ARESOLUTIONcreatinganArts&CulturalDistrictsprogramandimplementationplanfor

Seattle,anddesignatingCapitolHill'sPike/Pine/12thAvenueneighborhoodasthefirst
officiallyrecognizedArts&CulturalDistrict.
WHEREAS,Resolution31155acceptedrecommendationsfromtheCulturalOverlayDistrict
AdvisoryCommitteethatcalledfordesignateddistrictsthatpreserveandenhancespacefor
artsandcultureand
WHEREAS,Seattle'sComprehensivePlanencourages"thecreationofculturaldistrictsto
supportartsandculturalusesandtheeconomicbenefitstheyprovide,"andencouragesthe
Cityto"allowregulationsandincentivestobeadoptedspecificallyfordesignatedcultural
districts,"andto"allowadoptedguidelinesorregulationstomodify,exempt,orsupersedethe
standardsoftheunderlyingzonetoencourageartsandculturaluses"and
WHEREAS,theArts&EconomicProsperityIVstudyreportedthatSeattle'snonprofitartsand
cultureindustrygenerated$448millioninannualeconomicactivity,10,807fulltime
equivalentjobs,$248millioninhouseholdincome,and$38millioninlocalandstate
governmentrevenuesand
WHEREAS,artsandentertainmentrelatedbusinessesandorganizationsaddculturaland
economicdiversitytoacityenhancethelivesofthecity'sresidentsandvisitorsandpositively
impactthecity'seconomybygeneratingjobsandrevenueand
WHEREAS,artsdenseneighborhoodsinSeattlearealreadyhometoartgalleries,studios,
theaters,andrestaurantsandart,musicandculturallyorientedcommunityeventsandthe
Citywishestorecognizeandprotectthesenaturallyoccurringareasfromthedisplacement
thatnewdevelopmentoftenbringsand
WHEREAS,aprogramofArts&CulturalDistrictswouldrecognizeSeattle'svariouscultural
identities,supportexistingartsandentertainmentorientedbusinessesandencouragenew
artsandentertainmentbusinessestolocateinSeattleand
WHEREAS,CapitolHillishometooneofourstate'smostexciting,mostdense,andmost
activearts,culture,andnightlifecentersand
WHEREAS,theCityencouragesdevelopingartsandculturalusesinCapitolHill'sPike/Pine
ConservationOverlayDistrictthroughzoningincentivesforprovidingartsfacilitiesandtheater
spacesand
WHEREAS,artsandneighborhoodpartnerssuchasCapitolHillHousing,theCapitolHill
ChamberofCommerce,AnnexTheatre,VelocityDanceCenter,TheNorthwestFilmForum,
HugoHouse,theSeattleInternationalFilmFestival,SeattleUniversity,BlackBoxOperations,
andmanyothershavecometogethertocelebrateandprotectthecharacteroftheir
neighborhoodand
WHEREAS,artsorganizationsonCapitolHill,aneighborhoodexperiencingrapidchangeand
gentrification,areincreasinglythreatenedwithdisplacementduetorisingrentsand
redevelopmentand
WHEREAS,whiletheArts&CulturalDistrictsprogramwillbeinitiallyrolledoutintheCapitol
Hillneighborhood,itisrecognizedthattheprogramwillalsobeappliedinotherCity
neighborhoodsand

WHEREAS,itwillbecrucialtothelongtermsuccessoftheArts&CulturalDistrictsprogram
thatituseanequitylenstoensurethatallSeattleresidentscanpreservetheculturalactivity
thatstrengthenstheircommunities
NOW,THEREFORE,
BEITRESOLVEDBYTHECITYCOUNCILOFTHECITYOFSEATTLE,THEMAYOR
CONCURRING,THAT:
Section1.BythisResolution,theCityofSeattleestablishesacitywideprogramofcreating
andmaintainingArts&CulturalDistricts,andapprovestheimplementationplanforthe
programthatisattachedtothisResolutionasAttachmentA.TheOfficeofArts&Cultureshall
overseetheexecutionoftheimplementationplan.
Section2.TheCityofSeattleencouragesCitydepartmentstafftoactivelysupportandwork
withstaffintheOfficeofArts&CulturetodevelopandmaintaintheArts&CulturalDistricts
program,andtosupportthehealthandvitalityofthecreativebusinessesandartistsresiding
intheDistricts.
Section3.TheCityofSeattleencouragesallresidentsoftheCity,andespeciallythosewho
ownpropertyorbusinesseswithinArts&CulturalDistricts,tohelpsupport,promote,and
maintainartsorganizationsandartsactivitieswithintheDistricts.
Section4.TheCityofSeattleestablishestheneighborhoodonCapitolHillencompassing
PikeandPineStreets,intersectingwith12thAvenue,astheCity'sfirstofficiallydesignated
Arts&CulturalDistrict.
AdoptedbytheCityCouncilthe____dayof____________________,2014,andsignedby
meinopensessioninauthenticationofitsadoptionthis________day
of______________________,2014.
_________________________________
President___________oftheCityCouncil
THEMAYORCONCURRING:
_________________________________
EdwardB.Murray,Mayor
Filedbymethis____dayof________________________,2014.
____________________________________
MonicaMartinezSimmons,CityClerk
(Seal)
AttachmentA:SeattleArts&CulturalDistrictProgramImplementationPlan
MatthewRichter/FrankVideoOACArts&CulturalDistrictsRESNovember6,2014Version
#5
AttachmentASeattleArts&CulturalDistrictsProgramImplementationPlan
BackgroundTheOfficeofArts&Culture(OAC)hasforthepast18monthsbeendevelopinga
bodyofworktobuilduponCouncilResolution31155thatacceptedtheCulturalOverlay
DistrictAdvisoryCommittee's(CODAC)June2009report.Oneofthereport'stoplevel
recommendationswastocreateafulltimeCulturalSpaceLiaisonstaffposition,taskedwith
stewardingtheCity'sculturalspacepolicy.ThatpositionwasfilledinJuneof2013andexists
inOAC.

