2017 was yet another productive year for ALUV, and 2018 has already shaped up to be busier than before as media and other attention to our “little group that could” increases!

Follow ALUV on Facebook and join our website email list for ALUV updates.   We also welcome and encourage everyone’s attendance at our monthly meetings on the second Thursday of each month (7:00pm).  Our new meeting location is the Epic Life Church (10510 Stone Ave N.).   Stop by to learn more about us and how you can support advancing the needs of residents and businesses in our neighborhood.

2017 Achievements

• January/February – Two ALUV members continued representing the urban village on the City’s HALA focus group.
• February/March  – ALUV members spent two days on the Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) to review all submissions, interview finalists and select the artist for the Neighborhood Street Fund (NSF) grant.
• June – ALUV hosted a public meeting with artist Vicki Scuri who was commissioned by the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS) for a series of site-specific artworks for the Aurora-Licton Corridor NSF Project.
• July thru October – Implemented our  “Only in Seattle” grant from the City of Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) to help organize the business district. Online surveys, in-person interviews and focus group meetings were held. Final Report
• July – Hosted public outreach booths at the Seattle Police Department North Precinct Community Picnic and Councilmember Juarez’s Live in D5 Event.
• October – Mayor’s “Find It Fix it” grant implemented with murals installed on the Licton Springs Village Homeless Encampment fence along Aurora Avenue.
• October – City Council passed moratorium advocated by ALUV on certain regional serving and auto-oriented uses in the Urban Village.  ALUV also submitted a grant application to the Seattle Office of Economic Development to continue business outreach in 2018.
• November – Hosted a Community Open House to update and engage community members on current initiatives and present the final design for our art installation at the N. 102nd pedestrian overpass. (see concept rendering below)

Throughout 2017 ALUV:

• Had a member appointed to the Licton Springs Village Homeless Encampment Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and attended monthly meetings.
• Submitted comments on the HALA Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
• Held monthly meetings featuring guests from the Seattle Police Department, Councilmember Rob Johnson’s staff, and others.
• Became a member of the new District 5 (“D5”) Community Network.
• Became a member of Councilmember Juarez’s District 5 Business Coalition.
• Became a member of the Seattle Police Department North Precinct Advisory Council (NPAC).
• Continued drafting Urban Village neighborhood design guidelines.
• Testified at various City of Seattle Design Review Meetings.

1. Attend: Public Hearing, Monday, Nov. 27^th, public comment around 5:30 pm, Council Chambers at City Hall, 600 4^th Ave.
2. Email: by 2 pm on Monday, Nov. 27^th

Monthly Meeting – Thursday, Nov. 9th, 7:00-8:30 pm

Joining us this month is Mary Aberg, Crime Prevention Coordinator for the Seattle Police Department. This is a great opportunity to discuss and devise workable and collaborative strategies for the neighborhood to promote a clean, safe and activated pedestrian environment. Meeting Location: Epic Life Church at 10510 Stone Ave N.

Community Open House – Sunday, Nov. 12th, 2:00- 3:00 pm

Please join us to learn about the future art installation on the N. 102nd street overpass, the results from our business and resident outreach survey, the history and next steps regarding the interim controls recently passed by the city council, and more! Bonus, you’re afternoon has freed up since the Seahawks aren’t playing.

Event Location: Lantern Brewing at 938 N. 95th Street.  Kid and pet friendly

Neighbors,

The Aurora Licton Urban Village (ALUV) has been working closely with City of Seattle staff and elected officials, including Councilmember Juarez and her team, to accelerate and enact HALA proposed zoning changes along the Aurora Avenue corridor in advance of the vote for city wide HALA changes sometime in 2018.

Councilmember Juarez will be bringing legislation forward at Monday’s (September 25, 2017) full Council meeting.  If eventually passed, the legislation would put into place interim zoning controls that would encourage development that offers goods and services and building design that are more neighborhood oriented.    Mixed use multifamily residential development with ground floor retail would be encouraged.
The interim zoning controls would be effective for six months, but can be renewed.  The interim zooning controls will build a bridge to guide development proposals along Aurora Avenue between now and when the permanent zoning for Aurora Avenue is adopted. Link to –  ALUV Interim Controls Legislation.

