Preliminary Survey
A preliminary survey was administered by the Organizing Committee in May 1995. Approximately 325 survey forms were distributed at the Saturday Capitol Hill Street Market and the Broadway Book Fair. Participants were asked to list what they like best and least about Capitol Hill.
Citywide Customer Service Survey
A citywide telephone survey conducted by the City of Seattle in 1996 asked citizens to rate a variety of city services and quality-of-life issues. Approximately 100 Capitol Hill residents participated in the survey.
Interviews
Organizing Committee members contacted approximately 72 community leaders and other individuals by telephone and in person during the summer of 1996. Interviewees were asked questions based on a standard interview format. Those contacted were asked to give input regarding their likes, dislikes, and concerns about Capitol Hill and were invited to participate in the neighborhood planning effort. There was a particular effort to contact social service providers and consumers.
Newspaper Articles
The Capitol Hill Times featured Capitol Hill neighborhood planning news and updates in two articles in late 1995 and five articles between May and August 1996. In December 1996, the Capitol Hill Times ran an editorial about neighborhood planning in the First Hill/Capitol Hill Urban Center. Another article, prepared by members of the Organizing Committee, appeared in the Capitol Hill Times in January 1997.
Informational Flyer
In July 1996, flyers summarizing the neighborhood planning process and inviting community members to attend Workshop I were distributed by hand in residential and commercial areas throughout the Capitol Hill urban village.
Workshop I: Community Mirror and Issues Identification
A public open house held at the Seattle Asian Art Museum in July 1996 was attended by approximately 100 people. The workshop provided an open forum for residents to learn more about the Capitol Hill community as it exists today and to share their ideas and concerns about the future of their community. The format of the workshop was participatory. Displayed information was accompanied by opportunities for people to respond to questions, talk to experts, and give input.
Partnerships with Organizations
In an effort to forge connections with existing Capitol Hill organizations, the NPO project manager made presentations to the Broadway Business Improvement Association (BIA), the 15th Avenue Merchants Association, the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, and the Capitol Hill Community Council. Connections have also been made with a number of other community organizations and institutions, including Groundswell Off Broadway, Capitol Hill Housing Improvement Program (CHHIP), Sustainable Seattle, Seattle Central Community College, Group Health Cooperative, North Capitol Hill Neighborhood Association, and various local gay and lesbian organizations.
Round-Table Discussions: Issues Development
Round-table discussions provided opportunities for small groups of neighbors to talk about particular issues. The round-tables also helped to identify people who are vested in certain issues and to recruit them for participation during Phase II of the neighborhood planning effort. Five round-table discussions held between June and September 1996 focused on (1) 15th Avenue businesses, (2) open space, (3) human needs and social services, (4) children and schools, and (5) transportation. Over 35 community members participated in the discussions.
Broadway BIA and 15th Avenue Business Survey
In Autumn 1996, a statistically valid telephone survey of Capitol Hill business owners was conducted by the Broadway BIA. The Capitol Hill Organizing Committee contributed funding to the study. The purpose of the survey was to provide an understanding of the priorities, needs, and concerns of Capitol Hill businesses. Respondents included 264 Broadway merchants and 88 15th Avenue merchants. Survey results were distributed to every business on Broadway and 15th Avenue.
Capitol Hill Residents Survey
A statistically valid residents survey of 628 Capitol Hill residents was conducted along with the business survey. The BIA and the Capitol Hill Organizing committee provided funding. Survey questions focused on community interests and neighborhood planning issues for the Pike/Pine and Capitol Hill Urban Center Villages.
Flyer and Workshop II Invitation
In early January 1997 a second flyer was mailed to all residents, business owners, and property owners of the Capitol Hill Urban Center Village. The flyer summarized Capitol Hill's neighborhood planning effort and the draft neighborhood vision. The mailing also served as an invitation to attend Workshop II.
Information Booth at the Broadway Market
On two Saturdays in January 1997, volunteers staffed an information booth at the Broadway Market, where they distributed flyers and other information about Capitol Hill's neighborhood planning effort.
Workshop II: Validation and Priorities
Workshop II provided an opportunity for people to evaluate issues and objectives that had been identified and developed during all previous Phase I outreach efforts. Small work groups discussed each issue in detail, evaluated and refined the community objectives identified to date, and presented their findings to the entire group of over 200 workshop participants. All workshop attendees participated in an exercise to validate and prioritize objectives to be addressed in Phase II planning.
Phase I Introduction & Contents
Section 3: Community Outreach