Council Committee passes Yesler Terrace redevelopment plans

The Yesler Terrace Special Committee of the Seattle City Council voted to pass the Seattle Housing Authority’s Yesler Terrace redevelopment plan.

The plan moves the full City Council for a September 4 vote.

The plan received broad support from committee members despite several hours of testimony from concerned residents and project opponents at a public hearing last week. SHA Board Member Yusuf Cabdi resigned at the meeting, citing a lack of assurances that current residents would be able to return once the current buildings are razed and new, taller towers are constructed.

From the City Council:

Council President Sally J. Clark, chair of the Yesler Terrace Special Committee, said, “The Council took this opportunity to ensure the Yesler Terrace redevelopment plan will respect the needs of people who live in Yesler now and to ensure that Yesler becomes a great urban neighborhood again. The new development of great parks and gardens, better streets and a true housing mix means we ensure low-income people have a great Yesler home far into the future.”

The legislative package requires SHA to replace 561 existing units of very low-income housing for current residents, build more than 1,200 new income-restricted units at a variety of affordability levels, and allows for as many as 4,500 total housing units.

Councilmember Nick Licata, co-vice chair of the Special Committee said, “The Council made this development better by providing stronger assurances that excess revenues must provide additional very low income housing and any future use of Housing Levy funds at Yesler Terrace must be awarded according to a competitive process.  In addition, renters’ rights to return to Yesler are much strengthened by limiting SHA’s criteria for screening returning tenants.”

“The Yesler Terrace redevelopment will increase low income housing, create a vibrant neighborhood next to downtown, and take a major step towards meeting our growth management goals. New Holly, High Point, and Rainier Vista demonstrate Seattle Housing Authority’s ability to develop extraordinary communities,” stated Councilmember Richard Conlin, co-vice chair of the Yesler Terrace Special Committee. “The Yesler Terrace new development will be added to this list as a careful, thoughtful, and prudent project that will make a big difference in many people’s lives.”

Terms of the planned action ordinance, cooperative agreement and street vacation call for SHA to construct community gardens, pedestrian pathways and pocket parks open to the public, and re-landscape the neighborhood with more trees than are currently present.

“Remaking Yesler Terrace will create a strong neighborhood full of opportunity and hope in the heart of Seattle,” said Councilmember Tim Burgess. “It’s a project that creates jobs, contributes to economic growth, protects affordable housing and lines up perfectly with our desire for fairness and opportunity for all. It’s a project that is rooted in our progressive values.”

“I’m pleased that SHA has been working with members of the community to maintain the vitality of Little Saigon,” said Councilmember Jean Godden.

The Housing Authority may build up to 900,000 square feet of office, medical service space and lodging, as well as 150,000 square feet of retail and services.

SHA will provide comparable housing for all current Yesler Terrace residents during construction. Every resident will also receive a certificate guaranteeing their right to return to the neighborhood once new housing is completed. SHA estimates replacement construction will begin in 2013.

“As Civil Rights chair, we must work inclusively with this diverse community and reassure the 1,200 residents who are families with children, people with disabilities, seniors, and immigrants who speak other languages, a right to return to their home and community,” said Councilmember Bruce Harrell. “I am confident that this cooperative agreement will assure, at a minimum, a 1-for-1 replacement of low-income units at Yesler Terrace.”

For more information on the proposed Yesler Terrace redevelopment plans, visit our web pages.

12 thoughts on “Council Committee passes Yesler Terrace redevelopment plans

  1. Wake-the-f-up-seattle!

    While some are handicapped, etc, all able bodies should be working a job!!!!

    These low-income people need JOB’S!(not scenic views)

    If EVERYONE did more ‘crying and wimpering’ about employing all low-income residents in the Seattle areas, instead of just letting most of them loaf, walk around, dazed, and totally non-productive – NO ONE would be arguing about any of this. Because they would be paying their own way. (You like being poor for life? come on people!)

    And if the SHA fail’s to keep to it’s WRITTEN promise to bring them all back to the terrace – then sue. Simple. But JOB’S and making them PRODUCTIVE should be priority one(for all that are fit to work).

