In high school he was told by a counselor that he couldn't become an architect because he was black, the Seattle Times reported in a 1996 profile. He later applied to 22 architecture firms before he was hired. In 1967 he opened the first black-owned architecture firm in Seattle, Mel Streeter Architects.

Mel Streeter was born in Riverside , California in 1931. He was an athlete who played both football and basketball and attended the University of Oregon on a basketball scholarship. He met his wife, Kathleen Burgess, a white woman, in college and they married in 1954. They were one of the first interracial couples allowed to marry in Oregon.

Some of Mel Streeter's recent accomplishments include John Muir Elementary School and the Rainier Beach High School Performance Hall. He also designed a 64-unit senior housing complex tied to the Mount Zion Baptist Church, a pillar of the black community in Seattle. Mr. Streeter was also part of the team that designed Safeco, Qwest Stadium, and the Pacific Place area at SeaTac airport. He was also a founding Member of the AIA Seattle Diversity Roundtable.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy, their fours sons: Doug, an architect living in London; Jon, an attorney living in Berkeley, California, Kurt, a reporter living in Los Angeles, and Ken, a screenwriter in Seattle and four grandchildren.

Comments from past Commissioners

“Mel's physical presence combined with his open, warm personality made him someone that everyone wanted to get to know. While he commanded respect with his reputation as a well-known architect, he was also admired and known for his passion for young people and education. I remember Mel's "spotlight" when he shared about himself with Planning Commissioners -- he chose to share slides of his work over the years and showed clear pride in the his public projects that improved neighborhoods and opportunities for youth.

Mel was one of the busiest people I ever knew, but he always made time for Planning Commission meetings and events. This did require some behind the scenes coordination with Barbara, his assistant, to make sure he was at the right place at the right time! Even after he had finished his second term, he was willing to facilitate Commission sponsored community workshops, helping community members create design ideas for their future.

Having lived in several Seattle neighborhoods, Mel brought a wealth of knowledge and a broad understanding of the issues of creating strong neighbhorhoods. He was a champion of the poor and had a strong commitment to low income housing and giving minority youth encouragement to strive for their dreams. He truly provided a moral compass in our Planning Commission discussions and deliberations and in community workshops and events. He inspired us to be compassionate and to always seek ways to help those who don't have a voice.”

-- Marty Curry

“Mel Streeter was a giant! Besides being a big man physically, his professional and community contributions are larger than life. I had the honor of serving on the Planning Commission with Mel, and really enjoyed the informal times we had together to tell stories. His were much better than mine. He loved Seattle intensively, and gave his valuable insights to neighborhood plans and citizen planners with great relish. And, wherever he is now, I know that he's coaching, teaching, and mediating just like he did here. I treasure our friendship, Mel.”

--Roger Wagoner

“Mel was a friend, mentor and collaborator to me. And also a fun guy to be around.”

--Kenichi Nakano

“I met Mel on my first year serving on the Seattle Planning Commission. Mel made a special effort to welcome me to the Commission. Shortly after meeting him for that first time, we ran into each at a business event. He immediately came over to greet me. He generously spent quite some time chatting with me. It was a joy to get to know him. His passion and enthusiasm was absolutely contagious and I'm grateful to have the opportunity to know him and work along side him on the Planning Commission. Mel was inspirational.”

-- Lyn Krizanich

“Mr. Streeter was that gentleman we admired from afar, always intended to chat with, but never had the opportunity. His design of the African American Academy will forever be a testimony to his ability”.

-- Gregory Davis

"Mel served two full terms on the commission and overlapped with me for about four of those. Additionally we have known each other and have beenfriends for a long time; we currently have a project nearing permit with Streeter and Associates. Mel was a very active and thoughtful commissioner and very willing to speak out for good and inclusive planning issues. His illness progressed very quickly recently; he had a number of things he was interested in and had wanted to do, including being in the middle of renovating his house. I respect Mel a lot. It is a blow."

-- Val Thomas

"Mel and I joined the Planning Commission at the same time and served together for five years. He was a genuine pleasure to work with. He was interested in topics and people, asked insightful questions and talked emotionally about people who had served as mentors over the years. He believed in the value of neighborhoods and in neighborhood planning (despite wading through all those 37 plans!) and in leaving the world a better place. He was a good friend."

-- Karen Daubert

"I feel privileged to have served with Mel on the Planning Commission as well as having been a client of his firm. I appreciated Mel's perspective on our city both on the built environment and the social fabric. He brought his architectural and planning perspective to many city wide and neighborhood specific issues. No one could forget his deep voice and gracious smile. Many speak of Mel's impact as a role model to them. For others of us it was, and is, a reminder of where we still need to go to be a community where opportunity is truly open to all. Thank you Mel, I will miss you."

-- Chuck Weinstock