>>> ♪ ♪
>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THE
JUNE 5th, 2024 REGULARLY
SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE LAND
USE COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER. I AM TAMMY MORALES,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. WHILE
THE CLERK CALLED THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER CATHY MOORE?
--
>> COUNCILMEMBER MARITZA
RIVERA?
>> PRESIDENT .
>> COUNCILMEMBERTANYA WOO?
>> PRESENT .
>> VICE CHAIR DAN STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT .
>> CHAIR TAMMY MORALES?
>> PRESENT.
>> FOUR PRESENT.
>> CAN YOU CALL COUNCILMEMBER
CATHY MOORE AGAIN?
>> COUNCILMEMBER CATHY MOORE?
>> YES.
>> WE HAVE FIVE TO PRESENT.
>> WE HAVE THREE ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA TODAY AND TO PUBLIC
HEARINGS. SO HERE IS HOW THIS
WILL WORK. WE ARE GOING TO HEAR
COUNSEL BUILT 120761 A BRIEFING
A DISCUSSION FIRST ON OUR
OFFICE TO RESIDENTIAL
CONVERSION AND THEN WE WILL
HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR
THAT COMPONENT. AND THEN WE
WILL HAVE A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION ON COUNSEL BUILT
120771 AND HAVE A PUBLIC
HEARING ON DOWNTOWN STREET
ACTIVATION LEGISLATION AND THEN
WE WILL HAVE AN INFORMATIONAL
ITEM WHICH IS GOING TO BE A
BRIEFING A DISCUSSION ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
PERMITTING AUDIT. THAT WAS DONE
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS IN
2021 AND 2022. AND I DO WANT TO
CONFIRM, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT
KNOW THIS, THAT WE NEED TO HAVE
THE TWO HEARINGS SEPARATELY OR
CAN WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO SPEAK ON
EITHER ITEMS?
>> WE CAN HAVE IT IN ONE BUT
THEY HAVE TO CLEARLY INDICATE
WHICH ITEM THEY ARE SPEAKING
TO.
>> OKAY. AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DO
WE HAVE SIGNED UP?
>> WE HAVE THREE IN PERSON
SIGNED UP FOR GENERAL PUBLIC
COMMENT. SIX ONLINE, SIGNED UP
FOR COUNCIL BILL 120761 AND
THREE IN PERSON SIGNED UP FOR
COUNCIL BILL 120771 AND SEVEN
IN PERSON SIGNED UP FOR 120761
.
>> OKAY, HERE IS WHAT WE WILL
DO THEN. WE WILL OPEN FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT, GENERAL PUBLIC
COMMENT FIRST AND THEN IF YOU
ARE HERE TO SPEAK TO EITHER OF
THE BILLS, OR TO THE DOWNTOWN
STREET ACTIVATION LEGISLATION
SPECIFICALLY. PLEASE HOLD YOUR
COMMENT UNTIL WE OPEN UP THE
PUBLIC HEARING AND WE WILL DO
ONE, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE A
WHOLE LOT SIGNED UP WE WILL
JUST DO THE ONE HEARING AND YOU
CAN INDICATE WHICH OF THE TWO
THINGS YOU ARE SPEAKING TO. ARE
WE CLEAR? OKAY. IN THAT CASE,
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO
TODAY'S AGENDA IT WILL BE
ADOPTED. HAVING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED, WE WILL
NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. AND WE WILL
GIVE TWO MINUTES TO THE FOLKS
WHO WERE HERE FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT AND, NAOMI, I WILL LET
YOU PROCEED.
>> EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES, WE WILL START WITH
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST .
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER, THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS BECAUSE YOU WILL BE
CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED, SPEAKERS WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN SETS OF
IN-PERSON AND REMOTE SPEAKERS.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR THE CHIME
WHEN THERE IS 10 SECONDS LEFT
TO SPEAK.
>> OKAY.
>> SO, IN PERSON FOR GENERAL
PUBLIC COMMENT, WE HAVE ROBERT
REICHERT, STEVE CASTILLO, AND
ALEX IMMERMAN.
>> I'M HERE FOR SOMETHING
TANGENTIAL TO YOUR MAIN THING.
>> PLEASE CHECK YOUR
MICROPHONE, THERE'S A TALLER
ONE THERE.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT
PERMITTING FOR THE 80 YOU.
>> YOU WILL HAVE TO GET CLOSE
TO THE MIC
>> I HAD PREVIOUSLY MET AND I
TALKED WITH MY PREVIOUS
COUNCILMEMBER, ALEX PEDERSON
ABOUT THIS, THEY SAID THEY
WOULD GET BACK TO ME AND THEY
HADN'T. I TALKED TO MR.
STRAUSS'S OFFICE, WHEN HE WAS
AHEAD OF THE COMMITTEE. THEY
SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME
AND THEY DIDN'T AND MORE
RECENTLY I MET WITH
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ABOUT THIS
AND THEY ALL SAID THEY WOULD
HAVE MEMBERS OF THEIR STAFF
LOOK INTO THIS AND NEVER GOT A
RESPONSE. DESPITE MULTIPLE
CALLS. THE CITY IS DEMOTING A
TO USE, DRAMATICALLY. AND I
LIVE ON THE LAKE IN LAUREL
HURST AND FOR SOME REASON
PARTICULAR AREA WHERE I LIVE
DOES NOT PERMIT ADUS . I HAVE
NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET
INFORMATION FROM ANYBODY ABOUT
WHY THAT IS AND, I ASSUME THEY
AREN'T GETTING BACK TO ME
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIGURE IT
OUT EITHER. AND THERE ARE THREE
ADUS IN OUR IMMEDIATE
NEIGHBORHOOD IN SMALLER LOTS
WITH NO OFFSTREET PARKING. I
HAVE OFFSTREET PARKING BUT FOR
SOME REASON BECAUSE OF WHERE I
AM ON THE LINK THEY DO NOT
PERMIT ADUS AND I WOULD LIKE TO
FIND OUT HOW TO REMEDY THAT AND
WHO I GO TO, DO I HAVE TO BRING
HOW TO DEAL WITH IS I DON'T
KNOW WHAT TO DO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU CAN EMAIL OUR OFFICE AND
WE HAVE GOT STAFF HERE THAT
WOULD BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP
WITH YOU. WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO
FOLLOW UP WITH YOU IF YOU
CONTACT OUR OFFICE.
>> CHAIR, I THOUGHT WE HAD
REACHED OUT .
>> WE WILL CONTINUE. GO AHEAD.
>> STEEPEST HELLO?
>> WE ARE STILL NOT TALKING
ABOUT RAISING IMAGE A PIECE I
HEAR CONCERNS ABOUT HOUSING,
BUT, THEY ARE VERY LOW, IF YOU
COMPARE THEM TO OTHER CITIES
THEY REMAIN LOW. AND I THINK IT
IS TIME THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT
THAT, BECAUSE IT IS AN
AFFORDABLE WAY FOR THE CITY TO
TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE WHO CANNOT
AFFORD HOUSING. AND WHAT HAS
HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS IS THAT
EVEN PEOPLE ANSWER RELATIVELY
HIGH LEVEL OF INCOME, SHOULD BE
NOTICING A DIFFERENCE IN THE
MARKET. JUST THINK WHAT IT'S
LIKE FOR PEOPLE FAR BELOW YOUR
LEVEL OF INCOME. WE HAVE MANY
ESSENTIAL JOBS BUT IT'S NOT
ESSENTIAL THAT WE PAY A LIVING
WAGE? AND IN SEATTLE, A LIVING
WAGE IS HIGHER THAN IT IS IN A
LOT OF OTHER PLACES. THE OTHER
THING I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION
UNDER GENERAL COMMENT HERE, IS
OUR TREES, AND WHAT IS LEFT OF
THEM AND HOW FAST THEY ARE
GOING AWAY. IF YOU ARE BUILDING
LONGLINE TO LONGLINE YOU WILL
EQUALIZE THE CITY, AND IN THE
NORTH END WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY
THAT WE HAVE MORE TREES AND
MORE SHADE THAN A LOT OF OTHER
PLACES, BUT WHEN YOU BUILD
LONGLINE TO LONGLINE IT WILL
ALL COME OUT WITH A BIG ZERO.
IT WILL BE EQUAL THOUGH. NOBODY
WILL HAVE ANY MORE TREES OF ANY
CONSEQUENCE. AND IN SPITE OF
WHAT THE TALK OF CANOPY IS,
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
TREE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF AGE
ON IT AND IN HANDLING POLLUTION
AND PROVIDING SHADE, THEN THERE
IS A BUNCH OF SHRUBS , OR A
SAPLING. LET'S TALK ABOUT
HAVING AN ACTUAL TREE ORDINANCE
THAT BRINGS DEVELOPMENT UNDER
CONTROL. IT CANNOT BE OR SHOULD
NOT BE EXACTLY THE SAME. THEY
ARE NOT -- BUT THE DEVELOPMENT
INDUSTRY WOULD LIKE IT THAT
WAY.
>> UP NEXT, WE HAVE ALEX
ZIMMERMAN.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ] I WANT TO
SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING. I WANT
TO HELP YOUR COUNSEL MAKE YOUR
JOKE BETTER BECAUSE MANY
COUNSEL ARE FURTHER FIRST TIME,
SO THEY PROBABLY WON'T
UNDERSTAND BUT I COME TO THIS
PLACE FOR 20 YEARS, THE
SITUATION THAT YOU HAVE RIGHT
NOW IS VERY STRANGE, I PRESENT
LAST WEEK 250 PEOPLE COME. YOU
DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS DOING.
IT IS A NIGHTMARE. YESTERDAY,
THE SAME SITUATION, TOO MANY
PEOPLE COME, I DON'T KNOW, 50
OR 60, YOU SPENT AND YOU TALK
ABOUT ONE MINUTE FOR SPEAKING.
I WANT TO HELP YOU GUYS,
BECAUSE THE SITUATION FOR YOU
IS TERRIBLE I WILL BE HONEST
WITH YOU. SO AND I TALKED ABOUT
THIS FOR MANY YEARS AND
HUNDREDS OF TIMES. IN CITY
HALL, AND THE FIRST FLOOR, ONE
TIME PER WEEK TO GIVE SOMEONE
TO SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES, ALL
OF THIS ENERGY THAT THE PEOPLE
BRING HERE, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS
BEEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, AND
PEOPLE CAN SPEAK BECAUSE WHEN
YOU SPEAK THREE MINUTES AND
EVERYBODY LISTENS TO YOU, YOU
CAN SPEAK ABOUT EVERYTHING
BECAUSE AS WE SPEAK HERE, YOU
CONTROL IT AND BY DEFINITION,
YOU ARE ACTING LIKE , I AM SO
SORRY, I ONLY WANT TO HELP. SO
PEOPLE CAN COME, ONE DAY PER
WEEK FROM 9:00 P.M. UNTIL 9:00
A.M., AND SPEAK ABOUT
EVERYTHING. THERE ARE THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE AND THERE WILL BE
MORE BECAUSE BEFORE WE MAKE OUR
CHANGES. AND RIGHT NOW THE
SITUATION IS CRITICAL BECAUSE
RIGHT NOW, WE LOOK NOT LIKE A
NOTABLE REPUBLIC. RIGHT NOW YOU
LOOK LIKE A FASCIST REPUBLIC,
THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT. I
WANT TO HELP YOU, PLEASE AND DO
THIS. IT IS BEST FOR YOU AND IT
IS BEST FOR ME. THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE NO MORE SPEAKERS
SIGNED UP FOR GENERAL PUBLIC
COMMENT IN PERSON OR ONLINE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I WILL
CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND ASK
YOU, NAOMI TO READ ITEM ONE
INTO THE RECORD AND ASK CITY
STAFF AND CENTRAL STAFF TO JOIN
US AT THE TABLE.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, COUNCIL
BILL 120761 FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
>> GREAT, SO WE HAVE CENTRAL
STAFF, AND WE HAVE ASKED, MARK
McINTYRE FROM THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO JOIN
US, BECAUSE WOULD BE TALKING
ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION
PLAN AND I HAVE A LOT OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT OED AND THE
ROLE IN THAT. SO PLEASE GO
AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
AND BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS, I AM THE
LAND-USE POLICY MANAGER IN THE
CITY'S OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
>> I AM MARKHAM McINTYRE, OF
THE OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT.
>> -- COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> TERRIFIC, THANK YOU.
>> WHILE THEY ARE GETTING THE
PRESENTATIONS SET UP, THIS IS
ABOUT THE OFFICE TO RESIDENTIAL
CONVERSION ELEMENTS , OF THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN THAT
THE MAYOR HAS PROPOSED. I WILL
SAY THAT I HAVE MET WITH TWO
DEVELOPERS, MY OFFICE TOWARD
POTENTIAL OFFICE BUILDINGS THAT
WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS
LEGISLATION IT WAS IMPORTANT
FOR ME TO SEE IT ON THE GROUND,
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
AND, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT WE BRING MORE HOUSING
DOWNTOWN, I DO THINK IT IS THE
BEST WAY TO REINVIGORATE OUR
DOWNTOWN CORE BUT I DO HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT ENSURING THAT WE
ARE PROVIDING SERVICES FOR
PEOPLE IF WE ARE GOING TO
INCREASE RESIDENCE DOWN HERE,
I'M INTERESTED IN HOW WE GET
FACILITIES, MAYBE EVEN A
SCHOOL, AND OTHER SERVICES THAT
ARE NEEDED TO CREATE THE KIND
OF ACCESS TO AMENITIES THAT
PEOPLE NEED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF
QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED AND I
TOOK A TOUR OF THE BUILDINGS
AND I TOOK A TOUR OF THE STREET
ACTIVATION ELEMENT WHICH WE
WILL TALK ABOUT NEXT. BUT, JUST
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC AND FOR
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMITTEE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT
THE CITY IS GIVING TO THESE
CONVERGENCE AND WHAT KIND OF
SUPPORT WE ARE GETTING FOR
PEOPLE WHO WILL BE LIVING,
LIVING IN THESE BUILDINGS. AND
SO WITH THAT I WILL HAND IT OFF
TO YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, JOE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND SO, WE
WILL TALK ABOUT CONVERSIONS TO
RESIDENTIAL AND THE LEGISLATION
YOU HAVE TO BE FOR YOU, THIS
PRESENTATION STARTS WITH A
GENERAL DISCUSSION OF
CONVERSION TO RESIDENTIAL AND
WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT AND WHY
WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THIS
FORWARD AND AT THE END OF THE
PRESENTATION I WILL GET INTO
THE SPECIFICS OF THE BILL THAT
YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY. SO,
THE BIG PITCHER HERE IS THAT AS
MANY OF US ARE WELL AWARE AS A
RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, VACANCY
RATES WENT FROM ROUGHLY 5%, IN
2019 TO CLOSE TO 25% IN
DOWNTOWN EARLY THIS YEAR, AND
AT THE SAME TIME, SEATTLE
CONTINUES TO FACE A REAL
SHORTAGE OF HOUSING AND RENTS
HAVE CONTINUED TO INCREASE, SO
MAYOR HARRELL ASKED US TO LOOK
AT BOTH OF THESE AND AS A PART
OF THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION
THINKING ABOUT MORE RESIDENTIAL
DOWNTOWN WHILE TAKING SMALL
STEPS TO INCREASE HOUSING
SUPPLIES. AND OTHER IMPORTANT
POINTS ON WHY WE THINK THIS IS
IMPORTANT ARE THAT A MORE
BALANCED MIX OF HOUSING WITH
COMMERCIAL AND OFFICES DOWNTOWN
HAS BEEN A GOAL FOR THE CITY
FOR QUITE SOME TIME BUT THE
PANDEMIC REALLY LAID BARE WHY
THAT IS SO IMPORTANT. AND WE
THINK IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO
AVOID LONG PERIODS OF VACANCY
AND STRUCTURES BECAUSE THOSE
GENERALLY CREATE NEGATIVE
PERCEPTIONS. AND ALSO RESIDENTS
ARE ALSO JUST A GREAT WAY TO
ACTIVATE A PLACE, THEY HAVE AN
18 OR 24 HOUR PRESENCE, AND
THEY BRING LIFE TO DOWNTOWN.
AND, WE REALLY FOUND STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THE CONCEPT OF
CONVERTING OFFICES INTO HOUSING
AMONG THE PUBLIC WHEN WE GO OUT
TO MEETINGS, PEOPLE THINK IT IS
A COMMON SENSE GOOD IDEA. I AM
GOING TO NOTE THAT MAYOR
HARRELL INCLUDED THIS, AS ONE
OF HIS DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN
ITEMS AND, OUR DIRECTOR IS HERE
TODAY, SO YOU WANT TO SAY A
COUPLE WORDS ABOUT THE
ACTIVATION PLAN?
>> SURE AS YOU ARE ALL
FAMILIAR, THE MAYOR HAS A
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN THE
WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN IS TO
GET MORE PEOPLE DOWNTOWN IT IS
AN AMBITIOUS PLAN THAT HAS
SEVEN DIFFERENT GOALS, ONE OF
WHICH IS HOW WE MAKE DOWNTOWN
MORE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD, SO TO
THE POINT, NOT JUST MORE
HOUSING OPTIONS BUT AMENITIES
THAT MAKE IT FEEL LIKE A
NEIGHBORHOOD. AND AS JEFF
MENTIONED WE HAVE TALKED TO A
LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PLAN I'LL
AS WELL IS WHEN WE WILL
IMPLEMENT IT AND WE HAVE HEARD
LOUD AND CLEAR, THAT THEY WANT
TO SEE MORE HOUSING OPTIONS SO
POLICY IS ONE OF THE BEST
LEVERAGES WE HAVE OF THE CITY
TO ENCOURAGE THAT AND LAST YEAR
AFTER THE PLAN WAS LAUNCHED,
THERE WERE UP ZONES ANNOUNCED,
SO THAT IS ONE WAY WE CAN DO IT
AND THAT DID INCLUDE INCENTIVES
FOR EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES FOR
SCHOOL OR CHILDCARE THIS IS
ANOTHER GREAT TOOL THAT WE HAVE
KIND OF WORKSHOP CAN COME UP
WITH, THAT IS WHY IT IS BEING
PROPOSED TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. AND SO THERE ARE
SEVERAL THINGS THAT THE CITY
AND NOT JUST THE CITY BUT ALSO
THE STATE ARE DOING TO SUPPORT
CONVERSIONS TO HOUSING. THEY
ARE LISTED HERE ON THE SCREEN,
SO I'M GOING TO TALK A BIT
ABOUT EACH OF THESE LAST
SUMMER, THEY DID THEY CALL FOR
IDEAS COMPETITION TO BRING
FORWARD GREAT IDEAS, FOR
CONVERSIONS. AND THE
HIGHLIGHTED ITEM IS WHAT IS ON
YOUR PLATE TODAY. A REGULATORY
COST REALLY LEGISLATION, THE
CITY IS ALSO PROVIDING DIRECT
CONSULTATIONS TO SUPPORT EXCUSE
ME, BUILDING OWNERS WHO MIGHT
WANT TO DO A CONVERSION. AND,
THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN THE
LAST SESSION PAST ENABLING
LEGISLATION FOR A SALES TAX
EXEMPTION ON THE CONSTRUCTION
OF CONVERSION DEVELOPMENTS.
