIXED HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
ABOVE IT OR AROUND IT?
>> EXCELLENT QUESTION.
I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUES,
FIRST THING FOR ME WHEN YOU
TALK ABOUT THAT, ADVOCATION OF
THE CENTRAL AREA WHICH
HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN THE BLACK
COMMUNITY EVER SINCE I MOVED
HERE, YOU GO THERE NOW, A LARGE
NUMBER OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE
MY AGE MOVED SOUTH, CAN'T MOVE
BACK IN BECAUSE THEY CAN AFFORD
IT.
THE PEOPLE WHO WERE FIRST THERE
WHEN I FIRST CAME CAN AFFORD TO
STAY BECAUSE OF THE HOUSING.
INC.
ABOUT THE HOUSING BEING DONE,
WHAT IS IT THAT WE ARE BUILDING
IN THAT PLACE?
EXAMPLE USED WHERE YOU BUILD A
FOUR PLEX, I THINK THAT FOUR
PLEX IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK
AT PROVIDING MORE EQUITABLE
HOUSING THAT MIGHT NOT BE AS
EXPENSIVE AS A SINGLE DWELLING.
I THINK IF I REMEMBER
CORRECTLY, THE CENTRAL AREA HAS
ONE OF THE HIGHEST APARTMENT
COMPLEX RATIOS, ESSENTIALLY
DOWN SOUTH TO THE RANIER BEACON
HILL AREA.
TAKING A LOOK AT, WHAT ARE WE
DOING TO DO THAT?
THE OTHER PART ON THE DECLINE
IS HOMEOWNERSHIP AND ONE OF THE
THINGS, WHAT CAN WE DO TO
ENSURE HOUSES THAT ARE BUILT
ARE AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE TO
BUY AS WELL AS TO RENT?
>> A QUICK FOLLOW-UP, AND
OVERALL, I HEAR ABOUT THE BOARD
IN THE CONTEXT, MORE COMMERCIAL
AND MIXED-USE.
HOW MUCH OF THE BOARD'S WORK IS
DIRECTLY RELATED TO RESIDENTIAL
VERSUS COMMERCIAL WORK?
>> ERIN AND I CAN TRY TO ANSWER
THAT TOGETHER.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF LARGE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
ONE IS THE MERCY HOUSING
PROJECT.
THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER PROJECT
IN NORTHEAST SEATTLE THAT WAS
CONVERTING THE BUILDING INTO
HOUSING.
WE SEE A LOT OF THAT AS WELL AS
HOUSING, NEW CONSTRUCTION BUILT
AS AN ADDITION TO EXISTING
BUILDINGS.
IT IS A REAL MIX.
DOES NOT JUST COMMERCIAL.
>> DO YOU HAVE A BREAKDOWN?
DO YOU HAVE A CHART THAT SHOWS
US?
>> I DON'T THINK WE DO.
WE DO HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF
PROJECTS THAT HAVE RECEIVED
SPECIAL TAX EVALUATIONS.
AND NORMALLY, THAT IS ONE OF
THE INCENTIVES FOR HISTORIC
PRESERVATION.
IT IS USUALLY ABOUT 50-50.
MIXED USE AND THEN COMMERCIAL.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> I HAVE ONE.
>> PLEASE.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD
LIKE TO DO, I AM EXCITED FOR
YOUR POTENTIAL CONTINUATION IN
THIS PROCESS BECAUSE I'M SURE
IT'S GOING TO BE OVERWHELMING
SUPPORT, ONE OF THE THINGS I
WOULD LOVE TO DO IS COME AND
VISIT WITH THE LANDMARKS BOARD.
I THINK ONE OF THE FRUSTRATIONS
I HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS IS
THAT SOMETIMES THIS PROCESS CAN
BE VIEWED AS A TOOL TO PREVENT
NEW KINDS OF CONSTRUCTION THAT
WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE PEOPLE TO
LIVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK AS WE TRY TO CREATE
DENSE LIVING OPPORTUNITIES THAT
ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BE CLOSER TO
COMMUNITY CENTERS AND PLACE OF
WORK, IT'S AN ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ISSUE AND A WORKER
JUSTICE ISSUE TO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE CAN LIVE CLOSE TO THEIR
PLACE OF WORK.
AND I DON'T WANT US TO
INADVERTENTLY BE ALLOWING THIS
PROCESS TO BE USED IN SOME CASES
TO PREVENT CONSTRUCTION WHEN IT
IS SUPPOSED TO DO WHAT YOU SAID,
LOOK FOR WAYS TO PRESERVE
HISTORICAL SITES, CULTURAL
SITES AND FOR US TO THINK ABOUT
WAYS FOR MIXED-USE SITES AS
BUILDINGS ARE ADAPTED.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT SOME
STRATEGIES ARE THE MAYBE THE
BOARD IS CONSIDERING AND
PERSONALLY, ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT
HOW TO HELP PREVENT AGAINST THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OR
MISUSE OF THE TOOL WHEN IT IS
BEFORE YOU?
>> THAT IS THE ONE THING, ONE
OF THE THINGS I WILL BE
LEARNING.
I DO HAVE IN MY MIND, WHAT I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE DONE.
IN TERMS ABOUT LEARNING ABOUT
THE COMMISSION WITH THE
AUTHORITY AND LIMITATIONS, YOU
MENTIONED THE MIXED-USE COMPLEX,
AT RANIER VISTA, A NUMBER OF
CONSTRUCTION IN THAT AREA.
AT THE SAME TIME THEY HAVE THE
COMMUNITY CENTER AND REC
CENTER.
THE SAME THING AT THE TERRACE.
IN ADDITION TO THE ESO TERRACE,
WE ALSO GUARANTEE THOSE
INDIVIDUALS COME BACK TO THE
PLACES AND WE ALSO HAD A
NUMBER, I SHOULDN'T SAY WE,
SEATTLE HOUSING HAD A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO AT HOME DAYCARES.
AND THOSE WERE BACK IN THEIR.
I THINK THE IDEA OF MAINTAINING
THOSE ASPECTS ARE VERY
IMPORTANT.
I THINK AS WE GO INTO THE
FUTURE, I THINK IT IS THE, I'M
TRYING TO REMEMBER THE NAME OF
THE STREET ON RANIER,
CONSTRUCTION WHERE THEY HAVE A
HOUSING AND RETAIL ON THE FIRST
FLOOR, THOSE ARE CONTINUALLY
PART OF THAT PROCESS, AROUND
THE BUS STOPS, AND COMMUNITY
CENTER AND TRAIN STOPS WHERE
THEY HAVE A LOT OF CONGREGATION,
TO HELP PEOPLE WITH COMMUTING
AS WELL.
