University Community Urban Center
Approval and Adoption Matrix

I. Key Strategies

Each Key Strategy consists of activities for a single complex project or theme that the neighborhood considers critical to achieving its vision for the future. While the Key Strategies are high priorities for the neighborhood, they are also part of a twenty-year plan, so the specific activities within each Key Strategy may be implemented over the span of many years.

C. NORTHERN TIER

Description

The Northern Tier includes two areas in the northwest section of the urban center (see Figure III-1): all the residentially-zoned areas north of NE 45th St. from 20th Ave. NE to 15th Ave. NE, all the residentially zoned properties north of Greek Row, all the residentially zoned properties north of NE 50th Street from University way to I-5, and properties fronting the south side of NE 50th St. In essence, the area extends over all the northwest residential neighborhoods and the NE 50th St. corridor. However, the recommendations for this area are intimately linked to those of the University core and the Ave/15th Ave. NE corridor and should be considered as a whole.

The community's vision for the Northern Tier emphasizes neighborhood concerns. Since this is one area in the urban center that appears appropriate for family-oriented housing, a top priority is protecting and stabilizing the existing residential neighborhoods and providing residences with yards that will appeal to families with children. Also, the NE 50th St. corridor provides an excellent opportunity to build on existing resources to create an integrated complex of community facilities and services supporting both existing neighborhoods and projected new development.

Integrated Executive Response

While the individual recommendations in this strategy are close by one another, there are two very different purposes behind them. The proposed residential rezones and land use code changes are intended to foster a certain housing type and community character. The community facilities and services recommendations are intended to build a "connected and coordinated complex of community facilities."

Community Facilities: The City's approach to the community's goal for this area would be to focus first on recommendations pertaining to existing facilities -- enabling the YMCA to expand and securing University Heights for long-term community use, whether or not the City purchases the facility. New facilities, or new programming in existing facilities, can follow as resources become available.

University Heights: While the City recognizes the importance of this building to the community, many unknowns must be investigated before the City can commit to its purchase. The Association that leases the building appears to be meeting the community's goals of use of the building for education and community-oriented functions. Now that a long-term (ten year) lease is being established between the Association and the School District, City purchase of the property may not be needed. The City will pay particular attention to the School District's Long-range Facilities Master Plan as it pertains to University Heights and help facilitate community-School District communication.

Department responses included below: SEATRAN, Parks, DCLU, DHHS, SPD. Compiled by SPO.

Lead Department: DON

Participating Departments: SPO, DHHS-ADS, ESD-CBO, DCLU, DON, SEATRAN, DPR

Activities Already Underway:

  1. Signal improvements, new pavement, sidewalks, wheel chair ramps and lighting and drainage upgrades will enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety and convenience on NE 50th St. between 7th and 20th Aves. NE.
  2. In August 1997, residents in the area bounded by NE 45th and 50th Sts., Roosevelt Way NE and I-5 petitioned for an expansion of zone 10. The zone 10 extension signs were installed during November 1997 along 9th Ave. NE between NE 47th and 50th Sts., along 8th Ave. NE between NE 47th and 48th Sts., along NE 48th St. between 9th and 8th Aves. NE, and along 7th Ave. NE between NE 47th and 50th Sts. These signs read "2 Hr 7am-6pm, No Parking 6pm-12am." Signs reading "No Parking 2am-5am" were also installed on the west side of 9th Ave. NE between NE 48th and 50th Sts. to deter vehicles from parking overnight. Any further expansion of the RPZ would have to follow the criteria-based process established by the City Council.