AND, SO FIRST ON THAT LIST, THE
CALL FOR IDEAS COMPETITION FROM
LAST SUMMER, WAS A LOT OF FUN,
THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITIES CAME TOGETHER THEY
BROUGHT FORWARD 13 QUALITY
PROPOSALS. AND THESE PROPOSALS
HAD EVERYTHING FROM FOUR PLANS
DEVELOPMENT FEASIBILITY
INFORMATION SUGGESTIONS FOR
POLICY CHANGES LIKE THE ONE WE
ARE BRINGING FORWARD TODAY AND
THIS PROCESS HELPED OP CD LEARN
A LOT OF THE DETAILS AND
INFORMATION ABOUT THE DYNAMICS
OF CONVERSIONS. AND JUST A FEW
IMAGES FROM THAT CALL FOR
IDEAS, THIS IS THE WESTERN
BUILDINGS IN PIONEER SQUARE, ON
WESTERN, A REALLY COOL IDEA TO
CREATE A COURTYARD IN THE UPPER
LEVEL OF A HISTORIC AGED
STRUCTURE. HERE'S ANOTHER
EXAMPLE, EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR
WITH, THE SMITH TOWER WAS
BROUGHT FORWARD AS AN IDEA AND,
THE FLOOR PLAN THEIR SHOWS HOW
THAT ICONIC BUILDING IN SEATTLE
COULD BE, WHAT IF IT WERE
CONVERTED TO RESIDENTIAL AND
HOW INTERESTING THAT WOULD BE.
>> DIRECT CONSULTATION TO
SUPPORT THE OWNERS, SO DOING
MORE THAN JUST LEGISLATION. WE
ARE TALKING WITH OWNERS ABOUT
APPLYING FOR FUNDING FEDERAL
FUNDS THAT COULD BE AVAILABLE.
AND AS DCI HAS DONE A FANTASTIC
JOB OF BEING AVAILABLE TO TALK
TO BUILDING OWNERS EARLY IN THE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS TO GIVE
THEM GUIDANCE ABOUT THE SEISMIC
AND ENERGY CODES AND SOME
FLEXIBILITIES THAT CAN BE
THERE. BEFORE THEY HAVE TO GET
TOO FAR INTO THE PERMITTING
PROCESS AND SPEND TOO MUCH
MONEY.
>> I WANT TO JUST NOTICE IT IS
NOT ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY, BUT
THE STATE SALES TAX EXEMPTION
IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE
TO PURSUE AND BRING BACK TO
YOU, THEN COUNSEL WOULD HAVE TO
MAKE A LOCAL ACTION, TO ENACT
THE SALES TAX EXEMPTION, SO WE
ARE WORKING ON IT AND WE WOULD
LOVE TO COME BACK LATER WITH
THAT ITEM AS WELL.
>> JUST REALLY QUICK THIS SLIDE
YOU CAN READ IT WHEN YOU HAVE
TIME BUT WE THINK IT IS
INTERESTING TO THINK OF A
SCENARIO, WHERE AN OFFICE
BUILDING DOES NOT CONVERT
VERSUS CONVERSION. AND YOU KNOW
BASICALLY IF THERE IS NO
CONVERSION, WE ARE FACING THE
REALITY WHERE THERE COULD BE A
LONG PERIOD OF VACANCY OR
ZOMBIE BUILDINGS, IN AND AROUND
DOWNTOWN. AND, WE THINK
THERE'S A PUBLIC POLICY REASON
WHY THE CITY WOULD WANT TO
INTERVENE TO PROVIDE SOME
SUPPORT, TO SHIFT THAT OVER
FROM A SCENARIO WHERE THERE'S
NO CONVERSION TO A CONVERSION
SCENARIO THAT BRINGS HUNDREDS
OF RESIDENTS INTO A NEW
STRUCTURE, WHERE IT MIGHT
OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR
QUITE SOME TIME. AND THIS IS
JUST AN IMAGE OF A STRUCTURE IN
PIONEER SQUARE THAT IS
CURRENTLY VACANT. AND WE KNOW
THAT THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF
THAT THERE'S AN INCREASED
LIKELIHOOD OF WORK ON
MAINTENANCE ALSO OF VACANCY
JUST PROVIDES YOU KNOW NEGATIVE
PERCEPTIONS AROUND SAFETY AND
COMFORT. SO IF WE CAN GET A
CONVERSION AND EVEN IF THERE IS
A SMALL NUMBER IN KEY
LOCATIONS, IT CAN HAVE A BIG
AND POSITIVE IMPACT.
>> AND I WILL JUST SAY TO YOUR
POINT, JEFF, JUST YESTERDAY WE
VOTED ON A BILL TO ADDRESS THE
FACT THAT WE HAVE SO MANY
VACANCIES ACROSS THE CITY AND
THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARDS
THAT THEY POSE, SO I THINK YOU
KNOW THAT CONCERN APPLIES TO
DOWNTOWN AS WELL, JUST TRYING
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING
IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING
FOR SOME OTHER POLICY LEVER TO
PULL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
AREN'T LEAVING THE BUILDING IS
VACANT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THIS IS POSSIBLE, THERE ARE
EXAMPLES OUT THERE THIS IS AN
EXAMPLE OF A HISTORIC BUILDING
IN TACOMA THAT WAS CONVERTED
AND IT STARTED BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC. AND, THEY ARE NICE
HISTORIC STRUCTURES IN MANY
CASES THAT CAN HAVE APPEALING
FEATURES FOR RESIDENTS. AND
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT SLIDE
BECAUSE IT IS SHOWING YOU THAT
THE COST OF CONVERSIONS WHICH
IS IN THE ORANGE BAR HERE, ADDS
$475,000 AND UP PER UNIT AND
HOW THAT RELATES TO THE COST OF
CONSTRUCTION FOR THE GROUND-UP
CONSTRUCTION ON JUST A SITE
WITHOUT A BUILDING ON IT AND
WHAT IT IS SHOWING YOU IS THAT
THE COST OF CONVERGENCE IS HIGH
ARE AS HIGH IN MANY CASES THE
GROUND-UP CONSTRUCTION SO THIS
IS THE CASE WHY WE CAN REALLY
FEEL LIKE THE CITY AND THE
PUBLIC SECTOR SHOULD TAKE SOME
ACTION TO SUPPORT BRINGING SOME
OF THOSE COSTS DOWN BECAUSE
WITHOUT THAT THE COST OF
CONVERSION IS SO HIGH, THAT YOU
WILL JUST NOT SEE CONVERSIONS
TAKE PLACE WE DON'T THINK
THERE WILL BE ANY MEANINGFUL
NUMBER OF CONVERSIONS BUT FOR
SUPPORTS LIKE THE ONE WE ARE
BRINGING FORWARD TODAY. AND ON
THAT NOTE WHY IS IT SO
EXPENSIVE? IT IS NOT OBVIOUS
WHY REUSING A BUILDING WOULD
COST SO MUCH BUT THESE ARE SOME
OF THE FACTORS OFTEN YOU HAVE
TO DO WITH SEISMIC OR
STRUCTURAL UPGRADES AND AN
ENERGY CODE UPGRADE AND THE
PLUMBING AND VENTILATION
SYSTEMS ARE COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT FOR A RESIDENTIAL
BUILDING THAN IT WOULD BE FOR
AN OFFICE. AND -- THERE'S ALSO
A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY OR
UNKNOWNS WHEN YOU GET INTO
EVERYONE HAS DONE A KITCHEN
REMODEL AND, YOU KNOW YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU ARE GETTING INTO ON
THE OUTSET ALWAYS.
>> OKAY, SO THAT WAS THE
OVERVIEW ON CONVERSIONS
GENERALLY AND THIS IS MOVING
INTO THE LEGISLATION BEFORE YOU
TODAY. THIS LEGISLATION WOULD
EXEMPT CONVERSION PROPOSALS
FROM DIMENSIONAL DESIGN
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND
DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL AND
MIXED-USE ZONES. AND IT WOULD
APPLY TO CONVERSIONS THAT ARE
JUST BEING PROPOSED. SO
EXISTING STRUCTURES BUT NEW
PROPOSALS TO CONVERT THEM AS
WELL AS PROJECTS THAT ARE IN
CONSTRUCTION. OR PROJECTS THAT
HAVE BEEN PERMITTED BUT NOT
STARTED, YOU CAN CONVERT ANY
ONE OF THOSE FROM OFFICE TO
HOUSING. THIS PROPOSAL WOULD
ALSO WAIVE THE REQUIREMENT IN
THIS VERY LIMITED CASE OF
CONVERTING AN EXISTING
STRUCTURE. AND I'M GOING TO
TALK ABOUT WHY WE THINK THAT IS
IMPORTANT AND APPROPRIATE. I
ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
INITIAL BILL PROVIDED ALL OF
THE EXEMPTIONS IN THE FIRST
BULLET POINT INCLUDING FOUR
OVERLAY DISTRICTS BUT OPCD, DID
WORK WITH COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
ON THE AMENDMENT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAD
BROUGHT FORWARD AND I THINK
THAT IS A GOOD CORRECTION, IT
WAS INADVERTENTLY EXEMPTING
FROM OVERLAY DISTRICTS LIKE THE
SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM
DISTRICT AND PREHISTORIC
DISTRICTS SO, WE SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S
AMENDMENT ON THAT ISSUE I JUST
WANT TO FLIGHT THAT ON THE
OFFSET. EXEMPTING CONVERSIONS
FROM MHA WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT.
AND IT BRINGS FIRST OF ALL, IT
BRINGS THE COST DOWN, IT IS ONE
TANGIBLE WAY YOU CAN BRING THE
COST DOWN TO BE COMPETITIVE, SO
WE DO HAVE CONVERSIONS. AND, WE
DO NOT THINK THERE'S ANY
CONFLICT HERE WITH THE MHA'S,
AND THE FOUNDATION OR THE
PRINCIPLES AND IT IS A VERY
NARROW CASE, IN FACT WE
PROBABLY THINK IT WAS NOT
PERHAPS THE BEST APPROACH AT
THE OUTSET, TO APPLY MHA, TO
CONVERSIONS OF EXISTING
STRUCTURES, I JUST WANT TO
TOUCH ON THESE TWO POINTS.
NUMBER ONE, MHA'S BASIS AND
PURPOSE AS A DEVELOPMENT
INCENTIVE PROGRAM, SO AS YOU
KNOW THERE IS ALWAYS UP SELLER
OR A BONUS GIVEN WHEN WE PUT A
REQUIREMENT IN PLACE, AND THE
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
REQUIREMENT GOES IN TANDEM WITH
THAT BONUS, DEVELOPERS ARE
GETTING A BONUS AND THEN I HAVE
TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND IN THIS
CASE, IF YOU ARE A BUILDER AND
YOU ARE CONVERTING EXISTING
STRUCTURES WITH AN EXISTING
ENVELOPE YOU ARE NOT ACCESSING
THAT BONUS, SO WE THINK IT IS
FAIR AND REASONABLE NOT TO
IMPOSE THE REQUIREMENTS.
>> ALSO, INTENDED TO MITIGATE
IMPACTS. AND IN THIS CASE
AGAIN, IF YOU ARE CONVERTING AN
EXISTING STRUCTURE THAT HAD ONE
USE THAT IS REPLACED WITH A NEW
USE, THERE IS NOT A NEW
INCREMENT OF IMPACT ON THINGS
LIKE TRAFFIC THAT WOULD CAUSE
THE NEED TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT
OR IN THIS CASE ON HOUSING SO
WE ARE PROPOSING THE EXEMPTION,
WE THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT
TO INCLUDE IN THE BILL AND AS A
TANGIBLE WAY, THAT YOU CAN
REALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE A FEW
CONVERSIONS TO TAKE PLACE. AND
SO, LASTLY, JUST WRAPPING UP
HERE, OVERALL WE ESTIMATE THAT
IF YOU PASS THIS LEGISLATION
AND WITH OTHER SUPPORTS THERE
COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE A DOZEN
CONVERSIONS THAT COULD CREATE
1000 TO 2000 NEW HOMES. WITHIN
A SEVEN YEAR TIMEFRAME. AND
WITHOUT THIS LEGISLATION. AND
OTHER SUPPORTS WE REALLY DON'T
THINK WE WILL SEE ANY
MEANINGFUL CONVERSIONS, OR ANY
IN THE DOWNTOWN. AND, A SLEEP
OF DETERMINATION WAS UP
PUBLISHED. AND THERE WAS NO
APPEAL. MAYOR HARRELL DOES PUT
A HIGH PRIORITY ON ADDING
HOUSING DOWNTOWN INCLUDING IN
CONVERSIONS AS A PART OF THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN. AND
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU
PASS THE LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU. IN COLLEGE, IF
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL
FREE I WILL START IN THE
MEANTIME. ASHOK, DID YOU WANT
TO ADD ANYTHING TO THIS?
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO, THEY DID
A GREAT JOB OF DISCOVERING WHAT
THE LEGISLATION DOES, THERE ARE
A COUPLE ISSUES IN THE MEMO
THAT I CAN BRING UP NOW OR
AFTER YOU ALL PRESENT
>> OKAY LET ME START WITH A
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND THEN WE
CAN SEE WHERE WE GO. SO, IF WE
GO TO SLIDE 13, THE DEVELOPMENT
COST COMPARISONS. I JUST WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND
THE CHART. SO, IT STARTS WITH
THE LOWEST FLOOR, SO 75 FEET UP
TO 400 FEET, DOWNTOWN THESE ARE
THE DIFFERENT COSTS FOR
CONSTRUCTION AND, IS THIS -- WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT CONVERTING TO
RESIDENTIAL, SO IS THIS
CONSTRUCTION COST FOR
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION
DOWNTOWN AT THESE DIFFERENT
HEIGHTS OR IS THIS OFFICE
CONSTRUCTION AT THESE DIFFERENT
HEIGHTS?
>> THIS IS RESIDENTIAL
CONSTRUCTION.
>> OKAY. SO -- SO, EVEN EVEN AT
ONLY 75 FEET AND IF WE ARE
BUILDING DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL,
IT IS ABOUT 400,000 PER UNIT?
>> YES, THIS WOULDN'T BE
LIMITED TO DOWNTOWN. ANYWHERE
IN THE SEATTLE MARKET WHERE YOU
CAN BUILD A 75 TO 85 FOOT
BUILDING THAT WILL BE THE COST.
>> OKAY THAT IS HELPFUL, THANK
YOU.
>> AND THEN I WONDER IF YOU CAN
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AND
MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION AS
WELL. AND, I'M INTERESTED TO
KNOW WHAT IT TAKES, WHAT OTHER
LEVERS WE CAN BE PULLING TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE INCREASING
ACCESS AT THE SERVICES DOWNTOWN
SO CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SORT OF
THE ECONOMIC SITUATION THAT
MIGHT BE KEEPING SOME OF THESE
PROPERTIES VACANT? AND WHAT OED
MIGHT BE DOING TO HELP GENERATE
SERVICES OR BUSINESSES, OR
OTHER GROUND-FLOOR ACTIVATIONS?
>> KEEPING SOME OF THE CURRENT
OFFICE BUILDINGS VACANT IS THAT
WHAT YOU ARE ASKING TO MARK
>> THAT IS A BIG QUESTION. I'M
PRETTY MUCH EVERY METRO AREA
AROUND THE COUNTRY AS WRESTLING
WITH IT IN SOME WAY SHAPE OR
FORM. AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN IS
THAT PREVIOUSLY THE TOUR WAS
LARGELY ACTIVATED BY OFFICE
WORKERS, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
AND THAT HAS CHANGED AND IT IS
LIKELY NEVER GOING BACK TO THE
SAME RHYTHM AS IT WAS BEFORE,
THAT IS IMPACTING AS YOU
DESCRIBE OFFICE USE SPACE,
FREQUENCY TO SMALL BUSINESSES,
TRANSIT USE ALL SORTS OF THINGS
AND THAT IS REALLY THE QUESTION
THAT WE ARE TRYING TO WRESTLE
WITH, SO SOME OF IT HAS TO DO
WITH LOCAL CONDITIONS, WHETHER
THAT BE PUBLIC SAFETY OR JUST
BEHAVIOR PATTERNS THAT CHANGE,
DURING THE PANDEMIC , PEOPLE
WORKING FROM HOME AND SEEING
VALUE IN THAT. SOME OF THAT IS
JUST THE NATURE OF WORK HAS
CHANGED SO -- WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO TO ACTIVATED IS
MAKE DOWNTOWN A GREAT PLACE TO
BE, AND NOT JUST A WORK WHETHER
THAT IS MORE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD
OR IN ARTS AND CULTURE
DISTRICT, MAKING SURE THAT
PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEIR FAMILIES
CAN COME DOWN HERE THOSE ARE
ALWAYS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO
BRING NEW PEOPLE DOWNTOWN THAT
WEREN'T THE OFFICE WORKERS
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC BUT TO
MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE AND
INTERESTING AND SAFE AND
WELCOMING FOR ALL OF THOSE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE.
>> TO THANK YOU.
>> COLLEGE, ANY QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE TURN IT?
