Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Alley Vacation First Hill topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves First Hill alley vacation to support sidewalk and landscaping improvements
Summary
The Seattle City Council approved an alley vacation in First Hill (Council Bill 120945) that the council and applicant said will fund sidewalk improvements, landscaping and neighborhood benefits; the project began in 2018 and passed unanimously.
The Seattle City Council on May 13 approved an alley vacation in the First Hill neighborhood near Town Hall, authorizing developer and public benefits including sidewalk improvements and new landscaping.
Council Bill 120945 cleared the Transportation Committee unanimously. Councilmember Rob Saka, who chaired the committee, said the project began in 2018 and includes public benefits such as sidewalk upgrades and landscaping near Town Hall. District representative Councilmember Lisa Kettle said she supported the project and highlighted the investment's contribution to walkability.
Why it matters: Alley vacations change public-right-of-way ownership to enable private development while requiring public benefits. In this case, council members described the project as complementary to nearby public spaces and hospitals and as producing pedestrian and accessibility improvements.
Vote and process: The council voted 8-0 to pass the ordinance. The clerk was directed to affix the council president's signature and the project will proceed under the terms approved by council.
Background and neighborhood context Councilmembers noted the project's relationship to nearby civic assets, including Town Hall and Freeway Park, and remarked that investments in sidewalks and landscaping will support existing walkable routes and the adjacent health-care campus.
Ending: The ordinance passed unanimously; the project will proceed to the implementation phase with the public-benefit elements included in the approved vacation agreement.
