Archives West Finding Aid

The Project Files include correspondence at the federal and local level, minutes of meetings, and financial information. Significant projects include the Central Business District, Northlake, Pioneer Square, South Seattle, Pike Place Plaza, and open space. Federal project numbers are included in folder titles when known.

The Northlake Urban Renewal Project, also known as the University Addition-Northlake Urban Renewal Project, was located within one-fourth of a mile of the University of Washington campus. Primary land uses for the project included development of housing, dining and parking facilities for the UW, public and private utilities, and off-street parking. Relocation of Northeast Pacific Street was part of the project. Work was initiated in 1960 but did not begin until 1964, in part because of legal action taken by property owners regarding the constitutionality of the urban renewal law. Legal action arose again in 1966 when the City was asked by the State Supreme Court to justify conditions that would support "blight" within the project area. Correspondence between the UW and property owners with the City is included. Files include legal correspondence and property surveys as well.

The controversial nature of redevelopment plans for the Pike Place Market is reflected in Willison's records. Correspondence from Victor Steinbrueck, Friends of the Market, Allied Arts of Seattle, and citizens describe the disagreements. Additional correspondence from business groups, the Health Department, and others voice opinions about plans for the Market. Housing, retail, and parking were some of the issues discussed. Information on public hearings is also included.

The Pioneer Square Redevelopment Project records include studies of the potential and economic feasibility for an urban redevelopment project in this area. The survey and planning application for proposed development was not submitted initially because of the area's non-residential character. Eventually, application was made for a non-assisted project which permitted the use of rehabilitation loans for property improvement. Willison' records contain correspondence discussing this decision. As part of the planning, there is also discussion of a ring road in downtown Seattle. The ring road is also discussed in the records on the Central Business District. Some reports of the Pioneer Square Advisory Committee are also included here as well.

The South Seattle Redevelopment project focused on utility improvements and development of land for private industrial purposes. The federal grant for $3,850,000 included land acquisition, relocation of people and businesses, demolition, new construction, and utility improvements such as sanitary sewers, storm drains, paving and underground telephone and power lines.

The Yesler Atlantic project was designed to encourage rehabilitation of existing structures in order to contribute to the improvement of the entire area. The records document property acquisition and development plans. Included is correspondence with the Yesler Atlantic Citizens Conference, made up of property owners and tenants in the neighborhood who protested urban renewal plans, and other residents, who were in favor of the efforts. Legal information, background for hearings, and correspondence with neighborhood organizations and consultants is included as well. The properties in question were known as the Yesler-Atlantic "T". Work on another urban renewal project area, known as the Yesler-Atlantic "U" was deferred because of the uncertainty of the R.H. Thomson Expressway scheduled for construction south of East Yesler Way after 1968.

The Administrative Files include planning, real estate, community services and fiscal management, as well as personnel and legal information. The legal issues include broader challenges to the concept of urban development. Information on community organizations is also included in this subseries, such as newsletters from the Central Association for Seattle, as well as correspondence and minutes from Seattle Urban Renewal Enterprise (SURE) and the Official Urban Renewal Advisory Board (OURAB).