WHO ARE WE?
We are Downtown Seattle residents who are concerned about the current challenges to the future livability of our city and have banded together to make our voices heard.
OUR BELIEFS
Everyone, no matter where they reside, is entitled to a livable environment that includes access to daylight, open space, and privacy. The growth in residential buildings in downtown Seattle has been robust, but residential development standards have not kept pace with this new reality. Good residential standards already exist for some areas of downtown. These standards include adequate tower separation, a limit to the number of towers per block, reasonable alley set backs, and a restriction on the percentage of a lot that a building can occupy. We strongly believe that these kinds of standards should apply to any downtown zone where residential building is allowed to take place. It's about fairness and justice. We have chosen to live in the urban core because we believe in density, but we are working for a vibrant, livable downtown — i.e. density done right.
OUR GOALS
Our goals are...
1. Legislation to accomplish the funding goals of HALA through additional allowable height equivalent to the proposed additional 1000 sq. ft. per floor of development capacity in DOC2, rather than through additional girth.
DONE! Legislation passed at our urging in 2016
2. While our proposed HALA legislation is a step in the right direction, because it establishes a precedent for granting height departures in lieu of extra girth, it does not solve existing livability problems, especially in DOC2, caused by inadequate tower spacing and alley loading/unloading and circulation issues.
PARTIALLY ACHIEVED: Tower separation bill passed July 2017 - some opportunity remains as this is currently optional and does not apply at alley level, only on tower portion
3. For health and well-being of tower residents and neighbors, require developers to study impacts of loss of light (Circadian light study) to residents of adjacent towers at Design Review stage before design is directionally approved (“locked in”), and require tower setbacks as necessary
UNDERWAY
4. To ensure a functional design, require comprehensive loading, waste, alley circulation, and cumulative effect studies before project approval at Design Review
UNDERWAY
Over time, there will be modifications and additions to these goals, consistent with our vision of a Livable Downtown.
How can You Help?
1. Join the Downtown Residents Alliance.
2. Donate to help us advocate for a livable downtown.
Donations to the Downtown Residents Alliance are not tax-deductible.
3. Ask others to join.
Press & Mentions
"Seattle’s growth battles demand a new approach" The Seattle Times, November 30, 2018
"More gridlock ahead: Seattle’s 100-year-old alleys were not built for mega-towers" The Seattle Times, August 7, 2018
"If you think Seattle traffic is bad now, just wait until these projects start" The Seattle Times, January 7, 2018
"Natural Light in Buildings: NIMBY Rhetoric or Livability Staple?" The Urbanist, May 2016
"Will Seattle Sacrifice its Charm and Livability to Tall Towers?" Seattle Magazine, January 2016
"Skyscrapers, built too close, threaten downtown livability" The Seattle Times, October 2015
