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Neighborhoods
Neighborhood Street Fund:
What would you build with $1,240,000? Sidewalks, Traffic Calming measures, traffic signals, new pavement for a local street? Your neighbors proposed these types of projects for funding through the Bridging the Gap Levy and the Neighborhood Street Fund. Together, Seattle Neighbors decided how to spend $1.2 million available for neighborhood transportation projects in 2009. It's too late to apply for a project this year, but we look forward to your recommendations for 2010's Neighborhood Street Fund.
Neighborhood Plans:
In 1999, the City Council finished the approval process for 38 neighborhood plans created by nearly 20,000 citizens. The plans identify actions needed to ensure that each neighborhood will continue to thrive and improve as Seattle grows over the next 20 years in ways that meet our commitments under the State's Growth Management Act. In the years since approval, much progress has been made on implementing the projects identified in the neighborhood plans. On this site, you can read the plan for your neighborhood, see what's happening with projects currently underway, learn who to contact for information and how you can get involved.
Neighborhood Plans Updating Process:
The City Council passed legislation in September 2008 that authorizes the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) and the Department of Planning & Development (DPD) to work with Seattle’s citizenry to begin updating neighborhood plans where appropriate. The ordinance and a companion resolution implemented three key programs that together are intended to create a neighborhood-based planning process that is rooted in the good work citizens conducted in the 1990s.
- Updating Plans — The process to update neighborhood plans began essentially in Autumn 2008 in three rapidly changing neighborhoods in South and Southeast Seattle - Beacon Hill, McClellan and Othello. Each of these neighborhoods is home to a new light-rail station and experiencing or expecting significant new population and business growth. By updating their neighborhood plans, residents can inform the city government, as well as property-owners, about what they’d like their neighborhoods to look like in the near future.
- Neighborhood Status Reports — In preparation for additional updating work, DON and DPD will work with neighborhood residents and business people to gather information to create snapshots of each neighborhood compared to 10 years ago, including demographic shifts, zoning, housing units and affordability, transportation upgrades in the past 10 years, new parks, and a neighborhood plan implementation report. The status reports will help neighborhood advocates and the city recognize gaps and inform decisions about whether or how to update particular plans.
- Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee (NPAC) — Just as in the 1990’s planning effort, a committee formed entirely of Seattle residents and businesses-people was created to advise the DON and DPD regarding how to best conduct the updating process. The 24 committee members include one representative from each of the 13 Neighborhood District Councils, the Chair of the Neighborhood District Council’s Planning Committee, two members of the Seattle Planning Commission and eight at-large appointees (four by the mayor and four by the Council).
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The Neighborhood Matching Fund:
The Neighborhood Matching Fund provides money to Seattle neighborhood groups and organizations for a broad array of neighborhood-initiated improvement, organizing or planning projects. A neighborhood group may be established just to undertake a project--the group does not need to be "incorporated."
Once a project is approved, the community's contribution of volunteer labor, materials, professional services, or cash will be "matched" by cash from the Neighborhood Matching Fund.
Neighborhood Service Centers
Thirteen Neighborhood Service Centers link City government to Seattle's neighborhoods. Some are payment sites for Seattle City Light, combined utilities, parking tickets, pet licenses, and even passport application processing in some locations.
Click here to locate a Service Center near you.
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Community Technology Program
The Community Technology Program in the Department of Information Technology helps fund community programs working on technology literacy and closing the digital divide.
Seattle has recently launched a pilot program to provide free wireless internet (Wi-Fi) to Seattle residents. Currently, residents of the University District and Columbia City are under the net of free Wi-Fi as well as several Seattle Parks, all Seattle public libraries, and the Seattle Center. Click here if you'd like more information on the Seattle Wi-Fi pilot program or call the Wi-Fi info line at (206) 684-8070.
Every year the Bill Wright Technology Matching Fund awards grants of up to $20,000 to community organizations for projects which 1) help increase technology access and literacy, or 2) use information technology to increase civic engagement. A total of $250,000 was awarded this year. The grant deadline has passed for 2009. If you didn't make it this year, you are welcome to apply next year.
The point of contact in the Department of Information Technology is Delia Burke (206) 233-2751.
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P-Patch Program
The Department of Neighborhoods' P-Patch Program, in conjunction with the not-for-profit P-Patch Trust, provides community garden space for residents of 44 Seattle neighborhoods.
Click here to visit the P-Patch web site.
Customer Service Bureau:
The Customer Service Bureau exists to help you get information, solve problems, or resolve complaints regarding any City of Seattle department. Call 684-CITY (2489), the one-stop phone number for all your City questions.
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Neighborhood Historic Preservation Program:
The Seattle Neighborhood Historic Preservation Program is responsible for the administration of 350 historic sites as well as seven historic districts scattered throughout Seattle. Additionally, the Neighborhood Historic Preservation Program oversees the designation of new historic sights or vessels within the City of Seattle.
Race Relations and Social Justice:
Seattle is becoming increasingly diverse. As we grow it is important to remember that all people are valued regardless of their background. The City wide Race and Social Justice Initiative has become a key component of the Department of Neighborhoods to help us build strong united communities. The accomplishments of the Race and Social Justice Initiative so far include: The creation of the Neighborhood Matching Fund, increased diversity on Seattle boards and commissions, and an increased sensitivity to the issues of multi-cultural communities.
If you're interested in getting involved in the Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative contact Elliot Bronstein at elliot.bronstein@seattle.gov.
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