>> I THINK THAT IS A GREAT
SEGUE TO SOME OF THE WORK WE
HAVE BEEN DOING LAST YEAR AND
WILL BE AMPLIFYING THIS YEAR ON
OUR HOUSING AS WELL RELATED TO
AFFIRMATIVE MARKETING.
AND COMMUNITY PREFERENCE.
TO INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE
PREVIOUSLY WHERE CONSTRUCTION
HAPPENS, THEY CAN COME BACK
FIRST IN LINE.
MY UNDERSTANDING FROM SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY THEY HAVE
REACHED 100% OF RESIDENTS WHO
LIVED THERE AND OFFERED THEM
THE ABILITY TO COME BACK.
SOME HAVE CREATED CHILDCARE ON-
SITE AGAIN.
I THINK THAT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE
OF HOW WE BUILD HOUSING AND IN
THIS CASE A MIXED INCOME
HOUSING AND HAVE AFFIRMATIVELY
WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY TO
MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY THAT
WAS PREVIOUSLY THERE HAD A
PREFERENCE FOR COMING BACK AND
WE HELP THEM GET IN.
I THINK IT IS A BOTH, AND IN
THAT EXAMPLE.
>> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
ERIN, WOULD YOU SHARE MORE
BACKGROUND ABOUT LANCE AND WHY
YOU'RE SUPPORTING HIS
REAPPOINTMENT?
>> OF COURSE.
I DON'T TO TAKE US AWAY FROM
THAT, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE
THE YOU ASKED US TO PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF THE WHOLE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE THAT AS PART OF OUR
POWERPOINT BUT YOU DON'T HAVE
IT IDENTIFIED AS A SPECIFIC
ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IS
IN THE NEXT ITEM.
>> AS A LEAD-IN.
>> CORRECT.
>> RATE.
I THINK SOME OF THE QUESTIONS
COMING UP ARE TO THE HISTORIC
DISTRICT AND NOT JUST THE
LANDMARKS BOARD PROGRAMS.
SO, THE MAKEUP OF THE LANDMARKS
BOARD, THERE ARE 12 VOLUNTEER
POSITIONS.
DEAN BARNES'S POSITION IS ONE
OF THE AT-LARGE.
BUT LANCE NEELY, WE ARE
RECOMMENDING HIM FOR THE REAL
ESTATE POSITION.
WE HAVE HAD PROPERTY DEVELOPERS
HOLD THIS IN THE PAST BUT ALSO
REAL ESTATE AGENTS LIKE LANCE
NEELY.
HIS BACKGROUND IS IN PROJECT
MOVEMENT AND BUSINESS SERVICES.
BUT HE DID MOVE INTO THE REAL
ESTATE WORLD IN 2014. BUT HE
HAS JUST EMBARKED THIS PAST
YEAR ON CREATING HIS OWN FIRM.
IT IS CALLED HERITAGE REALTY.
HE FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON SINGLE-
FAMILY HOMES.
HE SHARED WITH ME HE HAS
ACQUIRED HIS COMMERCIAL REAL
ESTATE LICENSE HE IS HOPING TO
BREAK INTO THAT MARKET AS WELL.
HIS PERSPECTIVE WOULD BE VERY
INTERESTING, NOT JUST
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER BUT
ALSO INTERESTED IN CULTURAL
HISTORY.
WE ARE WELCOMING THAT EXPERIENCE
WE ALSO LOOK TO THE ARCHITECTS
ON THE BOARD AND OTHER PEOPLE
WHO MAY HAVE EXPERIENCE.
WHISTLE THINK DEAN BARNES MAY
HAVE EXPERIENCE RELATIVE TO
THAT AS WELL.
WE ALSO WE RECOGNIZE HIS
INTEREST IN HISTORY AND THINK
IT WILL BE IN ADDITION TO THE
BOARD AS WELL AS LANCE NEELY.
>> ANY QUESTIONS?
>> HEARING NONE I WOULD LIKE TO
MOVE TO APPROVE APPOINTMENTS
01497 AND 01050, SECOND.
PLEASE, THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE
AND RAISE YOUR HAND.
ANY OPPOSED?
HEARING NONE, THE MOTION
PASSES.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY,
DEAN, IN YOUR WILL IS TO SERVE.
THESE WILL BE CONSIDERED A FULL
COUNCIL ON MONDAY, MARCH 2.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE
MEETING, YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO
AS IS THE CASE WITH LANCE NEELY
AS WELL.
YOU ARE FREE TO REMAIN AT THE
TABLE WHILE WE GO INTO OUR NEXT
SET OF PRESENTATIONS, AND IF
YOU WANT TO FEEL FREE TO EXCUSE
YOURSELF.
IT WAS A REAL PLEASURE TO MEET
YOU.
OUR FINAL TWO ITEMS ARE THE
LANDMARKS DESIGNATING ORDINANCE
FOR EAGLES AND WHOLE.
PRESENTERS HAVE JOINED US.
PLEASE READ THESE INTO THE
RECORD AND THIS DOES INCLUDE A
POWER POINT PRESENTATION.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 4 COUNCIL
BUILT 11749, AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO HISTORIC
PRESERVATION; IMPOSING CONTROLS
UPON THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON EAGLESON HALL, A
LANDMARK DESIGNATED BY THE
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION BOARD
UNDER CHAPTER 25.12 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE, AND
ADDING IT TO THE TABLE OF
HISTORICAL LANDMARKS CONTAINED
IN CHAPTER 25.32 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
AND ITEM NUMBER 5, AND ORDINANCE
RELATING TO HISTORIC
PRESERVATION; IMPOSING CONTROLS
UPON THE SUNSET TELEPHONE &
TELEGRAPH EXCHANGE, A LANDMARK
DESIGNATED BY THE LANDMARKS
PRESERVATION BOARD UNDER
CHAPTER 25.12 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE, AND ADDING IT
TO THE TABLE OF HISTORICAL
LANDMARKS CONTAINED IN CHAPTER
25.32 OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE.
>> WONDERFUL.
OUR PRESENTERS HAVE ALREADY
INTRODUCED THEMSELVES.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO JUST TAKE IT
AWAY?
>> SURE.
I'M GOING TO JUMP IN WITH A
HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE
PROGRAM AND THE WORK WE DO.
THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION
PROGRAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
LANDMARK NOMINATION AND
DESIGNATION PROCESS.
WHICH RESULTS IN THE DESIGNATING
ORDINANCE IS YOU ARE SEEING
TODAY AND THAT IS WHERE COUNCIL
COMES IN.
WE REVIEWED CERTIFICATES OF
APPROVAL FOR LANDMARKS AND
HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
ESSENTIALLY, THE CERTIFICATE OF
APPROVAL IS PERMITTING WE HAVE
CODE REQUIRED DEADLINES WE HAVE
TO REVIEW APPLICATIONS 20 DAYS
OR LESS, WE DON'T HAVE THE
BENEFIT OF DELAYING THAT REVIEW
PROCESS AT ALL, FOR ANY
SUBSEQUENT FOLLOW-UP
CORRECTIONS WE HAVE 14 DAYS OR
LESS TO REVIEW THOSE TYPICALLY
WE HIT 80 TO 90% RESPONSE OF 10
DAYS OR LESS ON THESE PERMIT
APPLICATIONS.
WE TRY TO FOLLOW THE CODE AND
BEAT THE DEADLINES.
A BIG PART OF THAT WORK IS WITH
THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD
AND COMMISSION COORDINATION.
AS YOU SAW TODAY, YOU DID A
COUPLE OF APPOINTMENTS.
THAT IS WHERE THE COUNCIL
INTERSECTS WITH US.
THEY ARE ALMOST ALL MAYORAL
APPOINTMENTS WITH COUNCIL
CONFIRMATION.
WE HAVE EIGHT HISTORIC
DISTRICTS.
THE LANDMARKS BOARD IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR FOUR OF THOSE.
COLUMBIA CITY, HARBOR BELMONT,
BELMONT, PIKE PLACE MARKET,
COLUMBIA CITY, AND BALLARD,
SORRY NOT COLUMBIA CITY,
PINEHURST SQUARE, ALL EACH HAVE
THEIR OWN REVIEW COMMITTEE OR
BOARD.
COMMISSION THAT OVERSEES AND.
>> A QUESTION ON THE PIKE PLACE
MARKET.
SUBCOMMITTEE?
>> COMMISSION.
OKAY.
WHEN AND HOW TO SOMEBODY TAKE
UP WHETHER OR NOT CARS SHOULD
BE ABLE TO DRIVE THROUGH THERE?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS
GOING TO BE THE COMMISSIONS JOB,
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY A TRAFFIC
MANAGEMENT ISSUE.
AND THAT WOULD BE SDOT.
>> HAS A COMMISSION FOR EXAMPLE
IN PIONEER SQUARE EVER TAKEN ON
THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT
THERE SHOULD BE TRAFFIC CUT
THROUGH SO FOR EXAMPLE IN
PIONEER SQUARE?
WE HONESTLY DON'T ALLOW TRAFFIC
TO GO THROUGH AT LEAST TWO
BLOCKS OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT I BELIEVE IS BEING
PRESERVED FOR HISTORIC
PRESERVATION.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT
OCCIDENTAL PARK?
>> I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE
SIMILAR IN PIKE PLACE MARKET
GIVEN THE HISTORIC BRICK STREET
THAT IS THERE.
>> IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE
MATERIALITY, IN OCCIDENTAL PARK,
IT IS AN UNIMPROVED STREET.
SO IT'S NOT USED FOR TRAFFIC.
>> IT'S SDOT.
>> I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, HOW
DID TRAFFIC ULTIMATELY GET
STOPPED IN THAT AREA AND IF IT
WASN'T THE COMMISSION TO HELP
MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION, IF
FOLKS ARE INTERESTED IN
STOPPING TRAFFIC THROUGH PIKE
PLACE MARKET, WHICH I WOULD BE
SUPPORTIVE OF, IT SEEMS LIKE
THAT QUESTION DOESN'T GO
THROUGH THE COMMISSION, IT
WOULD NEED TO GO THROUGH SDOT.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WOULD
START WITH SDOT.
IF THERE ANY PHYSICAL CHANGES
THAT RESULT BECAUSE OF THAT
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, THE
COMMISSION WOULD WEIGH IN ON
THAT.
>> I ASSUME IT WOULD PROBABLY
BE THE REVERSE.
THAT STOPPING TRAFFIC WOULD
HELP PRESERVE THE HISTORIC
STREET.
>> I WOULDN'T SAY THEY WOULD BE
OPPOSED.
>> WE WILL TAKE IT UP WITH SDOT.
>> SORRY I WAS ASKING A
QUESTION ABOUT WHERE THE
QUESTION MIGHT LIE IF FOLKS ARE
REMOVING TRAFFIC IN PIKE PLACE
MARKET.
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
SOMETHING I WOULD SUPPORT AS
WELL AS WELL AS A TRAFFIC
OFFICER, WHETHER PRIVATE OR
PUBLIC AT THE CORNER OF
WESTERN.
THE FOUR WAY STOP.
>> JUST TO MENTION ONE OF THE
CRITICAL PIECES TO THE MARKET
IS THE ABILITY FOR FARMERS AND
VENDORS TO DELIVER.
SO THERE WOULD NEED TO ALWAYS BE
SOME SORT OF TRAFFIC THROUGH
THAT AREA.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME
TO EMPHASIZE THAT.
>> WHEN WE HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER
EXAMPLES FROM BERLIN AND
COPENHAGEN AND MADRID, THEY
HAVE ALWAYS CLARIFIED, IN THE
NOTES THROUGH TRAFFIC
NEIGHBORHOODS, VEHICLES ARE
ALWAYS PERMITTED.
INCLUDING POTENTIALLY PEOPLE
WHO MIGHT LIVE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD WHO HAVE VEHICLES.
THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN
ALLOWING CARS TO USE IT AS A
CUT THROUGH.
'S I'M HAPPY TO HAVE A
CLARIFICATION AND JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE CLEAR ON OUR
END.
IT WOULD NOT BE TO ELIMINATE
ANY DELIVERY OR MERCHANT
VEHICLES.
I THINK IT IS MORE A MATTER OF
SAFETY FOR RESIDENTS LIKE US
WHO FREQUENT PIKE PLACE MARKET
AND ARE ALSO THE LARGE TOURIST
COMMUNITY.
>> I SUPPORT THAT.
>> THE NEXT BODY OF WORK WE
HAVE IS HISTORIC RESOURCES
SURVEY AND INVENTORY.
