City Council Advisory Committee Takes First Steps Towards Cultural Overlay Districts

A newly formed advisory committee to the City Council held its first meeting yesterday to discuss how Seattle might preserve affordable arts space through a type of neighborhood planning called the Cultural Overlay District.

Already used in other US cities, the district is designed to preserve low-cost art space through cooperation with developers, like special zoning allowances and expediting permit approval.

The advisory committee is made up of developers, residents, business owners, and arts administrators, including Hallie Kuperman, owner of Century Ballroom located in the Oddfellows Hall, and Richard Muhlebach of Kennedy Wilson Development.

“I was pleasantly surprised at the level of discourse and the willingness to cooperate between the committee members,” says Dennis Sellin, Senior Associate at Lund Consulting, the firm facilitating the meetings for the City Council.

“I haven’t seen arts organizers, property developers and owners in the same room and talking the same language before, and I think that is extremely necessary to bring a good recommendation out of this process.”

Rapid development of Capitol Hill and the subsequent flight of arts organizations spurred the local arts community to advocate for creation of the districts in Seattle, which led to the creation of the committee. Arts administrators and fans packed the City Council's April 2 Culture, Civil Rights, Health and Personnel Committee meeting after news that the new owner of the Odd Fellows Hall on East Pine Street and 10th Avenue had raised rents about 200 percent.

But it is not just Capitol Hill residents — representatives from West Seattle and the International and Central districts are also serving on the committee. The committee is expected to focus on Capitol Hill to create a model for other neighborhoods.

The Seattle Department of Planning and Development and Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs may advise the committee, and a subcommittee of the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce Arts and Entertainment Committee, co-chaired by CODAC member Matthew Kwatinetz, will submit a report also.

The City Council will hear the committee's recommendations at a joint meeting of its Planning, Land Use, and Neighborhoods and Culture, Civil Rights, Health, and Personnel in September, before the City Budget is finalized, and will then present them to Mayor Nickels.

For Further Reference:

• CODAC Web site
• CODAC Agenda (7/21/08)
  
• CODAC Members (7/08/08)
  
• Draft of Arts Resources in Pike/Pine District
• Subcommittee of the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce Arts and Entertainment Committee Description (6/18/08)
  
• "Seattle considers new proposal to save Capitol Hill art space." The City Collegian. May 27 2008.
• Century Ballroom Web site