SEATTLEPI.COM:
The topic of urban renewal or regeneration often brings up visions of glassy mixed-use developments in neighborhoods upzoned from what were once concrete tracts of land filled with industrial warehouses. But when you look beyond the redevelopment of properties and buildings, there’s a lot more to the success story of urban renewal than simply real estate.
Darryl Smith, a realtor and former candidate for Seattle city council, is an example of the few community residents that have stepped up over the years to transform and retake neighborhoods that were once plagued with adversity. I had a recent opportunity to hear Darryl talk about his efforts in the revitalization of Columbia City and how, through a series of community efforts, he was able to help bring one of the darkest areas of the city into what is today one of Seattle’s most thriving neighborhoods. Read more.
Columbia City Gallery was part of the initial grassroots revitalization effort in southeast Seattle. Photo/do communications, inc.
Who to know, where to eat & what to do in one of America’s most diverse zip codes!
{ 11 comments }
Attribution belongs to The Weekly, not the PI.
As for the article, how about this quote:
“…Seward Park. While this part of town consists primarily of well-off Jews and blacks…”
WTF?
Morning, Graham St. Maybe I haven’t had enough coffee yet, but I don’t follow you. The excerpt above comes from a PI reader blog written by Sherwin Lee.
Oops, you’re right, I clicked through on that “a realtor and former candidate…” link.
And I had finished my coffee, so no good excuse here. Sorry
I missed it also, must be one of the links in the story.
Do they have Jews and blacks here?
I’m so frustrated by this article, I don’t even know where to begin.
Darryl Smith leading the efforts on revitalization? Huh? “Urban Renewal” – does the author have any idea how charged that term is? Does the author have any inkling what the community lost in order to have a sushi restaurant, art galleries, and farmer’s market?
Oh, right. It’s all ok, because all of the druggies, pimps, prostitutes and gang members are gone.
Not that he over-simplified the changes or failed to do his research.
@pds –
“Oh, right. It’s all ok, because all of the druggies, pimps, prostitutes and gang members are gone.”
pretty much
This post has all kinds of juicy things going on.
The “Jews and blacks” thing alone could keep it going for awhile. Is one or both of these words offensive? Is “white” offensive?
Maybe it’s that these words could be offensive in the PI, even more offensive in the Times, but not in the Weekly; and even wussy in the Stranger. That’s why lots of people read the Weekly. They speak the same language as your average thinking, breathing Seattleite speaks, different than the failing newspapers previously characterized.
But they did mention Sally Clark’s sexual orientation, and not Smith’s, or Sim’s. Weird.
And I’ve always been split on the activities of the early Columbia City activists. If it weren’t for the those vile people that kept Casa Latina out, and ran the “druggies, pimps, prostitutes and gang members” out, we wouldn’t have the gumbo at the Ale House or the arugala/bacon/avocado sandwich at Geraldine’s.
Now that the deed is done, I guess I can eat.
Bien – The blacks and jews thing was not offensive, except in that it is wrong and makes me wonder about why the writer chose to make that up (or did somebody tell him that?).
As far as I know, Seward Park is pretty diverse and only a very small minority could be described as “well-off.” Further, jews and blacks combined number far fewer than non-jewish white people and probably fewer than asian people too.
I live in the Seward Park area and there is a seemingly large Jewish population. It always seemed to be Jewish, Gay, and me.
(Disclaimer the poster has nothing, I repeat nothing against the Jewish or Gays, just an observation) I have only seen a few Asians.
On a lighter note I just saved hundreds of dollars by switching to Geico.
Beg to differ with you, Graham.
I agree that these broad brushes miss all the finer detail, but they do kind of nail a neighborhood.
Rainier Beach is black (but I live there, and I’m white).
Seward Park is Jewish, as is Wedgwood. If your going to walk to temple, you have to live kind of close (unless you’re one of those “walking” freaks). A Saturday drive along Seward Park Ave should give you a hint.
Capitol Hill is gay, in a Pride Parade/Multiple Partner kind of way.
Mount Baker is gay, in a Sunset spread, Adam & Steve working on their garden together for the last ten years kind of way.
Beacon Hill is hecka Asian.
South Park is hispanic.
I don’t think it’s offensive in any way, and it does miss every time
in lots of ways, but still nails it overall.
Bing!
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