THAT IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE
FEDERAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION
ACT.
SO WE MAINTAIN OUR SURVEY
INVENTORY AS BEST WE CAN WITH
FUNDING AVAILABLE.
IT IS ONLINE IN A DATABASE ON A
WEBSITE.
AND, ONE OF THE THINGS I HOPE
TO CONTINUE IS TO CENTER IN
DOING INVENTORY SO WE CAN BE
BETTER EQUIPPED TO ANALYZE
THESE RESOURCES AS MR. BARNES
HAD MENTIONED.
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE INCLUDING
EVERYONE'S HISTORY.
>> ANOTHER BIG WORKLOAD WE HAVE
IS SEPA AND NEPA.
ST3 IS REALLY BIG RIGHT NOW.
STATE ROUTE 20.
AND URM WORK AND UNREINFORCED
MASONRY.
FINALLY, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO
DO, AND THE SUPPORT IS
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.
TWO NEW AND EXCITING THINGS ARE
WE HAVE A NEW VIDEO THAT
HIGHLIGHTS THE CULTURAL ASPECTS
OF WHY HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS
IMPORTANT. I CAN FORWARD THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE AN EDUCATION VIDEO
THAT IS A TOOL THAT SHOWS THE
NOMINATION AND DESIGNATION
PROCESS AND HOW COMMUNITY CAN
PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
I CAN FORWARD THOSE BOTH TO YOU.
>> WONDERFUL.
I BELIEVE YOU HAD ONE FURTHER
SLIDE?
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE
HOTEL WHICH I WAS ABLE TO TOUR
WELL WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
ONLY HISTORIC PRESERVATION
INCLUDED IN THIS BUILDING, IT
WAS ALSO PART OF, IT PROVIDES
RENT RESTRICTED UNITS.
INDIVIDUALS CAN PATE ONE THIRD
OF THEIR TAKE-HOME IN RENT, THE
BUILDING HAS ABOVE MARKET RATE
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE, A VERY GOOD
EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN BUILD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE SAME
BUILDING AS MARKET RATE AND
ABOVE MARKET RATE WHILE WE ARE
PRESERVING HISTORIC BUILDINGS.
AND, ON THE FIRST FLOOR IS
COMMERCIAL SPACE AND I BELIEVE
THERE MAY EVEN BE, DON'T QUOTE
ME ON THIS, EVEN THOUGH I AM
SAYING IT ON THE RECORD, I
BELIEVE THERE IS RENT
RESTRICTED UNITS FOR THE
COMMERCIAL SPACE.
THERE ARE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT
ARE ENCOURAGED TO BE IN THAT
SPACE.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW
WE CAN USE OUR RESOURCES TO
KEEP WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT OUR
CITY AND BUILD THE RESOURCES WE
NEED.
>> ALONG THOSE LINES, HISTORIC
PRESERVATION REALLY IS AN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL.
WHEN YOU WERE TALKING EARLIER
ABOUT SMALL COMMERCIAL SPACE,
THAT IS REALLY WHERE A LOT OF
OUR CITIES SMALL COMMERCIAL
SPACES LOCATED.
AND PARTICULARLY IN PIKE PLACE
MARKET, IT'S REALLY AN
INCUBATOR FOR THE SMALL
BUSINESSES.
AND, IN PIONEER SQUARE, THE
INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL REVIEW
DISTRICT AS WELL AS PIKE PLACE
MARKET, WE DO REVIEW USE.
WE ALSO HAVE RESTRICTIONS FOR
THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF CERTAIN
BUSINESSES AND PREFERRED
BUSINESSES.
TO KEEP THOSE SMALL SPACES
AVAILABLE.
FOR THOSE TENANTS.
>> WONDERFUL.
THIS WAS A VERY GOOD OVERVIEW
AND PRESENTATION.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
LISH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN US
AT THE TABLE?
YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
YES VICE CHAIR.
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OVERVIEW
AS WELL.
THE SAND POINT BUILDING, AND
FORGETTING THE NAME OF IT, BUT
THE ENTITY THAT OPERATES THE
TAINING PROGRAM FOR FOLKS WHO
ARE CURRENTLY OR FORMALLY
HOMELESS.
IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE THAT PUBLIC SPACE BEING
USED IN THAT WAY.
THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE
ASBESTOS AND HOW THEY HAD
CERTAIN ROOMS THAT WERE KIND OF
QUARANTINED OFFICER PEOPLE
DIDN'T GO IN THERE.
DOES THE PRESERVATION BOARD
LOOK AT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
MAKING THE PLACES THAT HAVE
BEEN DEEMED HISTORICAL LANDMARKS
WERE USABLE SO WE DON'T HAVE
BUILDINGS PRESERVED BUT NOT
BEING USED BECAUSE OF THINGS
LIKE ASBESTOS?
>> IN TERMS OF A RECOMMENDATION,
I THINK WE WOULD SUPPORT THAT.
IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY ARE
REVIEWING ARE WEIGHING IN ON,
THAT'S NOT REALLY PART OF THEIR
PURVIEW.
BUT IF SOMEONE WERE TO COME TO
US WITH A BUILDING THAT HAS
ASBESTOS AND THEY ARE GOING
THROUGH THE MITIGATION PROCESS,
STAFF CAN REVIEW THAT TYPE OF
WORK AS MAINTENANCE AND IT'S
NOT A PAID APPLICATION OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE CERTAINLY SHOW SUPPORT FOR
ADAPTING BUILDINGS AND REUSING
SO THEY ARE OCCUPIED.
BECAUSE VACANT BUILDINGS ARE
NOT A GOOD RESOURCE FOR ANYONE.
>> HOW DOES THAT SUPPORT AND
GET COMMUNICATED EITHER TO
COUNCIL OR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
OR THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WOULD
BE CARRYING OUT SUCH A
RECOMMENDATION?
>> ONE, YOU COULD ASK FOR SOME
FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD.
CERTAINLY.
THEY HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS IN
THE PAST.
AND THAT IS USUALLY HOW IT IS
COMMUNICATED.
>> WHAT IS THIS SPECIFICALLY?
CAN YOU REMIND ME OF THE NAME
OF THE PROGRAM THAT TRAINS
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ALMOST
FORMALLY HOMELESS, AND
CONSTRUCTION TRADES.
IF MY TEAM WAS WITH ME THEY
MIGHT BE SENDING ME MESSAGES
NOW.
IT IS A PROGRAM OUT THERE.