>> CANCEL NEVERMORE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I HAD A
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS SO -- THE
ONE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS, SO
LET'S SAY THAT WE CONVERT
THESE BUILDINGS AND, WHAT IS
THE COST GOING TO BE FOR THE
UNIT AND WHO'S GOING TO BE
ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THESE
BUILDINGS? IT SEEMS TO ME, THAT
IT'S GOING TO BE HIGH-END
EARNERS AND THAT IS NOT REALLY
THE POPULATION THAT WE SO
DESPERATELY NEED TO BE FOCUSING
OUR CITY SUBSIDIES AND
RESOURCES ON.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. AND IN A
CALL FOR IDEAS, THERE WAS RENT
INFORMATION, ALONG WITH THOSE
PROPOSALS AND IT REALLY WAS A
RANGE OF DIFFERENT RENTS. SO I
WOULDN'T ASSUME OR I WOULD
PUSH BACK ON THE ASSUMPTION
THAT THESE ARE ALL GOING TO BE
VERY HIGH RENT SORT OF LUXURY
UNITS, THERE WAS A RANGE
INCLUDING ONE-BEDROOMS IN THE
$2000 RENT RANGE, WHICH ISN'T
CHEAP BUT IT'S NOT THAT FAR
OUT OF STEP WITH MIDDLE INCOME
MARKET RENTS, THERE WERE EVEN
SOME PROPOSALS THAT HAD
CO-LIVING FORMATS, WHICH ARE
THE BUILDING HAS SOME SHARED
FEATURES AND THOSE PROVIDED
EVEN LOWER RENTS, AND THE $950
RANGE, FORM A VERY SMALL
EFFICIENCY TYPE UNIT.
>> SO, AND SOME WE THINK THIS
WILL PRODUCE A RANGE OF
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RENT.
>> OKAY BUT HOW DO WE GUARANTEE
THAT, JUST BECAUSE THEY PUT IN
A NICE PROPOSAL DOESN'T MEAN
THAT IS HOW IT IS GOING TO PAN
OUT. AND AS THE CITY WE NEED TO
ACTUALLY GET THAT IN WRITING,
OR MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS THROUGH
ORDINANCE LIKE IF WE ARE GOING
TO WAIVE FOR A REAL BENEFIT TO
DEVELOPERS WE NEED TO GET
SOMETHING IN RETURN BESIDES
MORE HIGH-END HOUSING.
>> SO I'M INTERESTED IN HOW WE
MIGHT DO THAT I MEAN IF YOU SAY
THAT IT IS BASICALLY THE SAME
COST AS IT IS TO BUILD NEW
HOUSING WEALTH NEW HOUSING
REQUIRES THE MHA, OR IT
REQUIRES ON-SITE PERFORMANCE,
PERHAPS THERE IS SOME WAY THAT
WE CAN REQUIRE ON-SITE
PERFORMANCE IF WE ARE LOOKING
TO REALLY HAVE MIXED INCOME IN
DOWNTOWN AND IN COMMERCIAL
AREAS WITH THE MIXED USE, WE
WANT THE DIVERSITY OF INCOME
AND WE NEED TO BE DOING THAT IN
THESE PLACES BY ON-SITE
PERFORMANCE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE
COMMENTS. ONE THING I WILL NOTE
THAT AS A TANGIBLE RESPONSE FOR
YOU IS THAT IF YOU ELECTED TO
ENACT THE STATE SALES TAX
EXEMPTION, THAT WOULD INCLUDE A
10% REQUIREMENT FOR 10% OF THE
UNITS TO BE AFFORDABLE AT THE
80% LEVEL. THAT IS NOT ON YOUR
AGENDA TODAY, BUT IF WE BRING
THAT BACK, THAT WOULD BE ONE
SPECIFIC WAY THAT YOU COULD
MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS SOME AT
LEAST MODERATE INCOME HOUSING.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
SUGGESTIONS AND OTHER
SUGGESTIONS, I AM CERTAINLY
OPEN TO, MY OTHER CONCERN ABOUT
THIS, IS THAT IT IS A PERMANENT
SITUATION, AND IT WOULD CAPTURE
SOME MULTIFAMILY HOUSING. SO IT
SEEMS TO ME, THAT EVERY TIME
THERE IS LEGISLATION THAT COMES
DOWN TO THIS FLOOR, THERE'S AN
EXEMPTION FROM MHA AND WE ARE
SLOWLY CHIPPING AWAY AT THE
MHA. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE
PROVISION FOR MHA IN THE
CURRENT PLAN, WHICH IS REALLY
TROUBLESOME. SO I AM VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE
MESSAGE THIS SENDS ABOUT THE
COMMITMENT TO THE MHA, AND AS A
REAL TOOL TO GETTING TRULY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> SURE,
>> VICE CHAIR DAN STRAUSS? AND
THEN COUNCILMEMBER WOO? OH,
OKAY GO AHEAD.
>> SO DRY FROM EXPERIENCE, MY
FAMILY HAS A BUILDING IN
DOWNTOWN, AND IT IS A PART OF
DOWNTOWN, WE DEVELOPED FROM A
HOTEL INTO APARTMENTS, AND WE
DID THE WHOLE ANALYSIS LOOK
THAT IT WOULD MOST LIKELY BE
LIVING IN THE BUILDING, AND
IT'S PEOPLE WHO WORK IN
DOWNTOWN, OFFICE WORKERS AND
PEOPLE WHO ARE RETAIL AND MAKE
SURE THERE ARE CLOSETS, AND
TOWARDS THAT MARKET, AND THE
TARGET AUDIENCE, THAT WOULD BE
MOST LIKELY TO RENT IN
DOWNTOWN. AND WE ALSO, WE ALSO
THERE IS THE PROGRAM AND I HEAR
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND WHEN
YOU FIGURE OUT SOME WAY, TO
IDENTIFY AFFORDABLE AND
WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THE COURT,
A LOT OF PEOPLE WORK AND LIVE
THERE, BUT ALSO I THINK A LOT
OF THESE PERFORMANCES FOR A LOT
OF THESE PROJECTS, IT SEEMS
ALMOST AS AN INCENTIVE, MANY
ARE DOING THAT AS WELL, BUT THE
COSTS ARE HIGH, WHEN IT COMES
TO YOU KNOW REDEVELOPING A
BUILDING, THREE TIMES MORE THAN
BUILT NEW, AND SO I THINK THIS
IS A GOOD INCENTIVE PROGRAM I
THINK IT DOES MORE WORK TO BE
DONE ON THIS, BUT I AM
GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS?
>> YES, I JUST WANTED TO SAY
REGARDING DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION
OVERALL. IT IS THE SOLUTION, BY
1000 IMPLEMENTS. RIGHT? THERE
IS NOT A SILVER SINGLE SOLUTION
THAT WILL REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN,
AND, DIRECTOR McINTYRE I HAVE
TO SAY THAT IT'S WORKING, AND
THERE IS MORE WORK TO DO, AND
THIS BILL REPRESENTS A LOT OF
THAT. JUST REFLECTING ON THE
BILLS THAT WERE PASSED LAST
YEAR, AND I THINK ESPECIALLY
WITH LAND USE BILLS, IT TAKES A
LONG TIME FOR THE IMPACT TO BE
FELT OF WHAT WE HAVE PASSED.
AND SO THE BENEFIT OF THIS BILL
BEFORE US, IT IS NOT THE ZONING
CHANGE TO WAIT FOR A BUILDING
TO GO THROUGH THE PERMITTING
AND ET CETERA, BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION, WE ARE ACTUALLY
TAKING OUR EXISTING SHELVES AND
REPURPOSING THEM. AND, JEFF,
YOUR PRESENTATION WAS VERY
STRAIGHTFORWARD . AND I THINK
FOR FOLKS, THAT ARE NOT
FAMILIAR WITH LAND USE OR
BUILDING AND HEARING THINGS
LIKE CHANGING THE PLUMBING AND
ELEVATORS SOUNDS EASY WHEN YOU
CAN SAY IT. AND, FOR THE OTHER
FOLKS IN THE ROOM HERE, WE ALL
KNOW THAT A RESIDENTIAL
ELEVATOR IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN
A COMMERCIAL ELEVATOR, JUST
EVEN THE LANDING ZONES WITHIN
THOSE BUILDINGS, LOOKING UP THE
BUILDING AND THE REQUIREMENTS
THAT WE HAVE FOR WINDOWS IN
BEDROOMS AND WINDOWS TO THE
SQUARE FOOT RATIOS, LOOKING AT
A VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF
BUILDINGS, BECAUSE THEY LIKE
YOU HAD TO BE BUILT BEFORE
WORLD WAR II, AND, WHERE WE DID
NOT HAVE CENTRAL AIR
CONDITIONING, THERE ARE A
LIMITED NUMBER OF BUILDINGS
THAT CAN ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM
THIS, AND WE NEED MORE PEOPLE
DOWNTOWN. WHETHER THEY ARE RICH
OR POOR, WE NEED MORE PEOPLE
DOWNTOWN, AND WE HAVE GOT MANY
LOW INCOME, OR INCOME VERIFIED
HOLDINGS DOWNTOWN. AND, WE JUST
NEED MORE PEOPLE, AND SO,
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE I CAN HEAR
YOU AND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING
ABOUT -- SIR --
>> PLEASE DO NOT DISRUPT THE
PROCEEDINGS.
>> CHAIR THIS IS THE THIRD TIME
THAT ALEX ZIMMERMAN HAS BECOME
A DISTRACTION FOR ME WHILE
PERFORMING MY JOB AS AN ELECTED
COUNCIL MEMBER. THE FIRST TIME
WAS AS HE WAS SPEAKING TO
ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE
IN A LOUD WHISPER WHILE
STANDING, THE SECOND TIME WAS
COUGHING IN THE SAME FORM AND
FASHION MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE
OTHERS WERE PRESENT IN AND THIS
THIRD TIME INTERRUPTING ME
WHILE ON THE DAIS I WOULD LIKE
THE RECORD TO REFLECT MR.
ZIMMERMAN IS DISTRACTING AND
BEGINNING TO HARASS ME.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. MR. ZIMMERMAN I'M
GOING TO ASK YOU TO KEEP YOUR
COMMENTS TO YOURSELF OR YOU
WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE
CHAMBER IF YOU CAN'T. THANK
YOU. PLEASE CONTINUE,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> TO BE HONEST, I LOST MY SPOT
BUT TALKING ABOUT MANDATORY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND
EXEMPTIONS, LAST TIME WE PASSED
THE MARITIME AND INDUSTRIAL
ZONING CHANGES WHEN WE DID
PROVIDE AN MHA EXEMPTION, AND
EXCHANGE FOR MASONRY PILOT
PROJECTS, AS WELL AS CROSS LANE
TIMBER PILOT PROJECTS AS WELL.
THAT WAS BASED ON THE DENSITY
BONUS THAT JEFF KIND OF YOUR
PRESENTATION WAS SO STREAMLINED
, YOU'RE COVERED A LOT THERE.
BUT, I ABSOLUTELY CAN HEAR YOU
100% AGREE WITH YOU, WITH THE
VALUES AND IN THE SPIRIT. AND
WHAT WAS CHALLENGING IS WHAT
JEFF PRESENTED AND FROM MY
VIEW, MHA IS BASED ON A BONUS,
AND SO UNLESS THESE
REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS HAD
ANOTHER FLOOR THAT THEY
ACCESSED. THEY AREN'T
ACCESSING THE BONUS, THAT IS
THE EXCHANGE FROM THE MHA. AND,
I WOULD LOVE TO KEEP WORKING
WITH YOU TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
ELEMENTS WE DO HAVE IN THERE,
TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE
AFFORDABLE UNITS DOWNTOWN,
BECAUSE A VIBRANT AND HEALTHY
COMMUNITY IS A COMMUNITY OF ALL
ECONOMIC SPECTRUMS. I GUESS I
DON'T HAVE A QUESTION,
GENTLEMEN.
>> SO MAYBE THIS IS A GOOD TIME
FOR YOU TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES
THAT YOU RAISED IN YOUR MEMO?
>> SURE.
>> AS YOU ALL HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSING, WHAT YOU RAISED IN
THE MEMO IS ABOUT THE EXEMPTION
FROM MHA. AND I THINK YOU ALL
HAVE DISCUSSED THAT PRETTY
THOROUGHLY AT THE MOMENT BUT I
THINK ON BALANCE, IT IS FOR YOU
ALL TO CONSIDER. WHETHER YOU
WANT TO INCENTIVIZE CONVERSION
WITHOUT MHA WHICH WOULD RESULT
IN AN INCREASE OF HOUSING UNITS
AS YOU INDICATED IT IS NOT
FULLY CLEAR WHAT THE INCOME
LEVEL WOULD BE. IN TERMS OF
BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THOSE
UNITS. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF
MHA WERE TO APPLY, AND THAT WAS
A KEY FINANCIAL INCENTIVE, THAT
PREVENTED DEVELOPERS FROM
CONVERTING BUILDINGS, THEN WE
WOULD END UP WITH NO MORE
ADDITIONAL UNITS REGARDLESS OF
THE -- EXCUSE ME, REGARDLESS OF
THE INCOME LEVEL. IT IS ONE OF
THE ISSUES FOR YOU ALL TO
CONSIDER AS YOU THINK ABOUT
WHETHER YOU WANT TO INCENTIVIZE
CONVERSIONS, VERSUS NEW
DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD BE
OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO MHA.
>> THE SECOND PIECE ON THE
SECOND ISSUE THAT I DID RAISE
IN THE MEMO WAS ABOUT
EXEMPTIONS FROM STREET-LEVEL
USE REGULATIONS. AND, PART OF
THE RATIONALE AND THE OPCD
EXPLANATION IS FOR THE PLAN TO
BE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE DOWNTOWN, ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY THAT IS OCCURRING.
BUT, AS THIS COUNCIL BILL
INDICATES, EXEMPTION FROM THOSE
STREET-LEVEL USE REGULATIONS,
HAS SOME IMPACTS ON HOW THOSE
AREAS WILL BE ACTIVATED IF
CONVERSION OCCURRED, SO YOU MAY
ALL WANT TO CONSIDER THE
BALANCE BETWEEN INCENTIVIZING
CONVERSION, GIVEN A FEW
REGULATORY BARRIERS, THAT WILL
BE IN PLACE IF THERE WERE AN
EXEMPTION FROM STREET-LEVEL USE
REGULATIONS BUT ALSO IF THERE
IS AN INCREASE IN THE RESIDENTS
THAT DO LIVE IN THE BUILDINGS
AFTER CONVERSION. THEY ARE NOT
STREET-LEVEL USE, REQUIREMENTS,
THAT THAT COULD RESULT IN A
DIFFERENT SORT OF ACTIVATION. A
LOT OF THE TIME, FOR RESIDENTS
THAT LIVE ON GROUND FLOOR
UNITS, THEIR PRIVACY CONCERNS,
SO THE SHADES MIGHT BE DRAWN
THE WHOLE TIME, SO YOU HAVE AN
INCREASE IN PEOPLE THAT ARE
LIVING THERE BUT NOT
NECESSARILY AN INCREASE IN
PEOPLE THAT ARE USING THE
AMENITIES THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE
BE AVAILABLE ON THE GROUND
FLOOR, SO INSTEAD OF REQUIRING
THE CAFE OR SOME SORT OF RETAIL
STORE, YOU HAVE UNITS ON THE
GROUND FLOOR, THAT LEAVES A
DIFFERENT IMPACT ON ACTIVATION
AND THE AVAILABILITY OF
SERVICES TO PEOPLE THAT DID
LIVE IN THOSE BUILDINGS. AND AS
A POINT OF GIVEN THE SCALE OF
HOW MANY BUILDINGS MIGHT BE
CONVERTED, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT
THE BUILDINGS IN THOSE
LOCATIONS MIGHT ALREADY HAVE A
LOT OF ACTIVE ROBUST
STREET-LEVEL USE AROUND THEM,
SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE
IMPACT OF HAVING MORE RESIDENTS
IN THE AREA WITHOUT THE
REQUISITE STREET-LEVEL USES
MIGHT NOT BE A HUGE IMPACT BUT
WITHOUT KNOWING, BY BUILDING TO
BUILDING, WHAT THE LEVEL OF
STREET USE IS, AND WHAT THE
CURRENT SITUATION IT IS AND IT
MIGHT NOT JUST BE EASY TO TELL
FROM A LEGISLATIVE LEVEL, AND
THOSE STREET USE REGULATIONS
ARE IN PLAY. AND THE LAST PIECE
IS REALLY RELATING TO MANY OF
THE OTHER EXEMPTIONS THAT
CONVERSIONS WOULD BE SUBJECT
TO. AND FOR EXAMPLE THEY
INDICATED,HERE ARE EXEMPTIONS
FROM THINGS LIKE PARKING
REGULATIONS AND IF THERE ARE
MORE RESIDENTS COMING IN, THAT
MIGHT INCREASE THE NEED AND
THERE ARE NO REQUIREMENTS TO
DEVELOP THINGS THAT COULD HAVE
AN IMPACT ON HOW TRAFFIC MOVES
THROUGH THAT AREA. AS A JEFF
INDICATED THE MAJOR EXEMPTION
HERE, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
IS FROM THE SUBTITLE THREE
DIVISION THREE, FOUR OVERLAY
DISTRICTS, WHICH INCLUDES THE
SHORELINE MASTER PLAN
REGULATIONS, AS JEFF INDICATED,
AND THEY ARE INCLUDING THE
SHORELINE MASTER PLAN
REGULATIONS FROM THIS
LEGISLATION IS MORE OF AN
OVERSIGHT. AND SO THE AMENDMENT
ON THE AGENDA WOULD ADDRESS
PUTTING THOSE REGULATIONS BACK
INTO THE LEGISLATION, AND THEN,
THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY
COMMENCEMENT IMPACTS, THAT
WOULD TRIGGER ANY OTHER
PROCESSES THAT ARE REQUIRED IF
WE ARE DOING AMENDMENTS TO THE
SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM. THAT
EXEMPTION OF DIVISION III ALSO
DOES EXEMPT SPECIAL REVIEW
DISTRICTS, FROM THIS PIECE OF
THE LEGISLATION, AND WE HAVE
TWO SPECIAL REVIEW DISTRICTS,
THE PIONEER SQUARE PRESERVATION
DISTRICT AND THE INTERNATIONAL
SPECIAL REVIEW DISTRICT, AND
SO, THE EXEMPTION WOULD MEAN
THAT ANY CONVERSIONS THAT ARE
TAKING PLACE IN THOSE AREAS
WOULDN'T GO THROUGH THAT AND
IS REGULATIONS THAT ARE
REQUIRED WHEN IT COMES TO
SPECIAL REVIEW DISTRICTS, AND
IF THE AMENDMENT TO RESTORE THE
SPECIAL REVIEW DISTRICT
REGULATIONS, THAT WOULD GO
THROUGH THOSE PROCEDURES, THE
LEVEL OF IMPACT ENDEAVORS, AND
SO FOR SOME, AND IN SOME
CIRCUMSTANCES. AND, THE PROJECT
HAVE TO GO THROUGH BOARD
APPROVAL. AND, HOWEVER THERE
WERE AN ORDINANCE I THINK YOU
ARE PAST LAST YEAR, THAT
CREATED MORE ADMINISTRATIVE
STREAMLINES, SO THAT ALL
PRODUCT DON'T HAVE TO GO
THROUGH THE FULL BOARD REVIEW
PROCESS, THERE IS
ADMINISTRATIVE WAYS TO GET
THOSE APPROVALS. AND THERE IS
SOME FLEXIBILITY ABOUT HOW MUCH
ADDITIONAL PROCESS THAT WOULD
REQUIRE AT THE END OF TODAY.
