2019 Annual WASLA Conference

Greater Tacoma Convention Center, March 22, 2019

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Funding Grass Roots Urban Design, a Seattle Success Story

Description:

Lid I-5 is a group of advocates successfully leading what will be ranked as Seattle's most transformative urban design effort since the Denny Regrade. The campaign has massive public and agency support, and the city just posted a $1.5M technical feasibly study request for proposals. Much of our recent success results from strategically using a city-sponsored neighborhood matching grant. Five volunteer teams produced designs covering 40 acres of I-5's corridor with parks, affordable housing, and commercial development and their designs were shared with the public during five 'Collabs' events that were open to all. When the team's professionally rendered designs were completed at the final Collab in October 2018, which was attended by over 200 people, they received print, on-line, and television coverage. Speakers included elected leaders, appointed officials, and directors of a variety of Seattle non-profits.

Speaker Bio:

John Feit, Principal Architect, 3 Plus LLC

John's architectural career spans 25 years, five cities, and both US coasts. He has been fortunate to work at AIA National Firm Award practices as well as an ASLA Landscape Firm Award winner. The same passion he maintains in design exploration is evident in his embrace of the heterogeneous landscapes of the Western United States, which he has photographed and explored by bicycle, foot, and telemark skis. Equally lured by urban landscapes, he is a frequent visitor to the world's great cities as well as those in the Pacific Northwest, both of which he has extensively written about.

Learning Objectives:

Learn how this effort, the Central Hills Triangle Collaborative (CHTC), built the case for the $48K grant funding, how Lid I-5 have used and will continue to use the design work to further their campaign, and how the CHTC may become a new paradigm for grass-roots urban design.