THERE IS, ADJACENT TO THE
TRAINING FACILITY ON THE SECOND
FLOOR, A LARGE GYMNASIUM THAT
HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN USED FOR
RECREATION I GUESS.
THE HAVE SIGNS THAT SAY DO NOT
OPEN THE STORE, DO NOT OPEN
THIS WINDOW BECAUSE OF
ASBESTOS.
IT'S A LARGE PORTION RIGHT NEXT
TO THE TRAINING FACILITY.
>> I WILL CALL AND FIND OUT AND
MAKE SURE.
>> I BELIEVE IT'S OWNED BY
PARKS AND REC.
I THINK THE BOARD WOULD BE VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF RENOVATION WORK
HAPPENING THERE.
SURE IT'S A MATTER OF FINANCING
. BUT WE DO HEAR FROM COMMUNITY
AND TENANTS IN THAT BUILDING,
BUT THEY HOPED MORE OF THOSE
SPACES WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO
THE PUBLIC.
I'M SURE THE BOARD WOULD
SUPPORT THAT.
>> THANK YOU, LISH, FOR YOUR
COMMENTS.
IT IS SUCH A GREAT FACILITY.
THERE IS ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE
HOUSING GOING OUT THERE.
BEAUTIFUL MODULAR UNITS GOING
IN.
I THINK THEY HAVE MORE THAN ONE
BEDROOM INCLUDED IN SOME OF
THOSE.
EXCITED FOR SOME OF THE WORK
DONE ON THAT.
AS MORE PEOPLE LIVE IN THAT
AREA, I WENT THERE TO PLAY
SOCCER, WE WANTED TO BE A
COMMUNITY CENTER AND ASBESTOS
IN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS WE
PRESERVE IS NOT A GREAT USE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO CHATTING
WITH YOU MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> IN ADDITION TO SOLID GROUND,
THERE MANY BUILDINGS AND
TENANTS IN THE DISTRICT, WE ARE
SO EXCITED TO HAVE PEOPLE
LIVING IN THE HISTORIC
DISTRICT, NOT JUST PLAYING AND
WORKING.
THERE IS A SUBCOMMITTEE FOR
APPLICATIONS THAT HAPPEN FOR
WORK IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THAT DOES INCLUDE, IS A
COMMITTEE OF FIVE VOLUNTEERS
AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE
RESIDENT WITHIN THE DISTRICT
ITSELF WHO IS SERVING ON THE
COMMITTEE.
>> WONDERFUL.
>> THE PARKS DISTRICT IS
LOOKING AT THEIR NEW SIX YEAR
FUNDING CYCLE.
THAT IS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF
FUNDING TO HELP ADDRESS SOME OF
THESE ISSUES WE HAVE BEEN
LOOKING AT, EATING MORE FUNDING
FOR THE MAGNUS PARK COMMUNITY
CENTER.
WE DO HAVE 1000 LOW INCOME
RESIDENTS THAT WE HAVE
ENCOURAGED, INVITED TO BE
LIVING THERE YET THERE ARE
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WITH SOME
OF THESE BUILDINGS AND THE
LAND.
AND SO TO GET RESOURCES IN THEIR
TO HELP, ESPECIALLY WITH THE
COMMUNITY CENTER AND PROVIDING
SCHOLARSHIPS TO KIDS WHO LIVE
THERE IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
THANK YOU.
>> WONDERFUL.
I WOULD LOVE TO MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT PART OF THESE TWO AGENDA
ITEMS.
REGARDING THE SUNSET TELEPHONE
& TELEGRAPH EXCHANGE AND
EAGLESON HALL.
>> THANK YOU.
WE INCLUDED HERE, JUST AS A
BRIEF OVERVIEW, I WON'T READ
THEM ALL, THERE ARE SIX
STANDARDS THE BOARD CONSIDERS
WHEN LOOKING AT A NEW LANDMARK.
A, B, C HERE AND D, E, F ON THE
NEXT SLIDE.
THE BOARD NEEDS TO CHOOSE AT
LEAST ONE OF THOSE WHEN MAKING
A DESIGNATION MOTION.
THE HISTORIC RESOURCE NEEDS TO
BE MORE THAN 25 YEARS OLD.
IN ORDER TO QUALIFY.
IN ADDITION TO ONE OF THE
STANDARDS, THE BOARD NEEDS TO
DETERMINE THAT THE PROPERTY HAS
INTEGRITY WITH THE ABILITY TO
CONVEY THAT SIGNIFICANCE.
DELIBERATING ON THOSE
APPLICATIONS THEY HAVE THOSE
DISCUSSIONS IN GREAT DETAIL.
JUST AS A BRIEF OVERVIEW, THE
STANDARDS RELATE TO ASSOCIATION
OF HISTORIC EVENTS OR
INDIVIDUALS, CULTURAL HISTORY,
ARCHITECTURAL OR ENGINEERING
HISTORY OR WORK OF A DESIGNER.
AND ALSO, LAST BUT NOT LEAST,
STANDARD F WHICH TALKS ABOUT
VISUAL LANDMARKS AND THE
PROMINENCE RELATED TO CONTRASTS
OF AGE.
I THINK OUR SLIDES ARE IN A
DIFFERENT ORDER THAN THE
ORDINANCE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE
US TO START WITH EAGLESON HALL.
>> IT'S TOTALLY FINE TO START
WITH THE SUNSET TELEPHONE &
TELEGRAPH EXCHANGE.
>> WE ARE JOINED BY RICHARD
RODGERS WHO IS THE OWNER.
THE BOARD REFERS TO IT AS THE
SUNSET TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH
EXCHANGE BUT IT IS ALSO
FORMALLY KNOWN AS THE MASONIC
TEMPLE 242.
RICH, THAT IS HIS RE-
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROPERTY,
TRYING TO RECALL THE MASONIC
HISTORY.
THIS ORDINANCE IS TO CODIFY
CONTROLS AND INCENTIVES
AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN THE
CITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION
OFFICER AND MR. ROGERS.
THIS IS LOCATED AT 1608 FOURTH
AVENUE WEST.
JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT
THERE.
THIS WAS DESIGNATED BY THE
BOARD ON JUNE 5, 2019.
CHOOSING STANDARD C. THE
CONTROLLED FEATURES ARE OF THE
SITE AND EXTERIOR OF THE
BUILDING.
THIS WAS BUILT IN 1905.
