Columbia City / Hillman City Gateway Project
summary
The Columbia City / Hillman City Gateway Project is the recipient of the 2007 Gathering Places Initiative award, which grants $20,000 worth of Pomegranate Center planning and design services to build a gathering place for their community. Plan with your neighbors to design a gathering / art / connection space to bridge the two neighborhoods.
contacts
Iris Antman
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moc.liamg|atnelav.ymerej#atnelaV ymereJ
gro.elttaesdees|sirrona#sirroN yebbA
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(updated 7.9.08)
The communities of Hillman City and Columbia City have worked with Pomegranate Center (pomegranate.org) to design a unique and artistic project along Rainier Avenue, strengthening the connection between our two neighborhoods and creating a more compelling place to walk.
Pomegranate Center, based in Issaquah, is devoted to community-generated design and development, particularly of meaningful neighborhood gathering places that contribute to a strong neighborhood identity. They are an internationally recognized leader in this field. Pomegranate Center has contributed $20,000 worth of planning and design services toward the project in Hillman City and Columbia City as part of their Gathering Places Initiative.
We want and need the community to take part.
The end result of the process with Pomegranate will be a feasible plan, a plan that has input from the people directly affected, has buy-in from the community, and has possibility for growth beyond the initial implementation. Basically, we hope to have a complete presentation that we can take to people who have the funding for whatever we decide to do.
project timeline
- 2007 Oct 23 neighborhood meeting
- 2007 Sep 25 and Sep 30 neighborhood meeting
- 2007 Sep 12 Project Begins Community Meetings — "This project should at once increase connection between the two neighborhoods, stimulate walkability along Rainier Avenue and integrate art as a strategy for increasing a sense of place. And, they will do all of this through a collaborative community process …"
- 2007 Jun 28 Project Takes Shape — "Jeremy Valenta, Columbia City resident and community liaison for Pomegranate Center’s 2007 Gathering Places Initiative, has high hopes for his neighborhood …"
- 2007 May 14 Announcing the 2007 grant recipient — "… to help the communities of Columbia City and Hillman City create a focal point and street improvements between the two neighborhoods to enhance connectivity and pedestrian activity …"
| These photos below show the environment between Hillman City and Columbia City in earlier days. Note that the Hogan Feed Building ('Everything for the Hen') is visible in both pictures, and is still there today. — Rainier Valley Historical Society |
1915 South to Hillman City: |
1908 North to Columbia City: |
Park(ing) Day
SEEDArts and a group of volunteers from the "Gateway Project" are collaborating to participate in PARK(ing) Day on September 19, 2008. PARK(ing) Day is a "one-day, global event to highlight the need for more urban open space, rethink the way green space can happen, and improve the quality of urban human habitat". For more information on 2008 PARK(ing) Day and to see some amazing pictures & videos, check this out.
Our goal is to transform several parking spaces along Rainier Avenue South in SE Seattle between Columbia City and Hillman City into temporary, urban mini-parks — and we need your help!
We are looking for team leaders to lead a PARK-teams. Team leaders will be responsible for organizing volunteers to design, install, and monitor their parking space. Please contact Abbey, gro.elttaesdees|sirrona#gro.elttaesdees|sirrona, by July 17th, if you're interested in being a team leader. Think about ways to get your business or organization involved — there will be prizes! A meeting for all volunteers will be held in early August, so start coming up with ideas!
We're also seeking co-sponsors for this event to fund the cost of street use permits, barricade rentals, and any supplies that aren't donated. Please contact Abbey, gro.elttaesdees|sirrona#gro.elttaesdees|sirrona 760-4289, if you'd like to co-sponsor this event. You'll receive lots of recognition in printed materials & online!
Here's what needs to happen to make PARK(ing) Day a success!
- Identify parking spaces to transform (in process, due to permitting)
- SEED will apply for Street Use Permit from the City of Seattle
- Design parks working with team leaders
- Find donated materials
- Cones/street blockade (rope, stanchions, caution tape, etc.)
- Astroturf/sod (tarps)
- Furniture (benches, lounge chairs, picnic blankets, plants, artwork, etc.)
- Activities (hula hoops, horseshoes, performers, wi-fi, etc.)
- Competition between Columbia City / Hillman City for the best park (with Prizes!?)
- Bring your ideas to the meeting in August!
- Identify volunteers to help set up, monitor and clean up the parks
- Distribute flyers and publicity materials about event
- Show up on September 19, 2008, and enjoy!
This project will receive city-wide and national publicity from its sponsor, the Trust for Public Land. They'll be producing flyers to advertize the event in advance, as well as signage during the event and maps of "park" locations throughout the city.
who we are
SEEDArts believes in the power of art in community building. We offer visual, performing and public art programs that inspire and connect residents in Southeast Seattle.
The Gateway Project formed out of a community-planning process with Pomegranate Center to design a gathering / art / connection space to bridge the Columbia City / Hillman City neighborhood.