Generally, meeting notes are briefer; however, the conversation with CM Hollingsworth seemed worthy of more detail with reminders of what was discussed and how quickly time can pass when community members engage with their representatives. This is not intended as a transcript; it is just a summary.
We thank Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth for the community conversation. Also thank you to the school board candidates and the county executive candidate who attended.
October 18, 2025, 10:00 AM to 11:00 or 12:00 PM .at Byrd Barr Place, 722 18th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122.
Travis Dobler led the land acknowledgement and the meeting. Travis, thank you for your leadership. The conversation centered on the topics that had been sent a few days in advance. Audience members interacted with the CM and the bolded areas are the ones that received most attention during the meeting
- Comprehensive planning for the Central District
- Anti-displacement guardrails
- Future of design review
- Future of affordable housing efforts
- Public safety challenges and solutions specific to Seattle’s Central District.
CM Hollingsworth announced that Cameron Yonan for district services is a recent addition to her staff for District. Karinda Harris will soon be added to handle special projects.
In addition, she requested that budget requests be sent to her office.
She reported on crosswalk and safety improvements at Washington Middle School, improvements and final needs for the Garfield Super Block, and improvements for Judkins Park, along with the need for further study there.
The aspects of Amendment 1111 that CM Hollingsworth offered to the Comprehensive Plan to prevent the Capitol Hill/First Hill encroachment into the Central District will be introduced as a resolution to the full council. (The Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan passed the legislation on to the full council for voting on the first or second Tuesday of December. The resolution will be presented at that time.) During the discussion regarding the future of design review, CM Hollingsworth related that she would plan to add the issues of design review to the Amendment 1111. They are closely related. Please see the Central Area Land Use Review statement on Design Review.
Audience members expressed that including community members in drafting solutions and proposals promotes better relationships with the city, rather than leaving us just reacting to proposals as they become public.
The desire for community involvement in solutions extended to a current proposal in the mayor’s budget of moving the Major Institute Master Plan (MIMP) to the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) from its current oversight in the Department of Neighborhoods. The neighborhood is curious why the mayor’s budget proposed this move and expressed concern that the move might mean that collaboration with community and neighborhood would be less meaningful. During this and other portions of the, the community expressed concerns regarding the currently empty office spaces on the Swedish/Providence Cherry Hill campus as many of the medical uses have been moved to First Hill.
CM Hollingsworth referred to a comprehensive plan amendment that added protection of trees and reported that there is city council interest in revisiting the Seattle’s Tree Ordinance.
Audience members thanked CM Hollingsworth for mentioning the importance of food access as part of the comprehensive plan. The update prioritizes food security, sustainability, and equity across the local food system.
Public safety included discussions regarding gun violence, cameras on 23rd, fencing at and design of Dr. Blanche Lavizzo Park (the parks department should be reaching out to the community for future planning), environmental design for safety, and traffic flow related issues, Time was given to a discussion regarding the non-armed CARE team ability to respond to calls without the armed officers. She heard the concern, and recognized that it has to be negotiated with the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG). Identifying a business to occupy the former Starbucks shop at 23rd and S. Jackson is key to maintaining safety at that corner.
CM Hollingsworth reported that she strongly advocated that the cameras be only on the main arterials if they were to be installed on 23rd.
She encouraged following transportation levy investments via the link below, and support for the Family Education Levy on the November ballot.
https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/about-us/funding/seattle-transportation-levy
The discussion was lively and informative and went quickly. Anti Displacement was not discussed in detail. After a list had been forwarded to CM Hollingsworth’s office, we received a request for a discussion of Terry Furchgott paintings that went missing from our post office. The message was sent to her office, but it was not addressed at the meeting
All were encouraged to engage with the Swedish/Providence IAC and the discussions regarding their MIMP. A separate announcement of Wednesday’s meeting was sent via our communications tools.
Seattle School Board candidates Jen Vallee, Carol Rava, Joe Mizrahi, Laura Marie Rivera, Kathleen Smith, Vivian Song and Janis White presented for their campaigns and participated in the meet and greet. We also thank King County Executive candidate Claudia Balducci for the presentation and conversation. Concern about King County’s intended use of the land it owns in the area was noted.
Thank all who participated.