A favorable vote from a majority of the City Councilmembers is needed at the September 25, 2017 City Council meeting in order to refer the legislation for a vote at the Oct. 2^nd Full Council meeting.

What can you do to support this legislation?

1. Please email and call the other Councilmember’s offices asking them to – “Please vote yes on Councilmember Juarez’s legislation to encourage more housing and pedestrian friendly development in Aurora Licton Spring Urban Village” ahead of both the September 25, 2017 and October 2, 2017 City Council meeting. Contact information is below.
2. If possible, please attend the October 2, 2017 City Council meeting and provide public comment in support of the legislation.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement.
Aurora Licton Urban Village (ALUV) a Neighborhood Alliance

Sally Bagshaw <Sally.Bagshaw@seattle.gov>; 206-684-8801

Lorena Gonzalez <Lorena.Gonzalez@seattle.gov>; 206-684-8802

Bruce Harrell <Bruce.Harrell@seattle.gov>; 206-684-8804

Lisa Herbold <Lisa.Herbold@seattle.gov>; 206-684-8803

Rob Johnson <Rob.Johnson@seattle.gov>; 206-684-8808

Mike O’Brien <Mike.OBrien@seattle.gov>; 206-684-8800

Kshama Sawant <Kshama.Sawant@seattle.gov>; 206-684-8016

Councilmember Juarez + Director of Homelessness George Scarola both mentioned our letter and said all the points would be taken into consideration. Read letter here.

Site will be low barrier which includes people with pets, partners, excessive possessions and addiction. Public use of drugs in and around the site is not allowed. However, based on resident behavior, what happens behind closed doors will not be monitored. If residents maintain good behavior they will not be questioned about using in their own dwelling.

Site will provide a sharps container. Additionally, if you see any sharps on public property the city will remove within 24 hours per the new pilot program. Sharps Collection Pilot Program www.seattle.gov/util/sharps

Encampment will not include children. VP of new schools informed Director of Homelessness that there were two homeless families currently in the neighborhood. Director confirmed they would be provided housing within the week.

A school assistant superintendent took a ride around the area with George to evaluate potential risks to children going to school – her only concern was access needed to be exclusively on Aurora. This will be the case.

Encampment will have a one  year lease with an option to extend for one year. Per code there has to be one year vacancy before another encampment can be permitted for the site. Encampment will open in March 2017.

Site owned and managed by LIHI who plans to redevelop the site into low income housing but it takes 3-4 years for permitting and construction.

ALUV asked that at least 50% of the residents be from the surrounding neighborhood.  The City would not commit to this number because residents are selected on case-by-case basis. However, they would give priority to people already in the neighborhood.

Tiny homes will be 8’ x 12’ (96 SF) and will be insulated. Units less that 120 SF don’t need to go through an additional permitting process which adds 12+ months to the timeframe which doesn’t help provide housing for those in desperate need now. Site will acquire land use permit as required though.

There is water and power on site.  LIHI is hoping to add heat to the homes as well. Site will try to have plumbed showers and toilets. Showers at Green Lake pool will be available for use as are the showers and laundry facilities provided at the the 3 Urban Rest Stops. https://urbanreststop.org/

Encampment residents will be provided two bus passes a day to go to work or appointments.

Site will be fully fenced with screening and accessed via Aurora Ave only, except for deliveries that would access from Nesbit to avoid blocking traffic on Aurora Avenue.

Trash pick-up will be provided weekly/daily, whatever is necessary.

Site operated by LIHI who will have two staff members on site 24 hours a day. There will also be a site coordinator and two social workers assigned to the Nesbit location. https://lihi.org/

SHARE Partners: camp residents who self govern and manage residents, run neighborhood cleanup crews, and provide additional eyes on the neighborhood.  http://www.sharewheel.org/aboutus

Additional resources will be provided to Aurora Commons.

Community Advisory Committee: up to 7 members of the community. Committee will help to ensure that the encampment runs successfully and respects the surrounding neighborhood. Group is expected to meet monthly to address any concerns and to assess the success of the encampment.

SPD said they would allocate existing patrols to areas as needed. They did not expect any issues with an uptick in crime and had no major incidents at the Ballard encampment.

The Parks Department is in charge of public parks and they are the ones to go to for people camping in parks, cleanup that is needed, and general safety issues in the park.