Action on Local Advocacy Issues
AIA Seattle has been the voice of our community this spring, advocating on behalf of our members on local issues that impact our members and our city. Advocacy efforts are led by our members through our Public Policy Board (PPB), and draw on our members' expertise to impact key policies and legislation at the city and county level.
Supporting Design Review Reform
Architects know that Seattle’s existing design review process needs to be improved in order to achieve better design outcomes for our city. In 2014, AIA Seattle advocated for an independent task force to review the current process and recommend improvements, which resulted in a comprehensive set of recommendations for Design Review reform. While the PPB doesn’t support every recommendation, we do support the process and goals, and believe it is urgent for reforms to be considered and acted on by the City Council, whose Planning, Land Use and Zoning Committee recently decided to delay action indefinitely. We have submitted letters to all Seattle City Councilmembers, and have meetings scheduled with members of the Committee. AIA Seattle President Mary Johnston and PPB Member Mat Albores have also published an Op-Ed in the Seattle Times this week urging the city to act.
What you can do:
- Write your City Councilmembers and urge them to move forward on design review reforms.
Opposing Initiative I-123
Initiative 123, on the Seattle ballot in August 2016, would create a new mile-long elevated public park on Alaskan Way, reallocating public funds and defunding the waterfront park currently in design by the city. AIA Seattle opposes I-123. I-123 would circumvent the city’s design process and hamper urban connections by moving activity away from the street level, de-accentuating the water’s edge in favor of long-distance views. Most significantly, it would move a major public project into the private control of a non-elected PDA, moving funds currently dedicated to the city’s street-level improvements. AIA Seattle has joined with our colleagues at Friends of the Waterfront in opposing this ill-conceived initiative. More info about the No on I-123 campaign can be found online.
What you can do:
- Endorse the No on I-123 campaign.
- Donate to No on I-123.
- Educate yourself by reading AIA Seattle’s Issue Brief and watch our enews for a panel discussion this summer.
- Talk to your neighbors and friends; your opinion as an architect has particular credibility on this issue.
Additional Issues
AIA Seattle plans to comment on the waterfront supplemental draft EIS. Comments are due May 18.
AIA Seattle supports the Housing Levy, on the ballot this August.
Working with our partners at AIA Washington Council, AIA Seattle has developed talking points about the value of carbon pricing to those working on design and construction of the built environment.