AND SO THE LAST PIECE THAT I
WILL MENTION IS ONE OF THE
EXEMPTIONS FOR MAJOR
INSTITUTION PLAN OVERLAYS, AND
THIS I DIDN'T FIND THIS VERY
STRONGLY IN THE MEMO, BECAUSE
AS WE WERE THINKING FURTHER
ABOUT THIS, JUST IN THE SENSE
OF EXEMPTIONS OF THE MAJOR
INSTITUTION PLAN OVERLAY
REGULATIONS IN ESSENCE THAT
WOULD MEAN THAT CONVERSIONS
WOULD BE ABLE TO HAPPEN OUTSIDE
OF THE NORMAL PROCESS. IN WHICH
A MAJOR INSTITUTION MAKES
CHANGES TO DO ANYTHING THAT IS
HAPPENING WITHIN THE OVERLAY
DISTRICT. WHETHER THOSE WOULD
BE PARTICULARLY OR NOT, WE CAN
DEFINITELY CERTAINLY DO MORE
FOLLOW-UP AND MORE RESEARCH ON
WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT
WOULD BE, BUT IT IS JUST AN
ISSUE OF WHETHER YOU WOULD WANT
THAT ADDITIONAL LAYER OF
PROCESS. AND HOW MUCH OF A
DISINCENTIVE IT MIGHT BE FOR
DEVELOPERS THAT WANT TO CONVERT
IF THEY DID HAVE TO GO THROUGH
AN ADDITIONAL PROCESS. THE MAIN
ISSUES THAT ARE ASKING
QUESTIONS. AND HAVING ANY
FOLLOW-UP.
>> AND I DO WANT TO SAY, THE
AMENDMENT THAT IS POSTED RIGHT
NOW, WAS INTENDED TO BE A
TECHNICAL CHANGE, SO I DO WANT
TO FOLLOW UP BECAUSE IT WASN'T
THE INTENTION, TO EXCLUDE THE
PIONEER SQUARE. THAT IS ONE OF
THE AREAS WHERE THERE WAS
SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY TO USE
THIS TOOL FOR THE OFFICE TO
RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION THAT CAN
REALLY BENEFIT FROM THIS. WE
WILL BE FOLLOWING UP ON THIS AS
WELL. AND, THE COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
TO THE DEPARTMENT WHO GAVE ME A
BRIEFING EARLIER, ABOUT THIS.
AND, I DO WANT TO CLARIFY WELL
-- THIS IS SOMETHING ACROSS THE
CITY. IT IS NOT JUST FOR
DOWNTOWN. AND, ALSO THERE HAVE
BEEN A VERY LIMITED BUILDINGS,
THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS
POTENTIALLY VIABLE IN TERMS OF
CONVERSION. SO THIS WOULD APPLY
TO A VERY LIMITED SET OF
BUILDINGS AT LEAST AS
IDENTIFIED NOW, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT.
>> IN TERMS OF EVEN I NOTICED
HERE, BECAUSE YOU HAD A
COMPETITION AND YOU INDICATED
ABOUT THREE BUILDINGS OUT OF
THE COMPETITION, THAT CAME OUT
AS POTENTIALLY VIABLE FOR THIS
AND, MAYBE IDENTIFIED ANOTHER
FEW BUILDINGS, THAT MIGHT BE
VIABLE. AND YOU ALSO TALKED AND
PRESENTED ABOUT THE NEW
PROJECT, THEN COULD APPLY IN
PROJECTS AND CONSTRUCTION, THAT
COULD APPLY. DO YOU HAVE A
SENSE OF HOW MANY NEW PROJECTS
WOULD BE, I DON'T HAVE A SENSE
OF HOW MANY NEW PROJECTS THAT
HAVEN'T ALREADY APPLIED, THAT
COULD BE VIABLE AND I
UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE APPLIED TO
BE AND HAVE PLANS TO BE
COMMERCIAL AND THOSE ARE THE
ONES THAT IF THEY DECIDE TO
GIVE IT AND BECOME RESIDENTIAL,
THAT THEY COULD UNVEIL
THEMSELVES OF THIS AND OF THIS
REGULATION. AND DO YOU HAVE A
SENSE OF HOW MANY THAT IS.
>> I CAN JUST TELL YOU WHAT I
KNOW. AND I BELIEVE YOU ARE
SPEAKING OF NEW CONSTRUCTION OR
RECENT CONSTRUCTION THAT GOT
CAUGHT UP IN THE SHIFT OF THE
MARKET WHERE THE OFFICE
COMPONENT IS. AND I KNOW OF TO
INTERESTED BUILDINGS, THAT WE
HAVE HEARD FROM, AND WHEN I SAY
I, THE OFFICE IS AWARE OF TWO
RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS
THAT MIGHT WANT TO EXPLORE
THIS.
>> MAINLY BECAUSE I IMAGINE
THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONVERT
FROM COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL,
SO THAT IS WHY IT IS REALLY
APPLICABLE TO A VERY SMALL
PERCENTAGE OF EXISTING
BUILDINGS OR EVEN NEWLY
CONTEMPLATED BUILDINGS THAT
WERE SUPPOSED TO BE COMMERCIAL.
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
>> ONGOING, DO YOU THINK THAT
YOU KNOW WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
10 YEARS FROM NOW, DO YOU THINK
THERE WILL BE MORE BUILDINGS
THAT WILL LEND THEMSELVES TO
THIS, OR ARE WE THINKING THAT
LONG-TERM, THEY ARE GOING TO BE
LIMITED AND THAT REALLY LEND
THEMSELVES TO BEING CONVERTED.
FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
>> IT IS OUR ESTIMATE IN THE
REPORT, THAT WAS A DOZEN OR
LESS WITHIN THE SEVEN YEAR
TIMEFRAME. AND I THINK WE WOULD
BE CONFIDENT SAYING THAT OVER A
LONGER TIMEFRAME WE THOUGHT IT
WOULD BE A RELATIVELY SMALL
NUMBER.
>> A PART OF THE REASON FOR
THAT IS A B BECAUSE OF THE FOUR
PLATE OF OLDER BUILDINGS.
BECAUSE OLDER BUILDINGS WERE
CONSTRUCTED WITH YOU KNOW,
HALLWAYS AND IT ALLOWS, I'M
CLEARLY NOT A BUILDER. AND I'M
SURE SOMEBODY ELSE WILL BE ABLE
TO EXPLAIN IT BETTER, AND THE
OLDER BUILDINGS ARE JUST LAID
OUT IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS FOR
MORE UNITS TO BE PUT AROUND A
PERIMETER AND NEWER BUILDINGS
ARE BUILT WITH WIDE-OPEN SPACE,
THAT MAKES IT REALLY HARD TO
CUT UP AND TURN INTO APARTMENTS
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE TO PUT
A WINDOW IN AND EACH UNIT AND A
BATHROOM AND A KITCHEN, AND ALL
OF THAT. AND IT IS HARDER TO DO
THESE LARGER AND NEWER
BUILDINGS.
>> YES, EXACTLY.
>> I HAD ONE LAST QUESTION,
CHAIR. IN TERMS OF THE SALES
TAX EXEMPTION, I KNOW YOU SAID
THAT WE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT
THIS AND YOU WILL COME BACK TO
TALK ABOUT THAT BUT IS IT
CONTEMPLATED THAT WE WOULD MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE LEGISLATIONS
AS WE ACTIVELY HAVE TO CODIFY
THAT STATE LAW. AND IN THESE
BUILDINGS COULD UNVEIL
THEMSELVES OF THAT. AND THEN IT
WOULD BE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE
, OR IT IS REQUIRED THAT 10% OF
THE UNITS WOULD BE 80% , AMI.
>> THAT'S CORRECT, THAT IS
WHAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE MADE
AVAILABLE TO THE CITIES.
>> DO YOU HAVE A TIMELINE ON
WHEN THAT WOULD BE TRANSMITTED?
>> I AM SORRY -- I DON'T THINK
I CAN FIGHT A TIMELINE RIGHT
NOW.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> NO, THANK YOU CHAIR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO, DO YOU
HAVE A HAND?
>> TO HAVE A COMMENT.
>> I KNOW WHY THESE BUILDINGS
ARE OLDER AND I THINK THEY
WOULD UTILIZE OTHER INCENTIVES
LIKE TAX CREDITS. AND, WHICH
MEANS THEY WILL HAVE TO GO
THROUGH A PROCESS AS THEY WILL
HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PIONEER
SQUARE, ALLIANCE, AND THE
DISTRICT, WITH THE PROCESS, AND
SO, THAT IS KIND OF WORKING
HAND-IN-HAND WITH THAT GROUP,
REGARDING THE CONCERN REGARDING
STREET-LEVEL USES I THINK IT
WOULD BE FAIR TO INCLUDE OR
EXPLORE RETAINING ORIGINAL USES
OF BUILDINGS IF SOMETHING WAS
NOT THERE TO BEGIN WITH, YOU
DON'T NEED TO PUT IT IN THERE
BUT IT WAS A STOREFRONT AND IT
WOULD BE GREAT TO EXPLORE
THINGS, TO ALLOW IT TO BE
CONTAINED, OR LOOK AT A LIVE
WORK SCENARIO, WHERE THEY CAN
HAVE THE STORE AND LIVE
UPSTAIRS, CONNECTING TO THAT
UNIT, SOMETHING THAT I'M
INTERESTED IN, BUT I THINK
EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS, AND SO,
I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO PURSUE
THIS AS WELL AS THE SALES TAX
EXEMPTION, AND I KNOW A LOT OF
BUILDINGS IN PIONEER SQUARE
AND, WHERE THE ENTIRE BUILDING
MAY NOT BE HABITABLE, THE
GROUND FLOOR, AND UTILIZED,
WITH SEISMIC AND FIRE CODE,
THAT HAS CHANGED THE UPPER
FLOOR IS NOT COMPATIBLE, TO
KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST
IN REDEVELOPING BUILDINGS BUT
IT'S VERY HARD. IT MIGHT HELP
WITH JUMPSTARTING SOME OF THAT
DEVELOPMENT.
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP
THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND IT
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE GOT EIGHT
PEOPLE ONLINE, AND THANK YOU
FOR YOUR PATIENCE EVERYBODY. AS
WE GET THROUGH THE DISCUSSION
HERE. AND WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE
IN THE PUBLIC. AND IN THE
CHAMBERS AS WELL. AND I AM NOW
GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC
HEARING. ON COUNCIL BILL
120761. AT 120771. AND AGAIN AS
A REMINDER, PLEASE MAKE SURE
THAT WHEN YOU BEGIN YOUR
REMARKS, THAT YOU INDICATE
WHICH ISSUE YOU ARE SPEAKING
TO, AND I'M GOING TO HAND IT
TO NAOMI TO GET IT STARTED.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES AND ONCE THE PUBLIC
HEARING PORTION IS OVER WE WILL
MOVE TO THIS. OKAY, NAOMI,
PLEASE GIVE MARK READ THE
COMMENTS.
>> STARTING WITH IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS, WE HAVE ED HOUSTON,
PATRICK FOLEY, MARK ANGELO.
ALEX ZIMMERMAN, STEVE BUSTELLO,
RYAN -- AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH
ED HOUSTON.
>> MORALES AND COUNCILMEMBERS,
MY NAME IS ED HOUSTON, I'M A
LIFETIME RESIDENT OF WEST
SEATTLE. AND A MULTIFAMILY REAL
ESTATE DEVELOPER WHO IS VERY
ACTIVE IN THE CITY WITH MY
PARTNERS I HAVE DEVELOPED
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN
ROOSEVELT, AND IN BELLTOWN AND
HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS IN
ENTITLEMENT STATUS IN THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS IN WEST SEATTLE,
IN FACT OVER 1000 UNITS. AND, I
AM HERE TODAY, TO COMMENT ON
COUNCIL BILL 120761, RELATED TO
CONVERSION OF NONRESIDENTIAL
STRUCTURES TO RESIDENTIAL USE,
ME AND MY PARTNERS FULLY
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION WE
HOPE TO USE IT ON OUR SEATTLE
HOUSE PROJECT THAT IS CURRENTLY
UNDER CONSTRUCTION. I WOULD
LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE
PEOPLE WHO CAME UP WITH THESE
IDEAS. I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT
IS TO START A BRAND-NEW PROJECT
I FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE ONE UNDER
CONSTRUCTION BUT IT IS REALLY
DIFFICULT TO MAKE THESE
PENCILED. AND I THINK RIGHT
NOW, IN THE CITY, EVERY SINGLE
NEW APARTMENT IS GOING TO
COUNT. SO I APPRECIATE HOW
DIFFICULT IT IS TO TRY AND
CONVERT A BUILDING WHO IS
CURRENTLY IN PLACE, AND TAKING
SOME OF THE FEAR FACTOR OUT OF
IT AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
DEVELOPERS SUCH AS ME, WHO
MIGHT BE HAVING TROUBLE WITH
THEIR EXISTING PROJECTS,
FINDING A WAY TO GET THEM TO
ACTUALLY LEAN IN, AND HELP US
MAKE USE OF SOME EXISTING
STRUCTURES. SO, MORE POWER TO
YOU AND GOOD JOB. OUR SEATTLE
HOUSE PROJECT IS IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH CONCORD PACIFIC AND WE ARE
LOCATED AT SIXTH AVENUE,
BETWEEN BELL AND BATTERY
STREETS, IT IS A TWO TOWER
RESIDENTIAL PROJECT THAT WILL
PROVIDE NEARLY 1100 UNITS OF
RESIDENTIAL ALONG WITH
GROUND-LEVEL RETAIL AND BELOW
GRADE PARKING. IT IS ALSO
DESIGNED TO INCLUDE A HOTEL,
NONRESIDENTIAL USE BUT WE
STRONGLY FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE
BETTER AND MORE SUITABLE TO ADD
APARTMENT UNITS INSTEAD OF
HOTELS ON THE PODIUM. THIS
CONVERSION UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT
POSSIBLE UNDER THE CURRENT LAND
CODE RESTRICTION.
>> YOUR CERT YOUR TIME IS
EXPIRED.
>> ANYWAYS, PLEASE VOTE FOR IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> UP NEXT, WE HAVE PATRICK
FOLEY.
>> AS A REMINDER, WHEN YOU HEAR
THE CHIME YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS
LEFT.
>> THANK YOU, AGAIN, I AM
PATRICK FOLEY, LAKE UNION
PARTNERS IS MY , A
SEATTLE-BASED DEVELOPER, MOSTLY
KNOWN FOR MULTIFAMILY
RESIDENTIAL IN THE BUILDINGS
WHERE MOSTLY KNOWN FOR MIXED
INCOME COMMUNITY KNOWN AS
MIDTOWN SQUARE, AND WE'VE ALSO
DONE A LOT OF HISTORIC
PRESERVATION IN THE CITY.
SPECIFICALLY THE STATE HOTEL AT
SECOND AND PIKE STREET. THAT WE
OPEN IN 2019. I AM HERE, TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS
LEGISLATION FOR OFFICE TO GO
RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION, I WILL
SAY THAT I THINK ALL COMPONENTS
OF THIS LEGISLATION ARE
NECESSARY, I DON'T THINK IT
CAN BE A MENU OF ITEMS. ONE OF
THE INITIATIVES THAT WE ARE
FOCUSED ON, IS WORKING ON
CONVERTING PIONEER SQUARE, TO A
MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOOD, WE DON'T OWN THE
BUILDING, WE ARE WORKING ON
ACQUISITIONS FOR SOME BUT WE
THINK THAT THAT IS THE MOST
EXCITING AND BEST PLACED TO DO
OFFICE TO GO RESIDENTIAL
CONVERSIONS BECAUSE, AS
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES STATED,
FOUR PLATES ARE LAID OUT JUST
BY THAT. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF
PRESERVATION APPEARANCES, WE
ARE INTERESTED IN NOT BEING A
MIXED INCOME COMMUNITY AS WELL,
WE THINK THAT IN A SEVEN-YEAR,
7 TO 10 YEAR PERIOD WE CAN
BRING 2000 UNITS THE PIONEER
SQUARE. WHICH MEANS ROUGHLY
3000 PEOPLE WE THINK, AND ALL
OF THE SERVICES ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO BE RECRUITED TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, THE GROCERS, AND
WHO IS GOING TO BE THE SHOE
REPAIR AND ALL OF THOSE TYPES
OF THINGS, AND SO, WE REALLY
THINK THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS
IMPORTANT, SPECIFICALLY FOR
PIONEER SQUARE. THESE PROJECTS
ARE RAZOR THIN, SO EVERY LITTLE
BIT WILL HELP, ALL OF THESE
LAWS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
ARE REALLY NECESSARY I ALSO
WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF
THIS AMENDMENT FOR THE OVERLAY.