ORIGINALLY FOR THE TELEPHONE
AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
IT WAS THE FIRST TO BE
CONSTRUCTED ON QUEEN ANNE HILL.
AND AMONG THE EARLIEST
EXCHANGES IN THE CITY.
ALONG WITH THOSE IN SOUTH
SEATTLE.
THE BOARD RECOGNIZES THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CHANGE IS
AN EARLY WORKPLACE FOR WOMEN
OUTSIDE EDUCATION AND NURSING
FIELDS.
THE POSITION OF A TELEPHONE
JUST WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY BUT
ALSO CHALLENGING WITH LONG
SHIFTS.
IN 1907 SUNSET EMPLOYED MORE
THAN 400 FEMALE OPERATORS CLASS
EIGHT FACILITIES INCLUDING THIS
BUILDING HANDLING 50,000 CALLS
ANNUALLY.
THE FIRST TWO DECADES SAW AN
EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN
SEATTLE'S POPULATION, NEARLY
TRIPLING FROM 80,000 TO 240,000
RESIDENTS.
IN RESPONSE TO THE INCREASED
DEMAND FOR TELEPHONE AND
TELEGRAPH BUSINESS WAS
COMPLETED IN 1922.
THERE IS A NEW BUILDING, THE
GARFIELD EXCHANGE DIRECTLY
SOUTH OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY,
AND BOTH OF THOSE ARE ALSO CITY
LANDMARKS.
THE LATER EXCHANGE, I AM SORRY,
WHEN THEY BUILT THE NEW
GARFIELD EXCHANGE THAT IS WHEN
THIS BUILDING WAS SOLD TO THE
MASONIC FRATERNAL ORDER.
THEY ALTERED IT TO ACCOMMODATE
THEIR LODGE, ROMAN SOCIAL
WHOLE.
THE MASONS CONTINUE TO OCCUPY
THE BUILDING FOR SEVERAL
DECADES AND SOLD TO THE CURRENT
OWNER IN 2018.
>> WONDERFUL.
RICH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE
ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS
BUILDING?
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL NEW CLASSICAL
DESIGN.
AND CLEARLY IT HAS A LOT OF
HISTORICAL MEANING IN HER OWN
COMMUNITY.
MAYBE YOU CAN SHARE A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT HOW THE MASONIC ORDER
HAS UTILIZED THE BUILDING.
I BELIEVE YOUR ORGANIZATION IS
NOT THE MASONIC LODGE
SPECIFICALLY.
>> WE ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH
THE MASONS.
>> MAYBE SHARE A FAIR AMOUNT
ABOUT THIS AND LET US KNOW HOW
YOU USE THE SPACE.
AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO
SHARE.
>>
>> COULD YOU PULL THE MEGAPHONE
CLOSE?
>> I BECAME AWARE OF THIS
BUILDING IN MY INTEREST IN REAL
ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT, I'M NOT
AFFILIATED WITH THE MASONS
ANYWAY.
MY WIFE AND I ARE FORMER QUEEN
ANNE RESIDENCE.
WE ARE AWARE OF THE BUILDING
FOR QUITE SOME TIME MASONIC
LODGE 242 BECAME AWARE THERE
BUILDING WAS A URM STRUCTURE
AND FIGURED OUT THE COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH UPGRADING AND
RETROFITTING THE BUILDING AND
WERE NOT, THEY WANTED TO SELL.
THAT'S HOW I BECAME AWARE OF
IT.
OUR INTERESTS, BEING ME AND MY
PARTNERS INVOLVED IN THE
BUILDING, IS, AS ALL OF US ARE
QUEEN ANNE NEIGHBORS ARE FORMER
QUEEN ANNE NEIGHBORS, OUR
INTEREST WAS TO TRY TO
DETERMINE WHETHER IT COULD BE
HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED.
WITH OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE
GARFIELD EXCHANGE WE THOUGHT
THERE IS A GOOD LIKELIHOOD IT
WOULD BE.
IN SO DOING BE ABLE TO PRESERVE
THE BUILDING.
AND REEVALUATE THE INTERIOR OF
THE SPACE FOR A NEW USE TO
ALLOW IT TO HAVE A NEW LIFE
GOING FORWARD.
>> THIS MIGHT BE FOR THE TABLE
OR FOR YOU, HOW DOES HISTORIC
PRESERVATION PROCESS ADDRESS
LANDMARK BUILDINGS WITH
UNREINFORCED MASONRY.
>> I THINK I WILL LET ERIN
THAT.
>> WHEN WE DO HAVE A URM
BUILDING, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE
OF SEISMIC IMPROVEMENTS IMPOSED,
WE THINK OF IT AS MAINTENANCE
BECAUSE THE GOAL IS TO KEEP THE
BUILDING STANDING.
CAN'T PRESERVE THE BUILDING IF
WE HAVE A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE AND
A LOSS OF A LOT OF BUILDINGS IN
THE CITY.
SO WE FREQUENTLY LOOK AT THIS
IN ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW.
THAT WAY IT MOVES MORE QUICKLY
AND IS NOT A PAID APPLICATION.
AND DOESN'T REQUIRE TO THE
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
OR THE BOARD.
BUT, IF THERE ARE FEATURES OR
PROPOSALS THAT ARE SORT OF
BEYOND BASIC LEVEL OF
MAINTENANCE, THAT MIGHT CHANGE
THE APPEARANCE OF THE BUILDING
IN A MAJOR WAY, THEN YOU WOULD
HAVE TO SEEK APPROVAL FROM THE
LANDMARKS BOARD.
IN THE CASE OF THE PROPOSED
PROJECT, WE LOOKED AT IT
COLLECTIVELY BECAUSE HE HAD
SOME OTHER ALTERATIONS HE WAS
MAKING.
>> ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO
ADD IS, ONE OF THE INCENTIVES
IS A SPECIAL TAX VALUATION AND
THE WORK TO UPGRADE THE URM
WOULD COUNT TOWARDS IT AND
THAT'S ONE OF THE AND IF IT'S
BEING A LANDMARK.
>> ANY INFORMATION ON HOW
YOU'RE PLANNING TO RE-AND
RETROFIT?
>> WE DEFTLY ARE.
THE END RESULT, THE END GOAL IS
TO PUT UP A MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
INSIDE, WE ARE TRYING TO FIND
THAT BALANCE BETWEEN BEING IN
ORIGINALLY INDUSTRIAL BUILDING,
MUCH LARGER SCOPE THAN A SINGLE
FAMILY STRUCTURE.
