Othello

Project Outcomes

From 2008 to 2010 we worked with the culturally and ethnically diverse Othello community to update their neighborhood plan and make zoning changes to create a vibrant town center around the light rail station.

Engaged hundreds of community members at 53 workshops, meetings, and discussions
Planning outreach and engagement liaisons held 43 workshops to get input and feedback from historically underrepresented community members
Created community-driven vision and goals for living, working, and enjoying life in the Othello neighborhood
Updated the Othello Neighborhood Plan
Developed neighborhood (urban) design concepts and zoning based on the community's vision
HUD Community Challenge Planning Grant to stabilize Othello business district as a center for multi-cultural goods and services
HUD Community Challenge Planning Grant for a shared multi-cultural community center to serve Rainier Valley neighborhoods
Judges Merit Award for innovative civic engagement efforts in Neighborhood Planning Updates including use of Planning Outreach and Engagement Liaisons. Part of the Governor's 2010 Smart Communities Awards for creating livable communities in Washington State.

Key Milestones

Community Engagement

March 2009
Othello Baseline and Issues Identification workshop
March – April 2009
POELs engage their respective communities in conversations on issues and priorities
May 2009
Town hall meeting to address themes from the March – April conversations
September 2009
Open house to review draft goals and recommendations

Neighborhood Plan Update

September 2008
Council resolution requesting an update of the Othello neighborhood plan
March 2009
Neighborhood Plan Status Report published
May – October 2010
Town Center Action Team develops recommendations
September 2010
Final Neighborhood Action Plan published
October 2011
Final Urban Design Framework published

Land Use Recommendations

March 2011
Council passes Ordinance 123575 adopting Comprehensive Plan amendments for Othello
October 2011
Final Executive Recommendations on Land Use Code Rezone
April 2012
Council passed Ordinance 123853 for the Land Use Code Rezone

Project Purpose

We partnered with the community to develop the Othello Neighborhood Plan (formerly called MLK Jr. @ Holly) in 1998. That collaboration was part of a citywide effort to preserve the qualities of Seattle's distinct neighborhoods while allowing them to grow. In Othello, growth has been lower than anticipated, but, with a new light rail station, there is potential to attract more residents and business growth. In addition, the City of Seattle is committed to engaging historically underrepresented communities in neighborhood planning. Based on this background, the Mayor and City Council mandated a review and update of the Othello neighborhood plan. Between 2008 and 2010 we worked with the area's diverse community to create goals, policies, and strategies to guide the future of the neighborhood. We used that shared vision to update the neighborhood plan and to develop design concepts and zoning changes for the neighborhood core.

The neighborhood plan update was developed with extensive outreach and community engagement to reach a broad cross-section of neighborhood stakeholders. Participation strategies included innovative and traditional tools — hands-on workshops, smaller interactive meetings, and online communication and surveys. Planning Outreach and Engagement Liaisons (POELs) helped us engage historically underrepresented communities (immigrants, refugees, youth, seniors, communities of color, people living with disabilities, etc.).

Documents

Othello Neighborhood Plan Update and Comprehensive Plan Amendments

Urban Design Framework and Rezone

Community Meeting, March - April 2009

Community Meeting, May - September 2009