REMOVAL OF THE PIONEER SQUARE
PRESERVATION BOARD. I HAVE A
BLEND, IF YOU'RE USING A
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AND IF
YOU GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS,
THEN YOU WILL GO TO THE PIONEER
SQUARE RESERVATION BOARD.
>> UP NEXT, WE HAVE MARK
ANGELO.
>> CHAIR MORALES, AND VICE
CHAIR DAN STRAUSS AND OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS MIKE
ANGELO, AND I HAVE BEEN A
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE. A SMALL
LOCAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
COMPANY BASED IN SEATTLE AND I
COME IN SUPPORT OF THE
LEGISLATION, COUNCIL BILL
120761. WE ACQUIRED IN 1980s
VINTAGE BUILDING LOCATED IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD IN DECEMBER 2023.
THE BUILDING HAS BEEN VACANT
FOR TWO YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN
EVALUATING THE BUILDING FOR ITS
POTENTIAL FOR CONVERSION FROM
OFFICE TO GO RESIDENTIAL AS
WELL AS OTHER POTENTIAL USES,
YOU WILL KNOW THE CONVERSION
FROM OFFICE TO GO RESIDENTIAL
IS A COMPLEX AND EXPENSIVE
ENDEAVOR THAT ONE WE BELIEVE
THAT MORE HOUSING IS ESSENTIAL
AS A PART OF THE REVITALIZING
SUPPORTING ACTIVE AND VIBRANT
NEIGHBORHOODS. THE BILL BEFORE
YOU INCENTIVIZE OF THE
CONVERSION OF COMMERCIAL
BUILDINGS TO RESIDENTIAL
BUILDINGS WITH THE SHIFT FROM
REMOTE WORK AND ONLINE SHOPPING
THERE'S AN INCREASINGLY LARGE
NUMBER OF VACANT COMMERCIAL
BUILDINGS THAT ARE SITTING AT A
TIME WHEN WE HAVE A HOUSING
CRISIS IT SEEMS LOGICAL THE
TRANSITION TO HOUSING UNITS.
TRANSITIONING THESE BUILDINGS
INTO RESIDENTIAL IS NOT EASY
FROM A CONSTRUCTION STANDPOINT
AND LARGER THE REASON THE
PRIVATE SECTOR HASN'T BEEN
DOING THIS PROACTIVELY.
PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL AREN'T
LOCATED WHERE THEY NEED TO
BECOME AS THEY ARE TYPICALLY
NEEDED AND NEARLY ALL INTERNAL
WALLS NEED TO BE RECONFIGURED.
THE INCENTIVES IN THIS BILL
WILL BE A GOOD STEP TOWARDS
MAKING MORE OF THESE PROJECTS
POSSIBLE AND HELPS ENSURE THAT
NO WAY ARE WE ADDING UNITS TO
THE HOUSING MARKET BUT IN OUR
CASE ALSO ADDING AFFORDABLE
UNITS TO THE MARKETPLACE
BECAUSE WE PLAN TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE PROGRAM, AND OF THE
COUNCIL ADOPTS IT LATER THIS
YEAR THAT IS THE LAW INCENTIVE
STATE BILL 6175 FOR THE
ADAPTIVE USE HOUSING THAT WOULD
REQUIRE 10% OF ADAPTIVE USE
UNITS TO BE AFFORDABLE FOR 10
YEARS AT 80% AVAILABILITY.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY,
WE ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO
PASS LEGISLATION SENATE TO
SUPPORT MORE CONVERSION
PROJECTS AND I WOULD BE HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> UP NEXT, WE HAVE --
>> THAT AFTERNOON, I AM A
FORMER MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
DOWNTOWN DESIGN REVIEW BOARD.
AND I AM AN ARCHITECT WITH THE
NATIONAL PRACTICE BASED IN
SEATTLE WITH ARCHITECTURE
INTERIOR DESIGN AND LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN
PLANNING. I AM HERE IN SUPPORT
OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO
ADDRESS THE REGULATORY RELIEF
FOR RESIDENTIAL CONVERSIONS.
SINCE LAST AUGUST OUR FIRM HAS
BEEN WORKING WITH A CLIENT TO
EVALUATE THE CONVERSION OF
EIGHT FLOORS OF EXISTING OFFICE
SPACE WITHIN A RELATIVELY NEW
HIGH-RISE. DESPITE THE CREATION
OF 216 NEW RESIDENTIAL UNITS,
FOR FAMILIES IN THE UPPER
PORTION OF THE TOWER JUST UNDER
200,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE
SPACE HAS REMAINED VACANT SINCE
2019. CONVERSION OF THE VACANT
OFFICE SPACE REQUIRES
FLEXIBILITY WITH THE LAND USE
CODE AS WE CANNOT ALTER OUR
BUILDING FOOTPRINT AND WE FEEL
LIKE WE HAVE A VIABLE SOLUTION.
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WILL
SUPPORT THIS CONVERSION, AND
RESULT IN UPWARDS OF ABOUT 150
NEW UNITS OF HOUSING IN
BELLTOWN. AND WE WILL NOTE THAT
THE PROJECT HAS ALREADY PAID
MHA FEES , FOR THE EXISTING
OFFICE COMPONENTS SO THAT THE
MHA WAIVER IS AS PROPOSED IN
THE LEGISLATION IS CRITICAL FOR
US. OTHERWISE THE PRODUCT WILL
HAVE TO PAY FEES TWICE, AND OUR
CLIENT WOULD RENDER THIS
PRODUCT UNWORKABLE. CONVERTING
THIS OFFICE SPACE TO
RESIDENTIAL WILL BRING MORE
RESIDENTS TO BELLTOWN WHO CAN
HELP ACTIVATE THE STREETSCAPE
AND SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS.
ADAPTIVE USE IS THE MORE
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION AND
SUPPORT THE CITY GOALS FOR
REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS AS REPURPOSING
EXISTING BUILDINGS REDUCES
CARBON THAT RESULTS FROM THE
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. THANK
YOU.
>> UP NEXT, WE HAVE ALEX
ZIMMERMAN.
>> HE IS NO LONGER HERE.
>> UP NEXT, WE HAVE STEVE
CASTILLO.
>> IF WE AREN'T GOING TO USE
THE MHA, AND THE GOAL THAT
ORIGINALLY WAS FOR MHA WAS
50-50. AND IT IS NOT 50-50 NOW.
YOU DON'T HAVE HARDLY ANYBODY
ACTUALLY PUTTING THE UNITS IN
THEIR BUILDINGS, IF YOU HAVE
THE HIGHER MHA, YOU WILL HAVE
MORE LOW COST UNITS , SPREAD
AROUND THE CITY AND MORE
DIVERSE WHICH WOULD BE GOOD,
THE MAIN THING THAT I WAS
CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE FIRST
FLOOR. NOW THAT RESIDENTIAL IS
COMPARABLE IN MANY CASES, OR
MORE PROFITABLE THAN
COMMERCIAL, WHICH IS A REVERSE
OF WHAT THINGS USED TO BE. WE
WANT TO MAINTAIN THE BUSINESS
DISTRICT ESPECIALLY THE SMALL
BUSINESS DISTRICTS, THERE HAVE
BEEN WARS FOUGHT ON THIS BEFORE
AND IF YOU WANT TO BRING THE
RESIDENTIAL, AND THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY TOGETHER AGAINST THE
DEVELOPERS. GIVE THEM FREE
REIGN THERE, BECAUSE, I DO
REMEMBER, TELLING ME, THAT, IN
THE URBAN VILLAGES, AND
COMMERCIAL AREAS, THEY WERE
GOING TO ALLOW THE LOWER FLOORS
TO BE RESIDENTIAL. AND, THAT
BROAD, SEVERAL COMMUNITIES
TOGETHER. TO CHANGE THAT. AND
CLEAN IT UP. AND THEY TOLD ME
THAT THEY WOULDN'T WANT TO BE
BLANK AND THEY COULDN'T STOP
IT BASICALLY. WELL, WE DID.
AND, WE ALSO GOT A GOOD CHANCE
TO CHANGE A GOOD DEAL OF OTHER
THINGS, BECAUSE WE BROUGHT
TOGETHER A COALITION THAT WAS
CONCERNED ABOUT A NUMBER OF
THINGS. AND THE BOTTOM FLOOR
HAS GOT TO REMAIN IN THE
COMMERCIAL OR THE OFFICE MODE
WITH THE REST OF THEM TO BE
HELPFUL TO HAVE HOUSING.
>> A QUICK REMINDER THAT THIS
IS COMBINED PUBLIC COMMENT, SO
IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO BOTH OF
THOSE, PLEASE INDICATE THAT. UP
NEXT, WE HAVE RYAN --
>> DEAR COUNSEL MY NAME IS
RYAN, AND I'M WITH THE
ARCHITECTURE AND GRAPHITE
DESIGN GROUP I'M GOING TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE OFFICE
TO HOUSING LEGISLATION, AND
GRAPHITE OUR EXPERTISE RANGES
FROM MIXED-USE PROJECTS TO
SMALL-SCALE STREET-LEVEL
RETAIL. THIS IS GIVING US A
FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT MAKES OUR DOWNTOWNS THRIVE
AT THE LEVEL. RIGHT NOW AS YOU
NOTE DOWNTOWN IS NOT FULLY
RECOVERED, AND WITH THESE
CONVERSIONS, AND THEY CAN
DIVERSIFY THEIR USES, LEADING
TO A DIVERSITY OF USERS AND IN
DOING SO, RESTORE THE ECONOMIC
VITALITY OF OUR CORE. AND I'M
ALSO OUR DIRECTOR OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND I CAN SAY
WITH CONFIDENCE THAT MIXED-USE
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE THE
FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY
TO EVEN BEGIN. AND THE
EXEMPTIONS PROPOSED ARE
POSITIVE FIRST STEPS AND WE
ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO FURTHER.
AND, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
IS SAVING BUILDINGS. AND THAT
IS PRESERVATION. AND THESE
OLDER BUILDINGS ARE THE MOST
LIKELY CANDIDATES FOR
CONVERSION, AND, TO EXAMINE THE
CONTEXT. AND THE LANDMARKS
PROCESS IS LONG AND UNCERTAIN,
AND IT BRINGS AN ELEMENT OF
RISK, THAT CAN SEE PROJECTS
ALTOGETHER. SO WE ENCOURAGE
YOU, TO CONSIDER TO CONSIDER
THAT AND TO BRING ALONG ALL OF
THE CITY DEPARTMENTS FROM SDC
I, OPCD AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. AND IN REFORMING
THE FULL PROCESS TO ENCOURAGE
THESE CONVERSIONS SO THAT THEY
CAN TAKE PLACE. OKAY.
>> UP NEXT, WE HAVE IAN
MORRISON.
>> THANK YOU, JAIRE AND MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE ON BEHALF OF
MICHAEL HILL.
>> HERE TO SPEAK TO THE
STREET-LEVEL BILL. I WANT TO
SPEAK FOR US TO COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA'S QUESTION ABOUT HOW
OFFICE TO RESIDENTIAL
CONVERSION, YOU HEARD FROM ANY
OWNERS THAT ARE LOOKING AT
DOING EXISTING BUILDINGS, YOUR
QUESTION ABOUT WHAT ABOUT NEW
BUILDINGS I THINK IT IS AS A
LAND-USE ATTORNEY WE TALKED TO
FOLKS WERE TRYING TO FINANCE
THOSE PROJECTS THAT HAVE COME
UP THAT ARE TRYING TO CONVINCE
LENDERS. THIS WOULD BE UNTO
ALL, FOR FIVE PRODUCTS THAT
HAVE A MONTH. AND CONSTRUCTION
FINANCING. TO CONVERT PORTIONS
THAT WERE ENTITLED. AND HERE'S
A REAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
NOTABLY AS JEFF MENTIONED,
THOSE PROJECTS WOULD PAY MHA
FEES, AND CREATE CONSTRUCTION
SALES TAX, I THINK IT'S AN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL, NOT
JUST FOR THE OLD EXISTING
BUILDINGS BUT ALSO FOR THE
SMALL SUBSET OF BUILDINGS
NOTABLY THROUGHOUT THE CITY
INCLUDING ONE OR TWO IN THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, I THINK
IT IS A GREAT TOOL FOR ALL
TYPES OF BUILDINGS TO
INCENTIVIZE THAT ACTIVITY AND
INVESTMENT AND MAKE SOME OF
THOSE PROJECTS PENCILED. I KNOW
YOU WILL HEAR MORE BUT I WOULD
ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OF THAT, AND, IT IS A TOOL THAT
WE WANT TO APPLAUD THE MAYOR,
AFTER LOOKING AT THIS, IT IS
SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP BRING
MORE PEOPLE INTO AREAS OF
DOWNTOWN AND UPTOWN, IT IS NOT
AS COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS SAID
A SILVER BULLET SOLUTION BUT IT
IS ONE OF THOSE TO BRING MORE
FLEXIBILITY AND I WILL SPEAKS
IS SPECIFICALLY TO LIFE
SCIENCES, LIFE SCIENCES FROM
DOWNTOWN TO UPTOWN, AND, THEY
ARE COMPETING WITH THE LIFE
SCIENCE USERS WITH SAN
FRANCISCO AND BOSTON, AND WHEN
YOU CAN ALLOW FOR LIFE SCIENCE
USERS TO BE ON THE FIRST FLOOR,
IT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING
THAT THOSE USERS WANT TO SEE
YOU. AND, WE CAN SAY YES, YOU
CAN MOVE THOSE TO THE FIRST
FLOOR. AND, MAYBE THEY WILL
LOOK AT SAN FRANCISCO. AND, I
WILL NOTE, THAT LIFE SCIENCE
USES ARE IN PERSON, SO IT
BRINGS ACTIVATION BECAUSE OF
THOSE EMPLOYEES WILL BE OUT
THERE SPENDING AND USING THE
PARK. WE ENCOURAGE THOSE BILLS
TO PASS, THANK YOU.
>>> UP NEXT, WE HAVE NICK
SANTINI.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
NICK SANTINI, I'M A SENIOR
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER. AND I'M
HERE TO SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSAL FOR INTERIM STREET
LEVEL USE FLEXIBILITY, AS
EVERYBODY KNOWS, UPTOWN SEATTLE
IS BECOMING A LIFE SCIENCE
ZONE, AND OUR PARTY IS
STRUGGLING TO RECOVER, LINCOLN
IS ON THE VERGE OF COMPLETING
FIFTH AVENUE, 800 SQUARE FOOT
STATE-OF-THE-ART RESEARCH
FACILITY ON FIFTH AVENUE AND
THOMAS, WHICH IS ALSO ALONG THE
CITY GREEN STREET, AS WELL AS
THE PRECONSTRUCTION WITH
DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, TO GET
THEM OFF THE GROUND. FIFTH
AVENUE IS A REQUIRED RETAIL
STREET CONSTRAINED BY THE LARGE
MONORAIL AND HIGH-SPEED
TRAFFIC. IT DOES NOT MAKE FOR
AN INVITING RETAIL STREET THE
CITY'S CURRENT DESIGN REVIEW
BOARD REQUIRED US TO PUT RETAIL
IN THESE CHALLENGING LOCATIONS
ON OUR FACADE, AS MOSTLY A
LOBBY. WE BELIEVE IN ACTIVE
USES ALONG WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT NOT EVERY STREET
IS CONDUCIVE TO RETAIL. WITH
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL, WE
REARRANGE THE GROUND FLOOR SO
THAT RETAIL CAN BE LOCATED
ALONG THOMAS ALONGSIDE THE
PLAZA AND THEN SHIPPED OUR
BUILDING OVER THE FENCE. THE
CURRENT CODE WILL NOT ALLOW FOR
THIS, THIS FLEXIBILITY WILL
CREATE MORE VIBRANT SUCCESSFUL
RETAIL ALONG FIFTH AND JOHN.
EXCUSE ME, ALONG FIFTH AVENUE
IN THE UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD. AND
RECENTLY RECEIVING ANOTHER
100,000 SQUARE FOOT, JUST SOUTH
OF FIFTH AVENUE AND WE HAVE YET
TO START CONSTRUCTION BUT THAT
SITE IS EVEN MORE CHALLENGES
FOR VIABLE RETAIL. WE HAVE
SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT THE AREA
IS BECOMING A FEDERAL ZONE. TO
SUPPORT THE POSSIBILITY
ORDINANCE, SET FORTH, BY THE
MAYOR. WE ALSO ENCOURAGE THE
COMMITTEE TO AMEND THE
ORDINANCE TO ALLOW FOR PROJECTS
WITH EXISTING AROUND FIFTH
AVENUE TO ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR
STREET-LEVEL AND IN CLOSING, WE
WOULD ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO
SUPPORT THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
MY HIGH-QUALITY JOBS.
>> AND THE LAST IN PERSON
SPEAKER IS GARY LEE.
>> I AM GARY LEE, AND I'M A
CITY PLANNER FROM THE CITY OF
REDMOND I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR
33 YEARS AND I JUST RETIRED TWO
MONTHS AGO. I'M ALSO A MEMBER
OF THE CHINATOWN WALK WATCH. I
ALSO WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR
EXCLUDING THE ACTIVE STREET
PROGRAM IN PIONEER SQUARE. AND
THE CID NEIGHBORHOODS, I SAY
THIS BECAUSE IT IS LIKELY THAT
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES COULD
HAPPEN THERE BECAUSE HOMELESS
SHELTERS AND SERVICES ARE
ALLOWED UNDER THE CATEGORY OF
INSTITUTIONS, THAT IS ON PAGE
TWO, AND I SAY THIS BECAUSE IT
WILL LIKELY CAUSE AND, HUMAN
SERVICES AND BELLTOWN, LIKE IT
HAS BEEN CID AND PIONEER
SQUARE, AND ACTIVATION ALLOWED
AND BELLTOWN ACCORDING TO THE
MAP 1G. AND, WITH THE COMMENTS
AND AND IN THE COMP PLAN, AND
YOU CAN STRATEGICALLY ADDRESS
IMPACTS AS IT TALKS ABOUT
WORKPLACES AND THEY CAN BE.
AND, POLICY DTH SB FIVE, TWO
AVOID OVER CONCENTRATION OF
HUMAN SERVICES IN THE DOWNTOWN.
