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Community Reconstruction: Seattle, Washington |
Mitigation Measures
The mitigation measures developed for the Seattle communities were aimed at minimizing the impact of the eight-lane highway on the Judkins Park, South Atlantic Street and Mount Baker neighborhoods. The major mitigation measure was the construction of the lid over I-90, reconnecting segments of the Judkins Park and South Atlantic Street neighborhoods long divided by SR 90. Through extensive landscaping, the lid is now a 28-acre park with active and passive recreation, available to all three neighborhoods. The city of Seattle added recreational features to the lid, including benches, picnic tables, two tennis courts, and a children's play area. A 12-mile continuous bicycle and pedestrian trail was built from the Seattle lid, across Lake Washington on the I-90 bridge, to the suburban communities. In the summer months, the trail is used by some commuters to bicycle to work.
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Another important mitigation measure for the three neighborhoods was the construction of a
new elementary school that all three would use. In response to the noise and safety concerns
for the elementary school children during the lengthy construction of I-90, classes for the
school children were held at an interim location away from the construction site. To permanently
mitigate the concerns, WSDOT provided the school district with the funds to build and furnish
a new school. The new elementary school, recently renamed after U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Thurgood Marshall, is on a residential street north of the project. The old Coleman Elementary
School is presently being considered for reuse as an African-American history museum or a
community center.
With the completion of I-90, Judkins Park, South Atlantic Street, and Mount Baker are
becoming known as attractive neighborhoods. There is now a greater willingness on the part of
homeowners to make new investments in the area. Lots that were once vacant and trash-strewn are
slowly being converted to housing for low- and middle-income families. Community advocates say
the revival of these neighborhoods can be attributed to many factors, but the start of the
turnaround began with the resolution of I-90 concerns and the construction of associated
mitigation measures.
The elementary school and new 28-acre open space, replete with recreational facilities, were
significant added features to the community infrastructure. Factors external to the community
have also been important in the rebirth of the area. The current strength
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Suburbanites are now showing more interest in these urban neighborhoods, and home prices are rising. As a result of the renewed interest in the area, enrollments are increasing at the new Thurgood Marshall Elementary School. In 1995, the school was selected by Redbook magazine as one of the best elementary schools in the Nation. In addition to its primary function, the school also serves as a venue for other community programs, such as a black men's parenting group and independent-living training for disabled persons.