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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Mayor signs historic bill for livable, affordable Center City
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
4/12/2006 10:15:00 AM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alan Justad (206) 233-3891
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
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Mayor signs historic bill for livable, affordable Center City
Zoning changes will create jobs, housing &
opportunity
in the heart of Seattle
SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today signed legislation he introduced a year
ago to shape the future of Seattle’s greater downtown area and set a
new direction for dealing with the significant growth. The legislation will
contribute more than $100 million to affordable housing, making the downtown
area more livable for workers and families. The mayor’s Center City legislation
passed the Seattle City Council unanimously last week.
The mayor was joined at the bill signing ceremony by City Council members,
environmental activists and downtown residents.
The legislation encourages more housing immediately adjacent to the traditional
downtown commercial core, and increases the capacity of the area for new jobs
by allowing for more commercial development. The changes affect the Commercial
Core, Denny Triangle and portions of Belltown, and respond to calls from the
downtown neighborhoods for more housing and jobs.
“The debate is no longer about how tall our downtown grows; it’s
about how well we grow as a city,” Nickels said. “These changes
will help shape the economic heart of this region, by creating affordable housing
and livable urban neighborhoods. I want to thank the City Council for its thoughtful
review and refinements. Together we’ve put together a plan that will
truly make a difference in the lives of thousands of Seattle residents.”
The mayor’s Center City Strategy moves Seattle forward on two major
policy goals: promoting affordable housing and encouraging “smart growth” in
the city and the region.
The Center City Strategy will spur more contributions to affordable housing
by providing incentives to build housing units. For the first time, market-rate
housing developers who seek bonuses will also contribute to affordable housing.
By concentrating growth in the urban center, where infrastructure exists,
Seattle can help slow urban sprawl in the region. A single 130-unit building
downtown is the equivalent of 32 acres in a typical suburban development. Traffic
will be reduced by locating housing within walking distance to jobs and buses
so people can commute without cars - a major step in Seattle’s effort
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent compared to 1990 levels.
“By living within walking distance of work, buses, light rail and the
streetcar, people’s transportation choice won’t be which car to
drive; it will be which color shoes to wear,” Nickels said. “These
changes will help Seattle reach our goal of being a leader in the battle against
global warming.”
The new regulations will be available from the Department of Planning and
Development. The materials, including the environmental impact statement, are
also available at the following online address: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/Downtown_Zoning_Changes/default.asp
Get the mayor’s inside view on initiatives to promote transportation,
public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for
The Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm.
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Office of the Mayor
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