HSD is evaluating the DEIS through a "community priorities" lens. What does that mean?
Government entities have been reaching out to community groups and neighborhood residents for decades. They ask many questions about what we want, and they hear answers. But we don't always know what they do with those answers. Rather than continue to ask the same questions, HSD wondered if we could ask the city to look back at what they've asked us before.
In 2019, the City of Seattle, Sound Transit, and King County agreed to partner with us to review past outreach outcomes and consolidate what community members have been saying for the past 20 years about our interests, needs, concerns, and priorities. This review revealed remarkable consistency over the course of decades. The City, Sound Transit, and King County also agreed to incorporate many of these neighborhood self-defined priorities into future projects plans that affect our communities—including this Project.
[Photo courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives, item 29984, showing boats in the foreground and looking east along Jackson into Pioneer Square]
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What do our communities want?
According to a review of past planning projects (completed pre-pandemic):
- Retain or increase community ownership of properties
- Improve public safety
- Enhance community vitality and sustainability
- Encourage economic development
- Enhance public health and well-being
- Acknowledge and address historic racism that has and continues to impact neighborhoods
- Minimize cumulative harm to and/or displacement of existing businesses, residents, and nonprofits
- Activate common areas
- Increase economic diversity in businesses and residents
- Improve mobility and connectivity
- Retain historic and cultural character
- Support a small business environment
- Ensure that people across Seattle and the region continue to visit the neighborhoods, even during construction
[Photo courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives, item 111181, 1914 photo of motorcyclists near the Pioneer Square pergola]
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What are your priorities? Our priorities do not have to be yours. We're here to help you share your thoughts.
What is your role in the CID or PSQ neighborhoods? How do you use these spaces? How would you like to use these spaces as a commuter, resident, business owner, employee, patron, or visitor? How can the West Seattle Ballard Link Extension project facilitate or inhibit how you live, work, or play here? Do you agree or disagree with the HSD priorities?
Are you concerned about transit? Neighborhood cohesion? Utility impacts? Environmental justice? Cultural resources?
When you read the DEIS alternatives, which options help your vision? Which get in the way? What do you not know that would help you answer that question?
There. That's your comment.
[Photo courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives, item 3454, 1929 view from Smith Tower south to Union Station and King Street station along 2nd Avenue Extension]
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You have until April 28th, 2022 to comment on these impacts. Every comment counts!
How? How do I make a comment?
If you prefer talking to typing, you can call and leave a voice mail in any language at: (800) 471-0879
You can email WSBLEDEIScomments@soundtransit.org
You can leave a comment on the website with a sort of "comment card."
If you want to talk through your comment before sending it, we're happy to be your sounding board -- make an appointment with either Kathleen or MaryKate from our website: Advocacy | HSD (historicsouthdowntown.org)
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NO final decisions about where the tunnel and station will be located have been made yet. Your comments count.
You can mail comments to:
WSBLE Draft Environmental Impact Statement Comments
c/o Lauren Swift
Sound Transit
401 S. Jackson St.
Seattle, WA 98104
ALL comments can be left in the language you're most comfortable with -- Sound Transit will have them translated.
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