AND THOSE ARE GREAT POLICIES,
THAT ACKNOWLEDGE THERE COULD BE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT
COULD BE PREVENTED BY ZONING
REGULATIONS TAKEN TO PREVENT
POLICIES, AND NO ZONING
REGULATIONS HAVE EVER BEEN
ESTABLISHED. NOW WITH THE
SEATTLE PLAN, WITH THE
STREAMLINING OF THE REDUCTION
AND THE PAGES IN THE DOCUMENT,
THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WELL-BEING
ELEMENT HAS BEEN DELETED, AS
WELL AS DOWNTOWN POLICIES WHAT
SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES THE OVER
CONCENTRATION WITH SUCH USES,
AND CLOSING LOOK CLOSELY AT THE
INSTITUTIONAL CATEGORY, THAT
ALLOWS THE COMMUNITY USE IN
THIS ORDINANCE, NUMBER TWO --
THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN, TO LOOK
AT INCLUDING HUMAN ELEMENTS AND
SERVICES IN THAT PLAN. IT IS
NOT INCLUDED IN THAT ONE.
>> THAT IS ALL OF THE IN PERSON
SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE. AND NOW
ONLINE, WE HAVE SEVEN SPEAKERS
SIGNED UP. STARTING WITH CHRIS
WOODWARD. FOLLOWED BY NELLY
QUICKEN AND MARS ERICKSON.
CHRIS WOODWARD IF YOU PRESS
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. --
>> CHRIS, YOU ARE UP NEXT, IF
YOU WANT TO PRESS STAR SIX.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS MY NAME IS CHRIS
WOODWARD I AM PROVIDING COMMENT
PROVIDING COUNSEL THERE COUNCIL
BILL 120761 I'M WITH THE
ALLIANCE AND DISTRICT 1, AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NONPROFIT
FOR THE BETTERMENT OF PIONEER
SQUARE. JUST TO START OFF,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON
EXPLORING HOW CURRENT OFFICE
BUILDINGS IN PIONEER SQUARE CAN
BE CONVERTED TO RESIDENTIAL
HOUSING. WE RECOGNIZE THIS
OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE
DISTRICT, GIVEN THAT THE
CURRENT OCCUPANCY RATE
CONTINUES TO BE MUCH LOWER THAN
PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. WE ARE
INTERESTED IN TODAY'S HEARING,
CONSIDERATION AROUND THE
COUNCIL BILL WITH A POTENTIAL
AMENDMENT IN GENERAL, WE ARE
SUPPORTIVE OF STREAMLINING THE
PROCESS TO FOSTER RESIDENTIAL
USE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
HOWEVER WE WOULD LIKE TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THE PRODUCT WILL
BE DETERMINED ELIGIBLE OR
INELIGIBLE. IN MEETING THE
OUTLINE CRITERIA, TO ENSURE
THAT THE CHARACTER OF THE
DISTRICT REMAINS INTACT, SO THE
BIG QUESTION IS, WOULD THIS BE
DONE BY ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW,
OR WITHIN ANOTHER PROCESS? AND
WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING
MOVING FORWARD, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> UP NEXT, WE HAVE NATALIE
CLICK, FOLLOWED BY LARS
ERICKSON. PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CAN YOU HEAR
ME?
>> YES.
>> WONDERFUL, MY NAME IS
NATALIE AND THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON
COUNCIL BILL 120761 . THIS
MORNING WE SUBMITTED A GROUP
LETTER FROM THE SEATTLE CHAMBER
AND IN WASHINGTON STATE,
GRAPHITE WARD AND KELLERMAN
FARMS. THE VACANCY RATE IS
AROUND 20% VACANT WHICH IS WELL
BELOW THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
AVERAGE OF 20%. THE PROPOSED
OFFICE TO RESIDENTIAL
LEGISLATION IS A GREAT TOOL TO
HELP INCENTIVIZE CREATIVE AND
SUSTAINABLE ADAPTIVE REUSE THAT
WILL HELP MORE HOUSING
PRODUCTION BROUGHT THE CITY. IN
A RECENT ARTICLE IT STATED
ABOUT 10 TO 50% OF DOWNTOWN
BUILDINGS MAY BE VIABLE FOR
CONVERSION, WHICH EQUATES TO
ABOUT 6 MILLION SQUARE FEET,
NOT CURRENTLY FULLY
CONTRIBUTING TO DOWNTOWN
ECONOMIC DIVERSITY. CONVERSION
OF THESE BUILDINGS CAN RESULT
IN THOUSANDS OF NEW AVENUES. IN
ADDITION TO A SIMILAR STUDY
THAT FOUND THE MOST THIS
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING IS THE ONE
THAT YOU DON'T TEAR DOWN, AND
THAT A BODY CARBON BENEFIT
REPURPOSING OFF THE BUILDING
WILL BE SIGNIFICANT. LASTLY
CONVERSIONS OF EXISTING
BUILDINGS ARE ECONOMICALLY
CHALLENGING. ADAPTIVELY USING
THESE STRUCTURES REQUIRE MAJOR
IMPROVEMENTS AND ENERGY
UPGRADES ALONG WITH MORE
COMPLEX DESIGN CONSTRUCTION ET
CETERA. THESE ARE COSTLY, AND
ITS PRODUCTS DO NOT PENCIL
WITHOUT INCENTIVE. FINALLY WE
SUPPORT THE PROPOSED EXEMPTION
OF THESE PROJECTS FROM MAIN
CHAMBER REQUIREMENTS, THESE ARE
EXISTING BUILDING SO THERE IS
NOT MORE DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY
BEEN PROVIDED TO OWNERS AS
REQUIRED BY STATE TO IMPLEMENT
THE MHA. FOR THESE REASONS WE
SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION AND
ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> UP NEXT, WE HAVE LARS
ERICKSON, FOLLOWED BY MARTY
GOODMAN. LARS PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. --
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
LARS ERICKSON AND ON BEHALF OF
MORE THAN OF THE SEATTLE
METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE
SUPPORT THE PROPOSED OFFICE TO
RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION AND
LEGISLATION COUNCIL BILL
120761. AS PREVIOUSLY
MENTIONED, VACANCY RATES HAD
REACHED A STAGGERING 28% IN THE
SEATTLE CENTRAL BUSINESS
DISTRICT AND THE ECONOMIC
FORECAST FROM THE CITY SHOWS
THAT THE RATE WILL CONTINUE TO
RISE BEFORE THEY DECLINE. AND
AT THE SAME TIME THE REGION IS
IN THE MIDST OF A HOUSING
CRISIS, THE CITIES DATA SHOWS
THAT APPLICATION FOR APARTMENTS
WERE DOWN COMPARED TO Q1 IN
2023. GIVEN THE DIVERSITY OF
COMMERCIAL SPACES ACROSS THE
CITY WE UNDERSTAND THAT
RESIDENTIAL CONVERSIONS WILL
NOT BE THE RIGHT OPTION, IN
EVERY SINGLE SITUATION, WE ALSO
UNDERSTAND THAT FOR DEVELOPERS
THE PROCESS WILL BE COSTLY, AND
NOT WITHOUT RISK, IN ORDER TO
MAKE THESE PROJECTS PLEASE
SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL TO EXEMPT
MANDATORY HOUSING AND
AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS, WE
BELIEVE THAT THE EXEMPTION FROM
MHA ALONG WITH THE REMOVAL OF
OTHER REGULATORY BARRIERS,
INCLUDED IN THE LEGISLATION IS
AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS
SEEING THESE PROJECTS TO
FRUITION. SEATTLE VOTERS IN THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY, SEE HOUSING
IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
THINGS IN OUR REGION, TO GET
RIGHT, TO BE PREPARED FOR
FUTURE GROWTH, AND ADDRESS
ONGOING AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS
IN OUR REGION. WE ALSO CONTINUE
TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF
REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN. PLEASE
SUPPORT COUNCIL BILL 120761.
THANK YOU.
>> UP NEXT. WE HAVE MARTY
GOODMAN FOLLOWED BY WHITNEY
COOPER. MARTY, PLEASE PRESS
STAR 621 YOURSELF. -- STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, JOE MORALES
AND COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
MARTY GOODMAN I'M A SENIOR
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR A
MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPER HERE IN SEATTLE. I'M
HERE TODAY TO COMMENT ON THE
COUNCIL BILL 120761 RELATED TO
CONVERSION OF NONRESIDENTIAL
STRUCTURES TO RESIDENTIAL USE.
WE FULLY SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION AS WRITTEN. AND WE
HOPE TO USE IT ON ONE OF OUR
EXISTING PROJECTS IN THE
TRIANGLE, CAN'T -- IT WAS
CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS. WE
CREATED A PERFORMANCE SPACE AND
GALLERY ON THE GROUND LEVEL OF
THE BUILDING AND BUILT THREE
FLOORS OF COMMERCIAL OFFICE
SPACE IN THE PODIUM OF THIS
HOUR, AND GAVE THE OPTION TO
THWART AND OUT IN THE AFTERMATH
OF COVID, CORNISH OPTED NOT TO
TAKE THE SPACE, AND IT HAS BEEN
SITTING THERE EMPTY, SINCE
2022, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO
CONVERT THE OFFICE SPACE TO
RESIDENTIAL, BUT WE NEED THIS
LEGISLATION IN ORDER TO MAKE IT
FEASIBLE WITH THE HIGH COST OF
CONVERSION. WITH THIS
LEGISLATION WE ARE PREPARED TO
MOVE AHEAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
AND RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT
YOU PASS THE BILL. THIS IS A
GREAT TOOL TO CREATE MUCH MORE
NEEDED HOUSING TO REACTIVATE
OUR DOWNTOWN. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> UP NEXT, WE HAVE WHITNEY
COOPER, FOLLOWED BY JESSICA
WALLS .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, JOE MORALES
AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I AM
WHITNEY COOPER, SPEAKING IN
SUPPORT OF THE OFFICE TO GO
RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION BILL
120761. UNICO OWNS AND MANAGES
DOZENS OF PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE INCLUDING A NUMBER OF
HISTORIC BUILDINGS LIKE GRAND
CENTRAL AND PIONEER SQUARE.
ADAPTIVE REUSE OF OFFICE
BUILDINGS INCLUDING THE
SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION OF A
HISTORIC BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN
TACOMA INTO 156 APARTMENTS . WE
WENT THROUGH THAT CONVERSION
THAT MODERNIZING TO MEET
CURRENT SEISMIC AND ENERGY CODE
UPGRADES WITH INCREDIBLY COSTLY
AND COMPLEX. WHEN IT CAN BE
ACHIEVED THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS
THROUGH NEW HOUSING, ACTIVATED
NEIGHBORHOODS AND VIBRANT
STREETSCAPES. THERE ARE
SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS AS WELL,
THE CARBON ADAPTIVE REUSE
COMPARED TO NEW CONSTRUCTION
CAN BE UPWARDS OF 70% OVER THE
LIFE OF THE BUILDING. ALL OF
THESE REASONS, WE SUPPORT THE
PROPOSED BILL IN ORDER TO MAKE
ADAPTIVE REUSE CONVERSIONS HELP
FROM A PUBLIC SECTOR,
STREAMLINE REDUCED BARRIERS TO
VIABILITY, THIS LEGISLATION IS
ENCOURAGING MORE HOUSING,
CONVERSIONS . LASTLY, I WOULD
NOTE THAT MANY POTENTIAL
CONVERSIONS IN PIONEER SQUARE,
IS BUILT WITH STREAMLINED
PERMITTING PROCESSES IN THAT
HISTORIC DISTRICT AND WE
UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE AN
AMENDMENT THAT EFFECTIVELY
REMOVES THAT STREAMLINING
EXEMPTION FOR PIONEER SQUARE
AND WE WOULD ENCOURAGE THE
COUNCIL TO KEEP THE LEGISLATION
AS PROPOSED. IN CONCLUSION WE
APPRECIATE THE CITIES
LEADERSHIP ON SUPPORTING
ADAPTIVE REUSE CONVERSION. WE
ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT
THE ORDINANCE AND KEEP THE
ORIGINAL PERMIT STREAMLINING
PROVISIONS FOR PIONEER SQUARE.
THANK YOU.
>> UP NEXT WE HAVE JESSICA
WALLS, FOLLOWED BY -- [
INAUDIBLE ] .
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD, JESSICA.
>> MY NAME IS JESSICA WALLS,
I'M A DESIGNER AND A SENIOR
RESEARCH, FOCUSED ON -- WE ARE
AN ARCHITECTURE FIRM AND WE
HAVE OFFICES IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE AS WELL IS IN 30
LOCATIONS AS WELL AND WE SIGN
ON AS SIGNATORIES IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCIL BILL 120761. AND,
RESTRICTED BY NATALIE, AND I
WANTED TO CONFIRM AND REITERATE
THAT THIS HUGE CARBON BENEFIT
BY REUSING EXISTING BUILDINGS,
AND CAUSING THOUSANDS OF
STUDIES ON PRODUCTS THAT WE
HAVE PERFORMED AND WE ARE
SEEING THAT EMBODIED CARBON
ASSOCIATED WITH NEW MATERIALS.
EMBODIED CARBON IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR 70% OF NEW BUILDINGS,
CARBON IMPACT AND, THAT IS
AVERAGE NATIONWIDE DATA,
IMPACTED BY -- [ INAUDIBLE ] ON
A CLEAN GRID BECAUSE
OPERATIONAL COST IS LOWER. AND
WE ARE SEEING SAVINGS OF 79%
AND BODY CARBON IMPACTS TO
RETAIN 100% OF THE PRIMARY
STRUCTURE SO THAT IS A HUGE
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT TO BE
CONSIDERED ALONGSIDE OTHER
FACTORS. I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK
TO THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING
ACCESS TO SERVICES, IF THEY ARE
EXEMPT FROM MHA, PERHAPS THERE
ARE OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE
CONSIDERED, SUCH AS MIXED-USE
PROGRAMS, AND THE GROUND
PLANES, AND DID USE AT THE
GROUND PLANE AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS ARE LOOKING AT
WHAT WOULD SUPPORT COMMUNITY
AND SUPPORT THE SENSE OF
INVITATION IN THE AREA, MAKING
THE DOWNTOWN FEEL MORE LIKE A
NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THE
EDUCATIONAL SPACE AND
FACILITIES [ INAUDIBLE ] AND
OTHER SERVICES, AND GATHERING
SPACES, AND DISTRIBUTE
HEALTHCARE. SO, LOTS OF THINGS
TO THINK ABOUT AND I AGREE,
HOLISTICALLY ACROSS ALL CITY
DEPARTMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> THE LAST SPEAKER WE HAVE IS
-- [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> HELLO GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
ABIGAIL LOUISE, I'M AN
ATTORNEY PRINCIPAL AT THE FIRM.
I'M ALSO A GOVERNMENTAL
AFFAIRS -- MAY COMMERCIAL REAL
ESTATE DEVELOPMENT FOR
WASHINGTON STATE THAT
REPRESENTS OVER 1000
DEVELOPERS, OWNERS AND PEOPLE
AND OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY. AND
ALSO ON BUSINESS OWNERS AND, MY
TWO TODDLERS TO TAKE HER
DOWNTOWN. AND I CARE DEEPLY
ABOUT OUR DOWNTOWN RECOVERIES.
AND YOU ALREADY HEARD THAT WE
SUPPORT THE RESIDENTIAL
CONVERSION PROPOSALS AND,
EARLIER TODAY. BUT I'M ALSO
SPEAKING TO WASHINGTON'S
SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED
INTERIM STREET-LEVEL USE
REGULATION. AND WE ASK THAT YOU
MOVE COUNCIL BILL 120771, ONTO
APPROVAL. THE APPROACH TO ALLOW
ADDITIONAL USES, AND THEREBY
ADDITIONAL EYES ON THE STREET,
AND OUR CURRENT CLIMATE MAKE
SENSE. EVEN USES NOT
TRADITIONALLY VIEWED LIKE
ACTIVATING LIVE SCIENCE AND IN
TRADITIONAL I'M BETTER THAN
VACANT STOREFRONTS. ANY THAT
HAVE USED CREATES MORE ACTIVITY
AND FEELINGS OF SAFETY ON OUR
STREETS, WE VIEW THIS
LEGISLATION IS VITAL TO
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE RECOVERY. THE
LEGISLATION IS ALSO A
SHORT-TERM FIX APPROPRIATE FOR
A CURRENT MOMENT IN TIME. AND
THE THREE YEAR TIME HORIZON IS
APPROPRIATELY BRIEF, BUT AT THE
SAME TIME, IT PROVIDES
NECESSARY THE ACTIVITY TO
OCCUR. AND IF OUR DOWNTOWN
FULLY RECOVERS WE AGREE THAT IT
WON'T BE NECESSARY TO CONTINUE
INTO THE FUTURE. BUT IT IS AN
IMPORTANT STEP TO TAKE RIGHT
NOW. AND SIGNALS TO THE MARKET
THAT IS STRUGGLING WE ASK THAT
YOU SUPPORT THESE CHANGES,
THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS THE LAST SPEAKER
THAT WE HAVE.
>> TERRIFIC, THANKS EVERYONE. I
WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE
PUBLIC HEARING. AND, THANKS FOR
YOUR WORK ON THIS LEGISLATION,
AND COLLEAGUES I ANTICIPATE
BRINGING THIS BACK FOR A VOTE
ON JULY 3rd. AND, THE LATE JUNE
COUNCIL MEETING. AND THE
COMMITTEE MEETING IS CANCELED.
SO IF YOU HAVE AMENDMENTS OR
QUESTIONS, PLEASE DO REACH OUT
TO OPCD ABOUT THE LEGISLATION.
OKAY. WILL YOU PLEASE READ ITEM
TWO INTO THE RECORD? I'M
SORRY, NAOMI?
>> AGENDA ITEM TWO, DOWNTOWN
STREET LEGISLATION FOR BRIEF
AND DISCUSSION OF PUBLIC
HEARING.
