Nickels: Revitalized neighborhoods, more high-paying jobs

SEATTLE—Mayor Greg Nickels Monday challenged city officials and legislators to ‘seize the moment’ and revitalize five neglected neighborhoods to create more job and business opportunities to residents.

Nickels, in his State of the City Address, urged officials and legislators to remove ‘chocking regulations’ and join businesses and residents to make the right investments in Northgate, South Lake Union, University District, Rainier Valley and Pioneer Square.

“Seattle is about to see a major change in Pioneer Square, the Rainier Valley, the University District, South Lake Union and Northgate,” Nickels said.

“Our role—our moment to seize—is to put people to work and make this change as great as the spirit of this city. New investment, new transportation systems, common sense in land use rules will help achieve the dreams we share for this city,” he added.

• At Northgate, Nickels will work to remove rules that paralyzed Northgate Mall, chocked a source of tax income and denied residents for north Seattle a modern place to shop and play. His administration will complete planning for a new library and community center. It will also transform the urban center into an attractive hub for jobs, housing, community events, businesses and recreation.

• At South Lake Union, Nickels will work to build a streetcar that links the neighborhood to the city and the Westlake transit hub to a new waterfront park. He envisions the neighborhood to be home to thousands of new jobs in biotechnology and life sciences.

• At the University District, Nickels will assign more police on the Ave. He will also work on removing the lease lid to the University of Washington, the city’s largest employer.

• At Rainier Valley, Nickels will transform the neighborhood with light rail service and a $50-million investment.

• At Pioneer Square, Nickels will build new housing and welcome new businesses.

Nickels further announced the appointment of Kris Effertz as new business adviser within the Office of Economic Development to help small and medium-size businesses navigate through the city government red tape. He also vowed to fight moves to curtail efforts in creating jobs for women and minority-owned businesses, citing Initiative 200 and recent federal actions.

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