BUT ALSO IT IS IN A 5000 SIGEL
FAMILIES OWN.
FIRST THINGS FIRST, LET'S MAKE
THE BUILDING SAFE.
HISTORICALLY DESIGNATING IT,
THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE ALONG
WITH ALTERATIONS WE ARE ASKING
FOR SEATTLE DCI WOULD BE
INCLUDED TO SEISMICALLY
RETROFIT THE STRUCTURE.
WE WILL RETROFIT THE STRUCTURE,
AND THEN ARE APPLYING TO PUT
TWO TOWNHOMES INSIDE THE
STRUCTURE.
AND THAT WOULD BE THE END
RESULT.
>> WILL THERE BE ANY RECOGNITION
OF ALSO THIS IS AN EARLY
OCCUPATION FOR WOMEN TO HAVE
GOOD JOBS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY
AT THE TIME WHEN THERE WAS VERY
GENDERED ROLES IN OUR SOCIETY?
>> FROM A CONSTRUCTION AND
DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE, I AM
NOT SURE HOW WE COULD DO THAT.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT VERY SPECIAL
PART OF THE HISTORIC NATURE OF
THE BUILDING, WE ARE HAPPY THAT
WAS BROUGHT OUT THROUGH THE
DESIGNATION PROCESS.
THAT BEING RECORDED AND
INCLUDED AS PART OF THE
DESIGNATION, WE ARE HAPPY WITH.
IN TERMS OF BUILDING TWO
TOWNHOMES, I'M NOT SURE HOW WE
COULD DO THAT.
WE ARE GOING TO BE GOING, IT'S
ORIGINALLY AN INDUSTRIAL
BUILDING, A LARGE MASONRY
STRUCTURE.
AIR STEEL RETROFIT SYSTEM WILL
GO ALONG WITH THAT.
THAT IS SORT OF WHAT WE HAVE
BEEN HAVING TO FOCUS ON AND
PLAN FOR TERMS OF THE END RESULT
OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF
TOWNHOMES.
>> I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU
MORE.
>> IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS A
PLAQUE, ONE OF THOSE LIBRARIES
OF THE FOLKS SHARE.
SOMETHING NOT SO DIFFERENT IN
SIZE AND SCALE.
WHILE I WAS IN AMERICORPS I HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN AN
RCA RADIO ANTENNA BUILDING FROM
THE 1920S AS WELL.
THESE WERE LONG-RANGE RADIO
SIGNALS FROM ACROSS THE PACIFIC.
THE INDUSTRIAL SCALE OF THAT
BUILDING CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED,
AND WHILE THIS IS OF A MUCH
SMALLER SCALE, I HAVE FIRST-
HAND KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IT MUST
BE LIKE INSIDE.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY, AGAIN THE
TYPE OF PROJECT WE LIKE TO SEE
IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHERE WE ARE
HAVING A MULTIFAMILY UNIT THAT
PRESERVES THE UNIQUE CHARACTER
OF OUR COMMUNITY BUILT BY OUR
NEIGHBORS AND FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS.
>> JUST ONE OTHER PITCH.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF BEING
LANDMARK IS YOU GET ZONING CODE
RELIEF.
SO WHEN YOU'RE A LANDMARK IN A
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONE, YOU CAN PUT
IN TWO UNITS.
>> THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING
THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK FOR
CONVERTING THIS INTO MULTI
FAMILY STRUCTURE.
HAVING LIVED IN QUEEN ANNE FOR
ABOUT SIX YEARS, IT IS SO
INCREDIBLE WHEN YOU WALK
THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SEE
OLD APARTMENT BUILDINGS LIKE
MINE THAT ARE BEAUTIFUL BRICK
BUILDINGS, THERE WERE EIGHT
UNITS IN MY APARTMENT, A
BEAUTIFUL OLD HOUSE DOWN THE
HOUSE WITH SIX ENTRANCES.
YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT FROM
LOOKING ON THE OUTSIDE.
DUPLEX ALL OVER THE PLACE.
BUT THEN YOU REALIZE ALL OF
THOSE ARE ILLEGAL NOW BECAUSE
IT HAS BEEN REZONED. WHEN WHAT
WE SHOULD BE DOING IS THINKING
ABOUT CREATIVELY CREATING MULTI
FAMILY DWELLING UNITS LIKE WE
WERE TALKING ABOUT, I FULLY
SUPPORT THE CONCEPT AND
APPRECIATE THE REMINDER THERE
IS A LOT MORE WE CAN DO TO MAKE
SURE WE DON'T HAVE TO GO
THROUGH THE RIGMAROLE TO
NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX
OPPORTUNITIES IF WE WERE TO
REEVALUATE THE ZONING LAW.
>> I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU
MORE, THREAT DISTRICT 6, THERE
ARE SO MANY DUPLEXES AND
TRIPLEX IS THAT ARE NOW ILLEGAL
TO BUILD.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON
TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE
EXCHANGE?
SEEING NONE I WILL MOVE ON TO
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
EAGLESON HALL.
WE WILL VOTE TOGETHER AT THE
END OF THE PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU.
PLEASE DON'T EVER TO HESITATE
TO REACH OUT WE WOULD LOVE TO
SUPPORT YOU.
>> AM JOINED BY JULIE BLAKESLEE
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
THIS IS ALSO TO CODIFY AN
ORDINANCE THAT THE UNIVERSITY
HAS AGREED TO WITH THE CITY
PRESERVATION OFFICER.
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON,
EAGLESON HALL . IT IS LOCATED
JUST WEST OF THE MAIN CAMPUS
ACROSS THE STREET.
YOU CAN SEE HOW IT RELATES TO
THE MAIN CENTRAL CAMPUS.
THIS WAS DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD
ON JUNE 19, 2019.
UNDER STANDARDS C, D, AND F.
CULTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL
HISTORY AS WELL AS A VISUAL
DISTINCTNESS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE BOARD HAS DESIGNATED THE
SITE, THE BUILDING EXTERIOR,
AND THE ORIGINAL MAIN LOUNGE
AND SOCIAL ROOM IN THE
BUILDING.
THIS WAS COMPLETED IN 1923.
ORIGINALLY, THIS WAS THE YOUNG
MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, OR
YMCA.
THEY STARTED A CHAPTER AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON ON THE
CAMPUS IN 1888.
AND WERE MEETING IN A BUILDING
THAT WAS ONE OF THE SCHOOLS
BUILDINGS.