>> THANK YOU, OKAY. WE ARE
JOINED BY MIKE AND GORDON
CLOWERS FROM STC I, AND SO,
BEFORE YOU INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES, I WILL JUST SAY
AGAIN, LAST FRIDAY I WAS ABLE
TO TOUR THE STREETS THAT WERE
IDENTIFIED ON THE MAPS IN THIS
PACKAGE. JUST TO SEE, BUILDINGS
THAT ARE CURRENTLY VACANT ON
THE KEY STREETS IN DOWNTOWN
UPTOWN AND SOUTH LAKE UNION,
URBAN CENTERS, AND THE IDEA
HERE IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO
ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION OF SOME
OF OUR URBAN CENTERS THIS IS A
THREE-YEAR PILOT AND IT WOULD
ALLOW FOR EXPANDED USES THAT
COULD INCLUDE COMMUNITY
CENTERS, WITH A VARIETY OF
OTHER INSTITUTIONAL USES, FOOD
PROCESSING, AND ART IT CAN ALSO
INCLUDE NON-HOUSEHOLD SALES AND
SERVICES, AS SOMEONE REFERENCED
, BIOMEDICAL OFFICES OR
RESEARCH, SO WE WILL HEAR ABOUT
ALL OF THAT, AND THEN
COLLEAGUES IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO
ASK THEM AS WE GO, WE HAVE 30
MINUTES LEFT IN TWO MORE
PRESENTATIONS. LET'S HOPE WE
CAN GET THROUGH OUR FULL AGENDA
BY 4:00 BUT WE MAY GO OVER.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO GORDON, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, GORDON CLOWERS
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PRESENT THIS TODAY. AND, THE
BILL IS FOR INTERIM STREET
ACTIVATION. AND, AND ALL OF THE
AREAS, WITH THE LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN SOME
OF THE GOALS, AND THE DETAILS.
AND SO, THE BILL COVERS URBAN
CENTER AS WELL AS PORTIONS OF
UP TOWN URBAN CENTER. AND, THE
INTENT, INCLUDES TO HELP FILL
VACANT SPACES, AS WE HAVE HEARD
TODAY. IN THE COMMENTARY, THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF AND DOWNTOWN,
THAT HAD BEEN VACANT AND SOME
OF THEM FOR A LONG PERIOD OF
TIME. AND, THIS BILL, IS VERY
SIMILAR TO A BILL THAT WAS
PASSED DURING COVID, AS AN
INTERIM STAFF. AND, WE TOOK THE
TIME TO EXAMINE THE CODE IN
MORE DETAIL FOR THIS BILL, AND
JUST TRYING TO FIND BARRIERS OR
RESTRICTIONS IN THE CODE THAT
MIGHT INHIBIT FROM BEING ABLE
TO FILL THOSE SPACES. AND A
PART OF THE GOAL HERE, AS WELL
AS THE TO ATTRACT MORE DAILY
ACTIVITY AND MORE PEOPLE WITH
MORE EYES ON THE STREET,
ESPECIALLY IN CERTAIN AREAS,
THAT ARE LACKING. AND THE
POSITIVE PRESENCE OF PEOPLE AND
ACTIVITY ON A DAILY BASIS. AND,
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING TO PROMOTE
CREATIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
BY CREATING TWO TYPES OF
BUSINESSES, AND WE HAVE FOR
EXAMPLE, ALLOWED FOR MORE
FLEXIBILITY AND SIZE OF SPACES
ALLOWING SHALLOWER SPACES TO
OCCUPY PARTS OF EXISTING VACANT
SPACES. AND, ALLOWING FOR THE
POSSIBILITY OF MULTI-FLOOR
SPACES. AND, A LITTLE BIT OF
DATA. ON THE STATE OF OUR
RECOVERY AND DOWNTOWN, IN
PARTICULAR. AS WE KNOW,
POST-COVID, WE DIDN'
RECOVERY OF FOOT TRAFFIC AND
BUSINESS OCCUPATION DOWNTOWN.
AND IN 2022 TO 2023. WE HAD UP
TO A 15% GAIN IN FOOT TRAFFIC .
FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR,
YEAR-OVER-YEAR, AND IN THE PAST
YEAR, THE FOOT TRAFFIC IS STILL
INCREASING, BUT ONLY BY ABOUT
5%, YEAR OVER YEAR. AND,
SIMILAR, FOR DOWNTOWN BUSINESS
OPENINGS AND CLOSURES, ARE TO
RENT THE SENSE LAST NOVEMBER.
AND, IT HAS STILL NOT FULLY
RECOVERED. FROM THE EFFECTS OF
COVID AND SO ON. WHERE, WE HAVE
NINE BUSINESS OPENINGS BUT 21
CLOSURES WITH A SIMILAR RATIO,
THAT WE WERE EXPERIENCED DURING
COVID. AND SO, THE PROPOSAL, AS
NOTED IT WILL BE INTERIM
LEGISLATION, AND, IN PLACE FOR
THREE YEARS UPON PASSAGE. AND
IT WOULD APPLY TO CLASS ONE TO
CLASS TO PEDESTRIAN STREETS ON
THE STREET-LEVEL USE
REQUIREMENTS SO IT IS TARGETED
TO THOSE PLACES THAT HAVE THESE
ACTIVE STREET-LEVEL USE
REQUIREMENTS, AND I WILL SHOW
THAT IN A LITTLE BIT MORE.
COMING UP. AND, JUST PROVIDING
MORE CODE FLEXIBILITY IN
REDUCING BARRIERS, SO THERE'S A
NUMBER OF NINE POINT DETAILS IN
THE LAYERING OF THE CITY RAKES
THAT DISCOURAGE VARIETY IN THE
USES. AND, NEW USES WERE
CLARIFYING THAT CAN REMAIN IF
THEY COME IN DURING THE PERIOD,
THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE
EXPIRATION OF THE INTERIM
PERIOD. OKAY, SO THE TABLE
HERE, THE COLUMN ON THE LEFT IS
AN EXISTING RANGE OF ACTIVE
STREET-LEVEL USES, THAT ARE
POSSIBLE TODAY. AND LARGELY
LIMITED TO, RESTAURANTS,
GENERAL SALES AND SERVICES, AND
A PARTIAL MIX OF HUMAN
SERVICES, AND AN ARTS FACILITY
AND MUSEUMS, AND LIBRARIES AND
SO ON. AND ON THE RIGHT-HAND
COLUMN ARE THE CATEGORY OF USES
THAT WE WOULD NEWLY ALLOW FOR
THIS PERIOD AS STREET-LEVEL
USES, AND THIS RANGE OF USES IS
EXACTLY THE KINDS OF USES THAT
ARE CURRENTLY ALLOWED IN OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THE CITY.
WITHIN THEIR PEDESTRIAN
DISTRICTS. SO IF YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT GREENWOOD OR
FREMONT OR WHAT HAVE YOU. THAT
IS A SELECTION OF USES, DRAWN
FROM THAT CAPABILITY, ONE
THEORY IS THAT THESE ARE STILL
USES THAT PROVIDE SOME
ACTIVATION, AND, CAN HELP THE
SITUATION HERE. AND THE
POSSIBILITY OF OFFICE AND R&D
LAB USE, AT GROUND FLOOR, WITH
A FEW MORE VARIETIES OF
INSTITUTIONAL USES.
>> FOR THE DOWNTOWN URBAN
CENTER, THIS MAP EXPLAINS WHY
THE PROPOSAL WOULD APPLY, THAT
WOULD NOT APPLY. AND THE
OUTLINED STREETS, ON THE MAP
ARE PLACES WHERE TODAY THE
ACTIVE STREET-LEVEL USE
REQUIREMENT APPLIES, AND, THAT
INCLUDES SECOND FIRST AND THIRD
AVENUE, FIRST AND THIRD AND
BELLTOWN. AND IN THE OFFICE
CORE. AND THEN -- TOO MUCH OF
THE RETAIL CORE AND GOING UP
WESTLAKE AND IN STEWART STREET
THERE, AND FOR THIS PROPOSAL,
PROPOSING TO RETAIN ACTIVE
STREET-LEVEL USE REQUIREMENTS
AROUND KEY STREETS, AND THE
FIRST AVENUE AND SECOND AVENUE,
NEAR THE PIKE PLACE MARKET. AND
ON THE WATERFRONT AND THE
EXISTING REQUIREMENTS, STILL IN
LITTLE SAIGON AS WELL. AND IN
PIONEER SQUARE, AND CHINATOWN.
AND NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS
PROPOSAL. AND, TO CONSIDER, AND
APPROVE OF A VARIETY OF MIX OF
USES AT THEIR DISCRETION. AND
IN SOUTH LAKE UNION, THE LINE
DESIGNATION WITH THE CIRCLES IN
IT, NORTH OF MERCER, INCLUDING
VALLEY STREET, IT'S A PLACE
WHERE THE PROPOSAL WOULD APPLY,
THE ONLY OTHER PLACE , WHERE
THE ZONING WOULD REQUIRE THESE
USES, IS THE EXTENSION OF
WESTLAKE AVENUE BETWEEN MERCER
AND DENNING, THAT IS NOT
INCLUDED IN THIS PROPOSAL AS OF
RIGHT NOW. AND THEN IN UPTOWN,
THE PROPOSAL WOULD APPLY TO 5th
AVENUE NORTH. AND A PORTION OF
MERCER STREET, HEADING OVER TO
I BELIEVE IT IS WARREN AVENUE.
AND THE UPTOWN BUSINESS
DISTRICTS. IN THE FLEXIBILITY
IN THE PROPOSAL, JUST TO
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE ACTIVE
USE CHARACTER OF THAT BUSINESS
DISTRICT. AND SO, ONE OF THE
EXAMPLES THAT I MENTIONED
EARLIER WAS THE ABILITY TO
ALLOW FOR SMALL SPACES WITH
SHOWER MINIMUM REQUIRED SPACES,
ALONG THE FRONTS OF VACANT
SPACES. AND AS YOU CAN SEE THAT
COFFEE AND OTHER STOREFRONT
USES WINDOWS, AT THE MARKET,
THE PIKE PLACE MARKET AT THE
RETAIL CORE, ARE CREATED WITH
VARIETY AND ACTIVITY, AND
POSITIVE ATTRACTORS OF
ACTIVITY, IN THESE AREAS. AND,
WE WOULD OTHERWISE USE THE
VACANT SPACES THAT THESE PLACES
COULD OCCUPY, THEY MIGHT NOT
NEED 5000 TO 7000 SQUARE FEET
AND THEY WOULD REMAIN VACANT.
AND, NEAR THE RETAIL CORE AND
IN OTHER PLACES.
>> AND THEN JUST THE
OPPORTUNITY, TO ACCOMMODATE
MULTI-FLOOR RETAIL SPACES OR
PERHAPS RESTAURANTS. THERE IS
SOMETHING THAT IS PROBABLY AN
UNINTENTIONALLY AFFECTED BY THE
DOWNTOWN CODE. AND, IT HAS SOME
PENALTIES, AS FAR AS ABILITY TO
CONNECT THE FLOORS AND COUNTING
AGAINST DENSITY LIMITS . ON
UPPER FLOORS, EVEN IF THE USES
WERE CONNECTED TO GROUND LEVEL
USES. AND, WE WERE CAREFULLY
RECRUITING BACK SOME OF THOSE
RESTRICTIONS, IN CASE THOSE ARE
USES THAT WANT TO COME IN AS
NEW CONCEPTS AND NEW
RESTAURANTS AND NEW RETAIL TO
BE ABLE TO LOCATE IN THE CITY.
AND, I THINK IN THE SPIRIT OF
IN THE SPIRIT OF THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN PLACES LIKE ALL
ALONG THIRD AVENUE, THROUGHOUT
THE DOWNTOWN. THE GAPS, THERE
IS A NUMBER OF GAPS IN FIRST
SECOND AND THIRD AVENUE IN THE
BELLTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD THAT
CREATES A SCARCITY OF PEOPLE
WALKING AROUND. AND, THEY TEND
TO NOT ACTIVATE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND. ISSUES,
POTENTIALLY TAKE BEHAVIORAL
ISSUES OFF THE STREET AND
CONTRIBUTES TO POTENTIAL
DECLINE. AND THE FACADES AND
GRAFFITI, AND OTHER DETRACTORS,
TO THE QUALITY OF THE AREA. SO,
THAT IS A FAIRLY BRIEF VERSION
OF THIS. AND I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS.
>> AND I'M GOING TO ASK THEM
TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES THAT WE
HAVE RAISED IN YOUR MEMO. AND
THEN WE CAN SEE IF THERE OTHER
QUESTIONS.
>> SO COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU HAVE
A MEMO DATED FROM ME, AND THERE
ARE FOUR PRELIMINARY ISSUES, TO
IDENTIFY IN THE MEMO, I WILL
WALK THROUGH EACH OF THEM. THE
FIRST ONE IS ESSENTIALLY A
RIGHTNESS QUESTION, AND THE
RIGHT TIME TO ACT OUT THE
LEGISLATION, AS THE RECOVERY
HAS BEEN UNEVEN. WITH FEWER
OFFICE WORKERS DOWNTOWN THAN
THERE USED TO BE. WITH THE
NUMBER OF VISITORS PRETTY CLOSE
TO 2019 LEVELS IN THE
RESIDENTIAL POPULATION IS
GREATER THAN 2019. AND THE
DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL POPULATION
IS ABOUT THE SIZE BETWEEN 35 TO
40,000 FOLKS, THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WILL BE
COMPLETED HERE SOON. LARGELY
AND BELLTOWN BUT OF OTHER PARTS
OF DOWNTOWN , THAT WILL ADD
ANOTHER FOUR 5000 UNITS, THAT
IS ABOUT THE SIZE BEING ADDED
TO ISSAQUAH. SO, THERE WILL BE
MORE PEOPLE DOWNTOWN,
RELATIVELY SOON AND THOSE
PEOPLE WILL NEED SERVICES. AND
THOSE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE
THROUGH THE STREET-LEVEL USE
REQUIREMENT. THERE'S ALSO SOME
PLANNING WORK GOING ON, AND
THERE'S A LINK IN THE MEMO, TO
A WEBPAGE, THAT WE ARE REQUIRED
BY PRC TO UPDATE THE URBAN
CENTER PLANS, THE FIRST ONE TO
BE UPDATED WILL BE THE DOWNTOWN
URBAN CENTER PLAN THAT WILL BE
CONSIDERED BY THE COUNCIL IN
2026, SO AS A PART OF THAT
WORK, THE CITY WILL BE LOOKING
AT, REQUIREMENTS OF
STREET-LEVEL USES IN THOSE
LOCATIONS, AND HAVE A LITTLE
BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW
ACTIVITIES, CHANGING DOWNTOWN,
POST-PANDEMIC, SO IT IS A BODY
OF WORK, THAT THE COUNCIL TO BE
CONSIDERING THE RELATIVELY
SOON, ALSO, I WOULD WITH THE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY RENEWAL, IT
IS UP THERE, SOME ALLOCATION,
FOR RE-VISIONING, RE-VISIONING
THIRD AVENUE, THAT COULD ALSO
INFORMED SOME DECISIONS ABOUT
REGULATIONS FOR STREET-LEVEL
USES BY $14 MILLION ALLOCATED
FOR THAT IN A LEVY. SO ISSUE
NUMBER ONE IS THE LEVY. AND IN
HERE, THE LOCATION, SO, GORDON
FIND A COUPLE AREAS WHICH ARE
CONSPICUOUS FOR FURTHER
INCLUSION, ONE OF THEM IS THE
MERCER BLOCKS IN SOUTH LAKE
UNION, THE MERCER BLOCKS,
FORMERLY OWNED BY THE CITY ON
SOUTH LAKE UNION PARK, AND, ONE
OF THOSE BOXES, THEY HAVE NOT
BEEN DEVELOPED AND THE OTHERS
HAVE. AND GOOGLE I BELIEVE, IT
LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A
RELATIVELY RECENT APPLICATION
FOR I THINK THE AUTOMOTIVE
SHOWROOM THERE, SO THEY WOULD
NOT OTHERWISE BE ALLOWED GIVEN
THE STREET-LEVEL USE
REQUIREMENTS, IT IS UNCLEAR IF
THE LANDLORD CAN ACTUALLY GET A
DIFFERENT TENANT IN THERE BUT
IT BEGS THE QUESTION, WITH THE
DISPENSATION TO JUST ALLOW A
USE THAT WOULDN'T OTHERWISE BE
PERMITTED, WHEN THERE COULD BE
PERMITTED USE ON THE TENANT
THERE. SO SIMILARLY, WE HEARD
FROM THE DEVELOPERS OF A
BIOTECH CLUSTER ON FIFTH AND
BROADWAY. AND THEY HAVE A FAIR
AMOUNT OF STREET-LEVEL USE
SPACE SHOWN ON THEIR PLANS, AND
ARE REQUIRED BY CODE, UNCLEAR
WHETHER OR NOT THEY COULD FIND
A TENANT IF THEY WANTED TO, BUT
THERE'S A GOOD ASPECT OF A
PROPOSAL THAT SEEMS TO BE
ABOUT, THAT PARTICULAR
LOCATION. I CALLED BOTH OF
THOSE LOCATIONS OUT BECAUSE
THEY WERE THE SUBJECT OF
IDENTIFIED THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANNING EFFORTS THAT RESULTED
FROM THE ZONE, AND THE UPTOWN
UPTOWN, WHERE THERE WAS DESIRED
BY THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE A NODE
WITH RETAIL USES AT THOSE
LOCATIONS. SO THAT IS ISSUE
NUMBER TWO, THE SAME CAN BE
SAID FOR OTHER PARTS OF
DOWNTOWN AS WELL AS YOU ALL
PROBABLY WALKING AROUND
DOWNTOWN, THE VACANCY ISSUE IS
REALLY HIGHLY LOCALIZED, SO IT
DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE
DOWNTOWN, IF YOU WALK UP FOURTH
AVENUE FOR EXAMPLE, STREET BILL
USES WITH VERY FEW VACANCIES.