    Believe me: In 2013 – ‘welfare’ will become more ‘work-fare’….ya dig?

  2. Keeping it Real —

    Whatever gives you the idea that most of the people who live in Yesler Terrace are “poor for life” and “totally unproductive”? I live here — and it isn’t true. Some households probably will remain poor — lots of the apartments in Yesler Terrace are one-bedroom or studio, and many of the folks who live in them are old or have disabilities that make it very difficult to get out of poverty.

    Most families move out of Yesler Terrace within five years. They get a job — they get a promotion or a better job — then they move out. Then that apartment is there for another family who needs it. Having stable and affordable housing in a location that is near schools, employment centers and transportation makes looking for work and getting training to increase employability more efficient. The move-in-to-job-to-move-out path is indeed longer and more difficult when unemployment is high — far too many of my neighbors are getting laid off instead of promoted, but that is also true of people whose housing is not subsidized.

    You will be pleased to know that Congress requires non-disabled unemployed Public Housing tenants to “volunteer” for community service — This mandatory “volunteering” is not required from Section 8 voucher recipients, who get an equivalent housing subsidy, but much less negative attention from the public. — and by the way,”Welfare” without a work requirement went away a long time ago.

    “Right to Return” is not only about who is here now — many of them will move on long before the redevelopment is finished — than about assuring that Seattle families who need a place they can afford to live while they get their lives together will still have homes to come to in Yesler Terrace. Being close to jobs, healthcare, transportation and education makes “getting to work” faster. And for the folks who live here who are too old or too disabled to find work that pays enough to allow them to move out — being near to health care, transportation and yes, supportive neighbors, matters to them.

  3. Jobs did come up in the hearing, and several people urged the SHA/city to put in some requirements or programs to help Yesler Terrace residents start businesses in the newly-created retail space on the ground level of all the planned towers. That space will probably be fairly expensive at market rate, so it could be a boon to prospective YT entrepreneurs if there were a way for them to get in there, perhaps with discounted rent or something.

    Yesler Terrace is a place that currently does support people who want to start businesses, from profitable urban farming to private day care centers and more. This is once of those things that makes YT “work,” and would be great to see included and expanded in these plans.

  4. Xina said: “Whatever gives you the idea that most of the people who live in Yesler Terrace are “poor for life” and “totally unproductive”?

    What? Didnt say that. Save us all time by not implying that.

    So lets all start here: “Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act” – (signed into law by Bill Clinton)

    Ending welfare as an entitlement program;
    Requiring recipients to begin working after two years of receiving benefits;
    Placing a lifetime limit of five years on benefits paid by federal funds;
    Aiming to encourage two-parent families and discouraging out-of-wedlock births.
    Enhancing enforcement of child support.

    read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Responsibility_and_Wor

    The good news is that they leave and go on to more productive lives.Right? Good we agree.

    Everyone knows that disabled may not be able to work. Some do. People need to STOP being poor. And you can.Unless you like being poor. Simple math…

    Great if your working. Good. Encorage all your friends at Yesler to do the same. As I’m sure you will.It is the right thing to do? right? I have 3 jobs at 54.

    Everyone who can work a job, should find one. They are there. Even when unemployment is high. Then ‘make your own’ job.(as Yusef said some sell grown food)

    No one is THAT damn stupid to say ‘nobody works’ in that housing complex. There are smart people on these comment posts. Wake up!

    More people who are able, need to be working. As for the one’s that being poor is ‘a way of life’ and there are hundreds of thousands of them, if they can work? PUT-THEM-TO-WORK! Lets do this!

    Defending the poor at ‘every turn’, and not encouraging them to work is obscene.

    Make yourself feel ‘comfortable’ by sending those comments to whoever is the next President. Because as I said, I assure you regardless of what I say, you say, the people say – more people in public housing will be going to work within the next 12 months.(see welfare reform act 1996-Bill Clinton)

    NOTE: The SHA sold land at Yesler for $140,000,000 to FUND most of that low-income housing.

    Most taxpayers dont like the way things are going in this country. And poor pay some taxes also. We can all help out, and make things better for everyone. ALL of us..

    Keeping-it-more-than-realistic

  5. THERE ARE FOR STARTERS 3 MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH RICO RACKETEERING ACTIVITES CONCERNING YESLER TERRACE PROPOSALS, CONTRACTS AND CASH FLOW. FIRST THE PROPOSAL IS TO PRIVITIZE PUBLIC OWNED LAND (MONEY ELITE)! SECOND, STACKING “POOR” PEOPLE IN TOWERS HAS FAILED IN CHICAGO (RESEARCH DEMOLITION OF CABRINI GREEN TOWERS IN CHICAGO)AND ELSEWHERE IN US AND ONLY RESULTS IN INCREASED CONCENTRATION OF ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOR PARTICULARY GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION AND POLICE TERRORISM. THIRDLY THE “POOR” PEOPLE WILL NOT BE HIRED SO THEY CAN STOP BEING “POOR” INSTEAD THE WEALTHY ELITE DEVELOPERS,CONTRACTOR AND THEIR SUBSERVIENT REAGAN HARD HAT ELITE UNION “MIDDLE CLASS” WORKERS WILL FEED OFF THE CARCASS OF “THE POOR” PERPETUATING THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND RESULTING HOMELESSNESS MAKING BILL HOBSON (DESC FAME) AND HIS “PIMP THE HOMELESS” POLITICAL CARTEL EVEN RICHER!!! YES “THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY REMAIN THE SAME” AND “THE WELL DRESS KING IN REALITY IS BUTT NAKED!! RAINIER BEACH HIGH SCHOOL (ACTUALLY ON THE BEACH) IS ANOTHER TARGET OF THE ORGANIZED CRIME CARTEL HEADED BY LOCAL POLITICIANS AND THE RICH DEVELOPER OPERATIVES AND FINANCIERS.OMARI TAHIR, 66 YEAR RESIDENT OF AFRICATOWN/CENTRAL DISTRICT THE HAS ALWAYS INCLUDED “YESLER TERRACE”!!!! STAY TUNED FOR MORE EDUCATION FOR THE IGNORANT “NATION OF SHEEP”(YES READ THE BOOK “NATION OF SHEEP” AND “THE RISE AND FALL OF THE THIRD REICH”

  6. And some basic punctuation/sentence structure/coherent thoughts would help as well.

    FWIW, the only people I know personally who lived in Yesler Terrace were a white couple who ended up having long, productive careers in engineering. They only lived there for a few years while they were completing their degrees and had an unexpected baby.

  7. I’M NOT ENGLISH AND ENGLISH IS THE “SLAVE LANGUAGE” IF EUROPEAN COLONIAL SETTLER “JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TERRORIST/TERRORISM!!! IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE HISTORY GO TO THE “INDIAN RESERVATIONS”9CONCENTRATION CAMPS)AND ASK THE “INDIANS” (ARE THEY EAST INDIANS OR WEST INDIANS?). SEE HOW SILLY EUROPEANS CLAIMING TO BE AMERICANS LOOKS IN ITS HISTORIC CONTEXT??? TELL SOMEONE ELSE HOW TO COMMUNICATE AND THEY WILL END UP LIKE THE “NATIVE AMERICANS” THAT LISTENED TO “THE WHITE MEN SPEAKING WITH FORKED TONGUE”?? ? I DIDN’T MAKE THIS HISTORY I WAS TAUGHT IT (“MISGUIDED”)BY THE SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS (TRAINED AND INDOCTRINATED). OMARI TAHIR,66 YEAR RESIDENT OF AFRICATOWN/CENTRAL DISTRICT AND WORLD TRAVELED (NORTH AMERICA, ASIA, EUROPE, AFRICA) AFRICATOWN HISTORIAN

  8. Who draws the black line? Is Obama black? Is Clinton Black. Am I black.

    Is Omari White? Is Omari equal in blame for slavery as I am? Who is to blame for slavery?