The Department of Neighborhoods was created in 1991 by consolidating staff from the Executive Department's Citizens Service Bureau and Office of Neighborhoods, the Community Service Centers of the Department of Human Resources, and the Neighborhood Assistance Division of the Department of Community Development. The Office of Urban Conservation, the City's historic preservation agency, was added in 1992. The following year, the department added a community development function by taking over projects in the Central Area, Southeast Seattle, and the Port of Seattle. In 1999, the Neighborhood Planning Office was abolished and its continuing functions were assumed by the Department of Neighborhoods. The Department's mission is to bring local government closer to the citizens by maintaining a responsive presence in Seattle neighborhoods, by responding to citizen concerns and complaints, and providing a communications link for neighborhoods on City issues that will have an impact on them. The department operates the Neighborhood Service Centers (Little City Halls), administers the Neighborhood Matching Grant Program, staffs the Landmarks Preservation Board, and manages the P-Patch program.
Meeting minutes, reports, correspondence, and notes relating to the activities of the Central Area neighborhood coordinator. Each of Seattle's 13 districts had a neighborhood district coordinator who acted as a liaison between the City of Seattle and district councils. In addition, the neighborhood district coordinator was responsible for overseeing grant applications, responding to community requests and complaints, and managing the activities of the neighborhood service centers. In 2017, the department reorganized neighborhood staff to four community engagement coordinators (one citywide coordinator, and one each for the north, central, and south sectors).
Records in this series include administrative material from district coordinators, community association meetings, Central District neighborhood plans, and development plans. Most likely due to the consolidation of neighborhood districts over time, material from the Capitol Hill, Leschi, Magnolia/Queen Anne, Madison Valley, Madrona, Montlake, South Lake Union, Squire Park, University District and Uptown neighborhoods are included.
Records are open to the public.
[Item and date], Central Area Neighborhood District Coordinator Records, Record Series 5752-13. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.