AND SO, THE ISSUE OF LOCATION
IS ONE THAT CAN BE APPLIED
THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN
NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL. AND
ANOTHER QUESTION IS THIS THE
RIGHT INTERVIEWS, SOME ARE MORE
ACTIVATING THAN OTHERS, OFFICE
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, THOSE
WILL BE CHARGED FOR WHICH THERE
WILL BE A DENSITY LIMITS
ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, THAT IS
IN PART BECAUSE HAD A NOT --
PREFERRED STREET-LEVEL USES
UNDER THE CITY'S CODE, OTHER
USES, RECOMMENDED COULD BE MORE
ACTIVATING. AND CUSTOM CRAFT
WORK AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND
LOOKING AT THIS LEGISLATION THE
TYPE OF USES IS ANOTHER DIAL
THAT THE COUNCIL COULD TURN IN
MAKING AMENDMENTS. ONE FINAL
ISSUE THAT I WILL FLAG MAYBE
BEFORE I MOVE ON FROM THAT
ISSUE, THERE ARE OTHER OTHER
MODIFICATIONS THAT COULD BE
ALLOWED FOR INTERIM USE
INCLUDING PHYSICAL STANDARDS
THAT IS ANOTHER DIAL THAT THE
COUNCIL COULD TURN, PERCENTAGE
OF STREET-LEVEL REQUIREMENTS
FOR ALLOWED INTERIM USES, THAT
COULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE
COUNCIL MAY CONSIDER, MAKING
MODIFICATIONS TO THE BILL.
FINALLY, THIS HAS TO DO WITH
INSTITUTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE,
THERE'S A PRETTY BROAD
DIRECTOR TO MAKE AS AN
ADMINISTRATIVE NONAPPEALABLE
DECISION, A CALL OF WHAT AN
ALLOWABLE STREET-LEVEL USES,
THIS KIND OF A DELEGATION, WHAT
MIGHT OTHERWISE BE A
LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY TO THE
SDCI DIRECTOR, THAT THE COUNCIL
HAS DONE BEFORE, BUT SHOULD BE
AWARE, HOW THAT IS PROPOSED BY
THE MAYOR OF THIS BILL AS WELL.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUES I DON'T SEE ANY
QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT.
ANYONE? COUNCILMEMBER DAN
STRAUSS?
>> THIS IS A VERY
STRAIGHTFORWARD COMMONSENSE
BILL I KNOW THAT WE PASSED
SOMETHING SIMILAR DURING THE
PANDEMIC AS A PILOT AND IT
SEEMS LIKE THIS EXPAND ON THAT
A LITTLE BIT. NO QUESTIONS,
JAIRE.
>> OKAY. I WILL SAY, IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME I WILL RAISE
MY QUESTIONS, AND PUBLIC. AND
WE CAN CONTINUE THE
CONVERSATION AND I'M GOING TO
SAY, AS ALREADY LET SDCI KNOW,
I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT
THIS, AND, IN GENERAL, I HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MANY,
REALLY GETTING TO THE ISSUES
THAT WERE RAISED AROUND HOW
MANY FOLKS ARE ACTUALLY ASKING
FOR THIS, AND WHAT IS THE
DEMAND FOR THIS KIND OF A
CHANGE? AND -- THE DIRECTOR,
SINCE WE DO HAVE YOU HERE, I
MIGHT GO AHEAD AND ASK YOU TO
HELP RESPOND TO THIS, I
QUESTION I HAVE ABOUT WHAT
EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO TRY TO
ACTIVATE THESE VACANT AREAS
WITH EXISTING RESOURCES AND
THAT SEEMS LIKE A QUESTION FOR
OED. SO I WILL HAND THAT OVER
TO YOU.
>> SURE, WE ARE ALL IN THIS
TOGETHER TO TRY TO FILL VACANT
STOREFRONTS, AS POSSIBLE. THE
RETAIL ENVIRONMENT HAS CHANGED
DRAMATICALLY, TWO OF THE
LEADING FACTORS WITH THE
PANDEMIC AND THE LACK OF PEOPLE
COMING DOWNTOWN, SO REDUCED FOR
TRAFFIC AS WELL AS THE RISE OF
e-COMMERCE. I THINK YOU ARE
SEEING THIS WITH BOTH THE
OFFICE TO HOUSING CONVERSION
LEGISLATION THAT WE TALKED
ABOUT EARLIER AS WELL AS THIS,
FUNDAMENTALLY, WE ARE SEEKING
HOW TO USE SPACE DOWNTOWN
WHETHER IT IS PUBLIC SPACE OR
PRIVATE SPACE HOW DO WE USE
SPACE DIFFERENTLY THAT IS GOING
TO BRING PEOPLE DOWNTOWN. SO
OED HAS SOME PROGRAM ELEMENTS,
WE HAVE TO RUN THE PROGRAM THAT
MARCHES ARTISAN ENTREPRENEURS
WITH VACANT STOREFRONTS,
CURRENTLY WE HAVE A ROUND OF
APPLICATIONS OPEN AND IT CLOSES
ON MAY 30th WE HAVE ALREADY
RECEIVED 240 APPLICATIONS A
VERY POPULAR DEMAND FOR PEOPLE
WANTING TO BE DOWNTOWN AND TO
TRY OUT SOME SPACE DOWNTOWN IS
REALLY HIGH. AND HOWEVER WE ARE
ALSO LEARNING A LOT FROM THE
PROGRAM AND WE DON'T JUST WANT
TO DO POP-UPS THAT ARE KIND OF
FLASH IN THE PAN WE ARE
EXPANDING THAT TO EVOLVE AND
THINK ABOUT LONG-TERM LEASES
AND ONE OF THE THING THAT WE
FOUND WAS THAT PEOPLE WANT
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPACE IN
DIFFERENT SIZES OF SPACES, THAT
IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE
FLEX ABILITY WOULD ALLOW HIS
DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUSINESSES
TO USE SPACE DIFFERENTLY,
RELATEDLY, WE ARE ALSO
UNDERGOING A GROUND FLOOR AND
RETAIL ANALYSIS AND COOPERATION
WITH SOME NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS
TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHICH PLOT
WILL RETAIL, AND WHAT KIND OF
GROUND FLOOR USE FITS, WHAT
TYPES OF LOCKS, YOU CAN JUST
HAVE RETAIL EVERYWHERE, IT
DOESN'T WORK, SO WHERE DO WE
CONCENTRATE AND HAD WE HAVE
OTHER USES AND OTHER PLACES
THAT ARE GOING TO BE ACTIVATED
AND STILL ATTRACT FOLKS.
FINALLY, WE ARE TRYING TO ADD
CAPACITY, BECAUSE FRANKLY WE
JUST NEED MORE FOLKS AT THE
CITY WITH OUR PARTNERS, SO ,
OED IS CURRENTLY HIRING FOR
FOLKS TO HELP WORK WITH
PROPERTY OWNERS TO DO SOME OF
THE MATCHMAKING WITH
ENTREPRENEURS, AS WELL AS
ADDITIONAL FOLKS TO WORK WITH
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS TO
REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE
THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED, TO
BE KIND OF THE ON THE GROUND
FOLKS, SO WE HAVE A LOT GOING
TO TRY TO FILL VACANT
STOREFRONTS, AND WE WANT TO
MOVE WITH URGENCY, AND WE ALSO
WANT TO BE CREATIVE, AND THAT
IS WHAT EXCITES ME ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION, AND FOR US TO TRY
DIFFERENT TYPES OF USES,
SOMEBODY EARLIER MENTIONED A
DIVERSITY OF USES, AND I THINK
THAT IS A REALLY KEY PHRASE
WHEN THINKING ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, COLLEAGUES, AGAIN, THE
NEXT LATE JUNE COMMITTEE
MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED. SO,
WE WILL NOT BE WRITING THIS
AGAIN, BY THE END OF THIS
MONTH, IT IS POSSIBLE WE WILL
BRING THIS BACK INTO COMMITTEE
NEXT MONTH AT THE JULY 3rd
MEETING. BUT I DO HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS AND WE WILL WANT TO
FOLLOW UP AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE
COLLEGE, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS
FOR EITHER THE DEPARTMENTS,
PLEASE REACH OUT . AND WE WILL
BE HAPPY TO DO BRIEFINGS
ADDITIONAL BRIEFINGS FOR YOU.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE EVERYONE. OKAY, I AM
GOING TO, WE DO HAVE ONE MORE
PRESENTATION AND I REALIZE THAT
IT IS 3:52 BUT I DO THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT SO, NATHAN PLEASE
COME ON UP THAT WE GET AN
UPDATE FROM SDCI, ON THE
PERMITTING AUDIT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS REQUESTED
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. SO,
NAOMI WILL YOU PLEASE READ ITEM
THREE INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM THREE.
INFORMATIONAL ITEM 2484,
PERMITTING AUDIT IMPLEMENTATION
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, NATHAN, PLEASE GO
AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES,
AND BEGIN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, NATHAN
TORGELSON,
>> AND I AM ANDY HIGGINS, THE
CUSTOMER SUCCESS DIRECTOR FOR
SDCI.
>> THANK YOU, HOLD ON ONE
MOMENT.
>> CHAIR, I KNOW THAT
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA HAS
SOMETHING TO SAY, BUT BEFORE
SHE STARTED MOVING I WANTED TO
LET YOU KNOW, THAT WE DO NEED
TO RESCHEDULE THIS
PRESENTATION, I HAD A GREAT
MEETING WITH ANDY THIS WEEK , I
KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME
UPDATES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN
BEFORE THE NEXT TIME YOU COME
TO COMMITTEE. BUT I JUST
NOTICED A FAIR AMOUNT OF OUR
COLLEAGUES SUDDENLY -- LEFT.
>> WE HAVE LOST COUNCILMEMBER
CATHY MOORE AND COUNCILMEMBER
TANYA WOO AS WELL.
>> WELL, NOW WE HAVE LOST FOUR.
>> OKAY, THE LAST SIX MINUTES
BUT OTHERWISE --
>> MAY WE PROCEED?
>> SURE, THAT'S GO UNTIL 4:00
AND IF FOLKS HAVE ANOTHER
QUESTION, WE CAN ASK YOU TO
COME BACK. NATHAN I APOLOGIZE.
>> I KNOW, THANK YOU TO TELL ME
WHO'S GOING TO DRIVE THE
POWERPOINT, THE NEXT SLIDE. SO,
THANK YOU FOR INVITING US BACK
AND, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP AND THE CITY
AUDITOR, LAST YEAR, LAST YEAR I
BELIEVE ON OCTOBER 20th, TO DO
THE INITIAL PRESENTATION AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED
INTEREST IN THE AUDIT, AND I
FEEL LIKE WE'VE HAD A GOOD
PARTNERSHIP, AND WE GREATLY
APPRECIATE THE RECOMMENDATION
THAT THE AUDITOR HAS PUT
FORWARD. AND YOU ARE CONTINUING
TO MAKE PROGRESS. ON THE
RECOMMENDATIONS. AND I JUST
WANTED TO STRESS THAT WE TAKE
THE RECOMMENDATIONS VERY
SERIOUSLY. AND WE HAD WE ALWAYS
LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE.
AND PROVIDE BETTER CUSTOMER
SERVICE.
>> SO, THIS REALLY GETS TO OUR
VALUES. AND THE VALUES REALLY
REFLECTED A LOT OF THE THINGS,
AND THE AUDIT, EQUITY AND
RESPECT IN QUALITY AND
INTEGRITY AND SERVICE. AND I
JUST WANT TO STRESS, THE NEXT
SLIDE, THAT WE ARE, EXTREMELY
BUSY. AND WE ARE LOOKING AT
OVER 53,000 PERMITS. AND, WE
PERFORMED OVER 200,000
INSPECTIONS PER YEAR, MOST OF
THOSE ARE ON-SITE. AND WE ARE
ABLE TO DO SOME OF THOSE
INSPECTIONS VIRTUALLY. AND, WE
HAVE A VERY COMPLICATED WORK.
OUR VENUES CODE IS OVER 1000
PAGES LONG, AND THE BUILDING
CODE AND TECHNICAL CODES. THEY
ARE VERY COMPLEX. AND AT SOME
POINT I WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK
TO THE COUNCIL AND TALK ABOUT
WAYS THAT WE CAN SORT OF
SIMPLIFY AND STREAMLINE, THOSE
REGULATIONS, AND, ANOTHER
DISCUSSION BUT THE POINT THERE
IS THAT OUR STAFF HAVE AN
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF REGULATIONS,
THAT THEY HAVE TO ADMINISTER ON
A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. AND WE TAKE
THAT VERY SERIOUSLY. AND, I
ALSO JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT
THE PERMIT REVIEW PROCESS
INVOLVES MANY DIFFERENT CITY
DEPARTMENTS, SO IT IS NOT JUST
SDCI BUT THAT IS A PARTNERSHIP
OUT WITH ANYONE THAT TOUCHES
THE PERMITTING PROCESS. NEXT
SLIDE.
>> THE CITY AUDITOR'S
OBJECTIVES WERE OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES, TO IMPROVE THE
CLARITY AND CONSISTENCY OF THE
PROCESS. AND ARE WE USING THE
FULL POTENTIAL OF OUR
TECHNOLOGY, AND HE'S GOING TO
TALK ABOUT THAT LATER IN THE
PRESENTATION. AND IS THE
CITY'S PERMITTING PROCESS
CONTRIBUTING TO THE RISE IN
SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES .
NEXT SLIDE. SO, ANOTHER THING I
JUST WANTED TO STRESS, WAS THE
AUDIT REALLY LOOKS AT INTAKE,
TO PERMIT ISSUANCE. AND
THERE'S ALSO A LOT THAT
HAPPENS AFTER A PERMIT ISSUANCE
AS FAR AS THE CONSTRUCTION
PROCESS, AND ALSO THE SCOPE OF
THIS AUDIT WAS IN 2021, AND IN
2022. AND AT THAT TIME, WE
ACTUALLY HAD A BIT OF A VESTING
RASH, AS NEW REGULATIONS WERE
ABOUT TO GO INTO EFFECT. AND,
WHEN THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC
WAS HAPPENING. AND A LOT OF OUR
STAFF WERE WORKING VIRTUALLY.
AND THE GOOD THING WAS THAT THE
WHOLE PERMITTING SYSTEM IS
ONLINE, BUT IT WAS A BIT OF AN
ADJUSTMENT. NEXT SLIDE. SO THE
FIRST RECOMMENDATION WAS TO
LOOK AT METRICS FOR SDCI'S
PROGRESS, AND THAT THOSE SHOULD
BE DISPLAYED ON THE WEBSITE.
AND, THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION
FROM THE AUDITOR. THAT THAT
DATA SHOULD MEET THE NEEDS AND
EXPECTATIONS OF CUSTOMERS. AND
ALSO INCLUDE REVIEW TIMES OF
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS. NEXT
SLIDE. SO -- WE ARE PUBLISHING
THE DATA FOR PERMITTING
METRICS, ON OUR PUBLIC WEBSITE.
AND, WE RIGHT NOW, SHOW THE
PERMITTING TIME FOR THAT FIRST
ROUND OF CORRECTIONS TIME
PERIOD BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST
INTENSIVE REVIEW FOR OUR STAFF,
AND WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON
SHOWING EVERY SINGLE PERMIT
REVIEW TIME. EVERY SINGLE
PERMIT REVIEW CYCLE, OBVIOUSLY
WE WANT TO SHORTEN THE NUMBER
OF CYCLES THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
I TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR WHEN
HE WAS THE CHAIR. OF THE LAND
USE COMMITTEE, AND IN THE THIRD
QUARTER OF THIS YEAR WE SHOULD
BE ABLE TO SHOW THE WHOLE
TIMELINE AND HOW LONG EACH
CYCLE TAKES. THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT IS SUPER IMPORTANT. OUR
NEXT RECOMMENDATION, THIS HAD
TO DEAL WITH COMPLETING A
RACIAL EQUITY KIT FOR THE
ENTIRE PERMITTING PROCESS, AND
ALSO EVALUATING ACCESSIBILITY,
OF OUR CURRENT PROCESSES AND
TOOLS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY
SOMETHING THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT AND GOING ON TO THE
NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE FORMED AN
INTERDEPARTMENTAL WORK THAT IS
FOCUSING ON THE WHOLE
PERMITTING PROCESS, AND WORKING
WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AND
AS YOU KNOW DURING COVID, WE
CLOSED OUR APPLICANT SERVICE
CENTER ON THE 20th FLOOR OF
SDCI, THAT APPLICANT SERVICE
CENTER REMAINS CLOSED, DUE TO
SECURITY ISSUES, BUT WE ARE
REALLY EXCITED AND SDCI, THAT,
WE OPENED CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK
ON THE FOURTH FLOOR, OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL TOWER. AND
THIS HAS BEEN A FANTASTIC WAY
TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS WHO DON'T
HAVE TECHNOLOGY ACCESS, AND WE
ALSO HAVE A LOT OF CUSTOMERS
WHO JUST WANT TO TALK TO A
PERSON, IN PERSON. DOWN AT THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL TOWER. THAT
BEING SAID, WE DO HAVE A
VIRTUAL APPLICANT SERVICE
CENTER THAT ANDY IS ALSO GOING
TO TALK ABOUT WHERE PEOPLE CAN
ACCESS STAFF ON THE CHAT AND
ALSO TALK TO SOMEONE VIRTUALLY,
IN PERSON, AND THAT HAS BEEN A
GREAT WAY FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO GIVE
ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS
WITHOUT HAVING TO COME
DOWNTOWN, AND PAY FOR PARKING,
OR RIDE A BUS AND TO DO THAT IN
THE COMFORT OF THEIR OWN WORK
ENVIRONMENT, OR THEIR HOME. AND
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT ON
THE LAST SLIDE -- THERE IS AN
SDCI STAFF PERSON BUT AS STOTT
IS ALSO STOPPED ON THE DESK BUT
THEY HAD TO STEP AWAY WHEN THE
PICTURE WAS TAKEN.
>> RIGHT, WE APOLOGIZE, WE ARE
GOING TO LOSE THE QUORUM HERE,
SO WE WILL HAVE TO STOP THE
PRESENTATION. AND, I APPRECIATE
ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE
PUT INTO THIS. I DID NOT
REALIZE WE WOULD LOSE QUORUM AT
4:00. SO, WE WILL SEE ABOUT
RESCHEDULING YOU AND IF PEOPLE
HAVE PARTICULAR QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE CAN HAVE YOU BACK IN,
I WILL ASK THEM TO REACH OUT TO
YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
>> OKAY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
COMING BACK AND WE'RE ALWAYS
AVAILABLE TO BRIEF
COUNCILMEMBERS IN THEIR OFFICES
AS WELL.
>> THANKS.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS CURRENTLY
4:01 AND WE ARE GOING TO
ADJOURN THIS MEETING NOW. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED.