The current Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellows share their ideas, inspirations and photos from the field on our blog. Learn more about the Fellowship.
By Joann Ware, Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellow
Similar to many major cities around the world, the City of Seattle is investing heavily in Transit Oriented Development. In concept, this exciting trend creates vibrant, walkable communities centered around transit systems. This dense, mixed-use development reduces automobile dependence and creates sustainable communities where people of all ages and incomes have transportation and housing choices. In the last decade, Seattle completed an initial light rail system that connects the downtown transit tunnel to SeaTac Airport. Additional lines are either under construction or in planning. With the completion and operation of the first 14 mile line, we have an opportunity to step back and critically evaluate TOD in practice and make adjustments.
Puget Sound Sage recently published a study, Transit Oriented Development that’s Healthy, Green & Just, which applies a racial justice lens to analyze TOD and policy in the Rainier Valley, Seattle’s first community to receive a light rail line. This area in Southeast Seattle is one of the most racially diverse areas in the city, with people of color forming the majority of residents. The report, with strong evidence, warns of displacement of renters and low-income residents from Rainier Valley due to gentrification. Displacement undermines TOD’s sustainability goals if it only serves mostly middle and upper income households.
The report proposes five key principles, below, to inform planning and public policy designed to encourage equitable TOD. While these principles are specific to the Rainer Valley neighborhood, they can be applied to TOD in any city.
- Existing Rainier Valley residents should benefit from TOD investment and be able to thrive in place.
- Creating quality jobs for Rainer Valley residents should be elevated as an equity strategy equivalent to creating low income housing.
- Affordable housing should be incorporated into TOD that meets the needs of low-income families and communities of color and scales to create adequate opportunity.
- Community-serving institutions and businesses are needed to stabilize existing low-income communities of color as gentrification occurs.
- Racial equity outcomes, not racial diversity goals, should drive TOD planning.
I highly recommend reading the entire report here: Transit Oriented Development that’s Healthy, Green & Just: Ensuring Transit Investment in Seattle’s Rainer Valley Builds Communities Where All Families Thrive, published by Puget Sound Sage
The release of this report was held at the Filipino Community of Seattle Center, located along the light rail line, but over half mile away to the nearest stop. InterIm CDA, my fellowship host organization, is partnering with the Filipino Community of Seattle to expand the center to include additional community space and affordable housing. In most of our meetings with community members, parking is always raised as an issue with their current center. Everyone is worried that the proposed expansion will not include enough parking, forcing visitors to park along the surrounding residential streets (great way to anger neighbors). Due to the City’s progressive parking policies for TOD, the affordable housing parking requirement at the FCS site is zero and the parking requirement for the community space is minimal.
Puget Sound Sage study release
How is public transportation serving the Filipino Community of Seattle Center? How much parking does the center really need? To answer these questions, I decided to conduct a series of sticker dot surveys at events held at the center. The release of the TOD report by Puget Sound Sage was the perfect event to kick off my study. Given that the event was heavily attended by city employees competing in “bike to work month” and transportation minded community members, I was shocked by the results.
Date: 5/14/2012, Monday
Study Period: 5pm - 8pm
Weather: 70's dry
Total Number of Participants in Study: 153
Bus: 14 people
Walk: 4 people
Bike: 15 people
Light Rail then walk: 7 people
Dropped off (car that did not park): 8 people
Car (that parked): 105 people in 91 cars
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