A NEW INTERPRETATION OF THE
WASHINGTON STATE CONSTITUTION
RIVETED RELIGIOUS GROUPS FROM
USING CAMPUS FACILITIES SO THEY
LED A FINANCIAL CAMPAIGN TO
RAISE MONEY AND BUILD THEIR OWN
BUILDING.
ON THIS SITE.
AND IN 1920 COMPLETED THIS
BUILDING, I'M SORRY THEY
STARTED IN 1920 AND COMPLETED
IN 1923.
THE ARCHITECTURAL BRIDGE OF
EAGLESON HALL IS MEANT TO BE
COMPATIBLE WITH THE COLLEGIATE
ETHICS STYLE AND THE NEARBY
CAMPUS.
THIS WAS DONE IN RESPONSE TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
PRESIDENT RECOMMENDATION THAT
ALL LOCAL BUSINESSES AND OWNERS
IN 1820, THAT THEY START
DEVELOPING THEIR BUILDINGS TO
BE CONSISTENT AND COMPATIBLE
WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE
CAMPUS.
THE YMCA OCCUPIED THE BUILDING
UNTIL 1963 WHEN THEY DECIDED TO
DOWNSIZE AND JOIN THE YWCA IN
COMPLETING A NEW FACILITY IN A
NEW LOCATION.
UNIVERSITY PURCHASED THE
PROPERTY IN 1965 AND REMODELED
FOR THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK.
AND HAS RESIDED THERE FOR OVER
50 YEARS IN ADDITION TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF SPEECH AND HUMAN
SCIENCES.
THE FIRM OF VAN GOULD MAY SOUND
FAMILIAR.
THEY DESIGNED MANY NOTABLE
BUILDINGS IN SEATTLE INCLUDING
28 AT THE UNIVERSITY AND THEY
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MASTER
PLAN WHICH INFLUENCED THE
DESIGN FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS.
>> AND THE ADMINISTRATION
BUILDING.
>> JULIE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SPEAK TO THIS?
I BELIEVE THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL
WORK HAS MOVED DOWN THE STREET
TO A NEW BUILDING.
>> THEY ARE LOCATED IN BOTH THE
BUILDINGS.
SEVERAL OF THE HEARING SCIENCES,
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
CLASSROOMS AND OFFICES IN
EAGLE'S AND.
THEY ARE JOINTLY TIED ON THE
WHOLE BLOCK, --
>> MY FATHER ATTENDED THE
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK WILL I WAS
, IT WAS ONLY LOCATED IN
EAGLESON HALL.
HE HAD A LOT TO SHARE WITH ME
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS
BUILDING.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD
LIKE TO SHARE?
>> WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS,
IT IS A BUILDING THAT IS A URM
BUILDING, WE ARE IN FACT ON THE
WAY AND DESIGN OF HOW WE CAN
STRUCTURALLY SUPPORT THIS
BUILDING.
IT IS GREAT WORKING WITH ERIN
AND SARAH IN A COLLABORATIVE
PROCESS AND HOW WE CAN COME UP
WITH SOME STRUCTURAL SOLUTIONS
TO MINIMIZE THE EFFECT ON THIS
HISTORIC STRUCTURE.
>> WONDERFUL.
ARE THERE INCENTIVES TO THE
CONTROLS WE ARE APPLYING?
I SEE IT'S BOTH THE MAIN LOUNGE,
THE SOCIAL ROOM AS WELL AS THE
EXTERIOR.
ARE THERE INCENTIVES?
>> THE INCENTIVES THAT COULD
MOST LIKELY APPLY HERE WOULD BE
BUILDING CODE RELIEF.
I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO SEEK
ZONING CODE RELIEF BECAUSE OF
THE CAMPUS MASTER PLAN.
THAT IS PROBABLY, LIKE ENERGY
CODE AS WELL.
PRESERVING HISTORIC WINDOWS,
LIKELY ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE
GOING TO ASK SDCI TO APPROVE.
I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU WILL BE
PURSUING A SPECIAL TAX
EVALUATION.
>> NOT AS A STATE INSTITUTION.
>> WE EXPECT THAT RICH WILL
LIKELY DO THAT.
>> WONDERFUL.
ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS FOR
MY COLLEAGUES?
>> I WANTED TO FLAG THAT I
SUPPORT THIS.
IS IN DISTRICT 4, I READ THE
REPORTS AND APPRECIATE YOUR
HARD WORK AND HAVE CONFERRED
WITH OTHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU.
>> ONE OF THE CHALLENGES I HAVE
HAD EMOTIONALLY EXPENSING THE
CHANGING NATURE OF OUR CITY,
ONE OF MY FAVORITE COFFEE SHOPS
IN THE ENTIRE CITY, CAFC
ALLEGRO, BEFORE WE HAD A NEW
BUILDING ON THE PARKING LOT
SITE YOU COULD VIEW EAGLESON
HALL FROM THE PATIO , THE
UPSTAIRS PATIO.
NOW THERE IS A BUILDING THERE.
THAT VIEW IS NO LONGER
AVAILABLE.
IT IS JUST ONE OF THOSE
CHANGING DYNAMICS.
WE NOW HAVE MORE SPACE FOR
PEOPLE TO WORK AND PLAY.
OTHER QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?
WONDERFUL.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
DISCUSSION, I'D LIKE TO VOTE ON
THESE TWO ORDINANCES.
STARTING WITH THE SUNSET
TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH EXCHANGE
EXCHANGE.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE, I MOVED TO
ADOPT COUNCIL BILL 119748.
>> SECOND.
>> HEARING A SECOND ALL THOSE
IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
UNANIMOUS.
THIS MOTION PASSES.
SECONDLY I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO
ADOPT COUNCIL BILL FOR
EAGLESON HALL, 119 749.
SEEING A SECOND, THOSE IN FAVOR
PLEASE VOTE AYE.
UNANIMOUS VOTE.
THIS MOTION PASSES.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY
AND ALL OF YOUR WORK TO
PRESERVE THE HISTORIC NATURE OF
OUR CITY WILL ALSO BUILDING THE
RESOURCES WE NEED TO BE THE
GLOBAL CITY WE ARE BECOMING.
THESE ITEMS WILL BE ON THE FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA ON MARCH 2. ANY
ITEMS FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER?
SEEING NONE, THIS CONCLUDES OUR
FEBRUARY 26, 2020 MEETING. OUR
NEXT MEETING WILL BE MARCH 11
STARTING AT 9:30 AM IN COUNCIL
CHAMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.