Tasks to be Undertaken in 1998-2000:

  1. Feasibility Evaluation Tasks:
    1. Determine University Heights building condition and evaluate if any major maintenance projects would be good candidates for a neighborhood bond or levy, assuming a long-term lease between the Association and School District is signed.
    2. Develop preliminary project budgets or cost estimates or scopes for individual items in the strategy (mostly physical improvements) and deal with them as a package.
    3. Based on preliminary project budget, identify which other elements of the proposal, if any, would be good candidates for a neighborhood bond or levy.
    4. Identify alternative funding sources.
    5. Prioritize with strategies from other neighborhood plans.
  2. In 1999, identify specific site improvements for University Heights, such as painting, site planning, upgrades to the University Playfield, landscaping or removing the fence, that could be candidates for Neighborhood Matching Fund grants. Help the community find funds for these purposes.
  3. Coordinate with Sound Transit station area planning and City's station area planning (1998-1999).
  4. Consider a systematic approach to rehabilitation of existing housing stock in the area, using DHHS' single family and multifamily rehabilitation and weatherization funds. Consider making single family rehabilitation funds available for construction of ADU units and making DHHS single family funds available to owners of rental properties in addition to home owners, which would allow DHHS funds to assist in the rehabi litation of renter-occupied single family homes.
  5. Identify next steps for continued implementation.

Specific Activities Associated with Key Strategy

C. Northern Tier
# Activity Priority Time Frame Cost Est. Implementor Executive Response
Land Use and Economic Development
A1 Change zoning in a portion of the residential area north of NE 52nd St. from L-2 to L-1 to encourage the rehabilitation of housing stock with some additional accessory units (see rezone action A-1). Community will do analysis and preliminary validation as part of the NPO process. City will undertake a formal process.   Implement a rezone upon adoption of the urban center plan. Staff work to implement a formal rezone process. Community, DCLU, SPO. Rezoning recommendation can be adopted as part of approval of the UCUC plan. See also Tasks above re: rehabilitation of existing housing stock.
Transportation
B22 RPZ Expansion. Establish event parking controls for football game days (zones 6 and 10).   Very near. 1999-2000 Game day controls accomplished through UW traffic management. Initiated by community with SEATRAN. UW, SEAHAWKS The Executive needs a clearer statement of the desired action in zone 10. CUCAC, the community councils in zones 6 and 7, UCUCA and the UW will deal with this issue as part of the UW Master Plan and TMP. From a parking enforcement standpoint, RPZs are labor intensive and seem to promote the fraudulent use of zone passes. Additional resources will be needed for enforcement. SEATRAN is committed to process all RPZ requests in accordance with the guidelines established by the City Council. The "funds" mentioned would be requested from the UW as "mitigation" to offset the cost to residents who would need to purchase permits (which pay for the administration and enforcement of the RPZ program).
Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Urban Design Features
D1 Acquire University Heights for permanent community use. High Highest priority. University Heights Assoc. is negotiating long-term lease, but City acquisition will be necessary. This is the highest priority for acquisition funds. ESD, DPR, Seattle Public Schools, Community. Early in the lease period for University Heights, the City will work with the community, the U. Heights Association, building tenants and the School District to determine: a) the ownership or management plan that best meets the community's goals, and b) the best long-term programming for the facility. If this analysis shows that City ownership is the best strategy, and the School District ultimately proves willing to sell the site, funds to acquire it must be found.
D2 Create a community open space at University Heights south of the building to be used for the Farmers' Market and a variety of formal and informal activities. The design should combine softscape and hardscape, passive and active spaces. Enhance the edges around the University Heights site. High Protection of the site for open space purposes is the highest priority. Site improve- ments are tied to the Center Development Strategy. This is the highest priority for acquisition funds. University Heights Center, Community, Seattle Public Schools, DPR. This project may be a good candidate for a Neighborhood Matching Fund grant. DPR is interested in assisting with site planning, if resources are found.
D30 Support the YMCA expansion in coordination with the University Heights Center and Seattle Parks Department as a way to fulfill indoor recreation needs. Consider incorporation of an expanded YMCA as part of a mixed-use development. Consider developing an off- site parking garage to serve several needs. High   DPR resources may be involved. YMCA, Community, DCLU, DPR, University Heights Center, UDPA. OED may be able assist with a YMCA mixed-use development by exploring the use of federal loans if the project can provide jobs for low and moderate income individuals. DPR can have preliminary discussions with the YMCA about expansion and program coordination.
D34 Maintain and improve community open space at University Playfield. Add additional climbers and toys. Finish up- grading Gorilla sculpture/climber with platform and access. Enhance the edges (fence) around University Playfield.         This project may be a good candidate for a Neighborhood Matching Fund grant.
Social Services
F1 Establish a community-based outreach, information, and referral service, including a "volunteer bank" in coordination with existing services. This may be co-located at the Neighborhood Service Center and/or other facilities. Community would supply volunteer aides; City would supply paid staff.   Desired immediately.   Community, DON. The Neighborhood Service Center currently provides social services information and referral.
F2 Establish a new learning center for youth to house the Working Zone (an employment project), the UDYC School, and a new shop/machine/tools (voc/tech) training area. Such a training area shall not be located in a residential area. The project would be a joint effort of the School District, City, local nonprofit service providers, and UW students and faculty.   Desired immediately. Requires financial and resource assistance from public (federal/state/l ocal) sources, private fund raising and School District involvement. Seattle School District, UW, DHHS. OED: The Manufacturing Strategies Sector can provide information to enable the University District Youth Center to develop a relevant and viable vocational/ technical youth employment training program. Note: the $300,000 Work Zone grant is due to expire November, 1999.
F3 Establish somewhere within the University Community a state-licensed shelter for 6- 10 youth, a safe place where youth under 18 can stay for a few weeks, rather than just overnight.
The State should provide funding and licensing. Community will provide volunteer help and donated goods and services (e.g., UW hospital for clean sheets and blankets). 		  As soon as possible.   State of Washington, Community. No City role is specified for this activity. DHHS will review any proposals for a youth safe place through its existing competitive funding processes. DHHS can provide staff support for program planning if the community wants it. It is highly unlikely that such a project could be implemented without additional funding. Even if State funds would be available, which is doubtful, it would not be likely to cover the full cost of development or ongoing operation. DFYS does not currently have any resources to fund such a project. However, the project would fit with Homeless Advisory Group recommendation to increase shelter beds with youth as a highest priority.

