Work continues on Mayor Nickels’ strategy for promoting economic growth, facilitating better transportation options, providing new housing and building great urban neighborhoods in the Center City—Seattle’s downtown core and its nine adjacent neighborhoods.

Initiated in 2004, Nickels’ “Center City Seattle” strategy addresses major changes affecting this area, including redevelopment of the central waterfront, replacement of the viaduct, light rail, the monorail, the Westlake streetcar, new and improved parks, biotech development, and new mixed-use development. Current activities are detailed below.

Project Manager Hired
DPD has hired Gary Johnson as project manager to oversee this important effort to coordinate and capitalize on the significant and exciting changes in the works. Johnson brings a wealth of Center City knowledge to his new position. He has worked with residents and businesses for 13 years while serving as Neighborhood District Coordinator for the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, including the past six years as the City’s representative to the five downtown neighborhoods. Johnson joins the City Planning division of DPD, headed by John Rahaim, and can be reached at gary.johnson@seattle.gov or (206) 615-0787.

Downtown Zoning Changes in Progress
Progress has been made on proposed changes to downtown zoning which will encourage new housing investment and job creation and help create safer, more active urban core neighborhoods. On March 11, the City Hearing Examiner affirmed the adequacy of the Final Environmental Impact Statement, which had been appealed. Ordinance language is being completed and will be forwarded to Council in April. Details are available on the Center City Seattle project website.

Lecture to Explore How Built Environment Affects Health and Behavior
The critically important links between environmental health and the built environment will be addressed in a lecture featuring Dr. Richard Jackson, MD, MPH:

“Building Healthy Places”
Tuesday, April 26, 2005, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Seattle City Hall, Bertha Landes Room

Jackson, a State Public Health Officer for the California Department of Health Services, will discuss how the built environment shapes behavior and promotes, or damages, our health in ways that are far more profound than most public health professionals realize. This event is part of both the Mayor’s Center City Seattle Strategy and the City’s 2005 Urban Sustainability Forum series.