C. Northern Tier - Council Action Taken:

Approve Exec.'s Recommended Action with following additions:

  1. The Executive shall take a leadership role in actively assisting the community in securing the use of the University Heights facility as a community center. The Executive's efforts should include working with the School District to encourage a long-term (25-year) lease or sale of the University Heights facility and working with the community to identify public and/or private resources and partners to lease, purchase, renovate, and/or maintain and operate the facility. The Executive shall provide the Council with a status report and recommendations no later than June 1999. The Executive report shall include: 1) a review of citywide community facility needs and priorities; 2) an ownership and management plan that best meets the community's goals for this facility; 3) the best long-term programming for this facility; and 4) a cost/benefit analysis of lease, purchase, renovation, and/or maintenance and operation of this facility.
  2. As DHHS considers whether to adopt a systematic approach to rehabilitation of housing stock, DHHS shall identify policy and legal issues related to uses of specific funds sources, explore the use of other possible fund sources or tools for rehabilitation of housing stock, consider whether a systematic approach can or should be applied in other areas of the City; and coordinate review of this issue with any other efforts to review the City's policies for rehabilitation of housing. DHHS shall report its findings, analysis and recommendations to the Council no later than June 1999.
  3. The Executive shall work proactively to respond to the community's requests for RPZs. This response shall include working with the community to clarify the requests, processing the requests, and assisting the community in its discussions with UW and the Seahawks regarding funding for RPZs.
  4. The Executive shall work with the community to respond to the request to preserve the buildings in Greek Row and the brick multi-family structures south of NE 45th St. This effort should include exploration of the development of a conservation plan and the use of incentives (such as transfer of development rights in the multi-family zone) to encourage preservation of such buildings.

MUNI13.DOC