TheCODACreportalsorecommendedthecreationofanArts&CulturalDistricts("District"or
"Districts")program.In2014,theOfficeappliedtotheNationalEndowmentfortheArts'Our
TownprogramforfundingtosupportasuiteoftoolstobeappliedinnewlyformedArts&
CulturalDistricts.Seattlewasawarded$50,000todevelopandactivatethetoolslistedbelow.
The$50,000willbematchedinternallyfromOAC'sCulturalFacilitiesFundbudget,creatinga
$100,000programofcreativeplacemaking.
TheCreativePlacemakingToolkitOAC,withotherCitydepartmentsandneighborhoodand
communitypartners,iscreatingasuiteoftoolsforactivatingurbanplaceswiththearts(the
"Toolkit").ThesetoolswillbeavailabletoaseriesofnewlyformedDistricts.Theyaretools
designedforsupportingwalkability,marketing,rightofwayimprovements,wayfinding,
culturalpreservation,andfosteringanincreaseddensityofartsprojectsthroughouttheCity.
Ultimately,theToolkitwillsupportartists,artspaces,andneighborhoods.
BecomingaDistrictThemodelenvisionedforcreatingaDistrictbeginsinthecommunity.A
leadcommunitypartner,aBusinessImprovementArea,ChamberofCommerce,local
nonprofit,orcommunitygroup,forexample,wouldassembleacoalitionofconstituentsand
approachOAC'sArts&CulturalDistrictsprogramwithaproposalforcreatinganewDistrict.
Discussionsandevaluationswouldfollowincluding:asurveyofexistingartsandcultural
resourcesinthecommunityconversationswiththevariouspartnersneighborhoodoutreach
meetingsandahypotheticalmodelingofhowtheToolkitwouldbeappliedinanewDistrict.
ThisprocesswouldculminateinaformalapplicationtoOACandareviewbythe
Department'sDirector.
DistrictBoundariesThisprogramisnotbasedonhard"dottedlines"onamap.Therearenot
formalDistrictboundariesenvisioned.Instead,theimageofthe"heatmap,"whereacoreof
densityisrecognized,leadingtodissipationofdensitybutwithoutahardendingboundary,is
themodelfordefiningtheDistricts.If"dottedlines"areneededforsomereasonpertainingto
theToolkit,theprogramwilllooktopreviouslyestablishedboundariessuchaspedestrian
overlaysorhistoricdistrictsthatmightoverlap.
TheToolkitTheToolkitincludesprograms,projects,andmechanismstosupportthe
following:
*RightofWayDistrictIdentifiers:Theprogramseeksawaytoidentify,market,andbrandthe
Districts,andimprovethevisuallandscapeinthepublicrightofway.Inpartnershipwiththe
SeattleDepartmentofTransportation(SDOT)andSeattleCityLight,avarietyofmechanisms
areplannedforintroductionin2015:oKiosks:Kioskscouldprovideassistanceformarketing
(posterwalls)andwayfinding(directoriesandpointers),serveasaspacetoshowcase
rotating2Dartwork,functionasgatewaysintoDistricts,andevenprovidedemonstrationsof
solarpowerpossibilities.oPoleBanners:Bannersforindividualartsorganizations,for
specificevents,ortheDistrictcouldbehungfromCitycontrolledlightpolesaspermittedby
theCity'sstreetuseandsigncodes.Aseriesofbannerscouldbecommissionedthatdon't
advertiseanythingatall,butaresimplyartinsertionsintothevisuallandscape.oStreetSign
Caps:SDOTisinterestedinusingtheDistrictsasanopportunitytointroducestreetsign
"caps"toannounceneighborhoods,districts,andareasofhistoricinterest.oCrosswalk
painting:Replacingstandardcrosswalkbarspaintedontheroadwaywithartsspecific
crosswalks(pianokeys,forexample)couldhelpbrandaDistrict.

*Wayfinding:HowdoyouassistsomeonewhomightwalkoutofgalleryAtoknowthat
theaterXisjustaroundthecorner,orthatgalleriesB,CandDarewithinwalkingdistance?
HowdoyouconnectthenodesofaDistrictforthewalkingpublic?Thisprogramwillassistin
guidingthepublicfromoneartspacetoanother,orfromoneartseventtoanother,andmay
taketheformofonlinemapping,orprintedmaterials,oractualsignageintherightofway,all
ofwhichwouldsupportaprogramofbrandingindividualbuildingsandspacesascultural
space(anotherrecommendationfromtheCODACreport).
*Busking&PleinAirPaintingSupport:Thepresenceofstreetperformersandopenairurban
landscapepaintersremindsresidentsandvisitorsthataneighborhoodisvibrantand
artsfriendly.OACwouldcreatearosterofperformersofvariousdisciplines,aswellas
painters,andsupporttheirpresenceinvariousDistricts(ultimatelyseedingthepresenceof
nonrosterpublicartistsaswell).
*ArtHistoricMarkers:Artists,artprojects,andartspaces,oncegone,arequicklyforgotten.
Thisprogram,inpartnershipwithHistoryLink,wouldcelebrateculturallyimportantspotswith
historicandeducationalmarkers.PlaywrightAugustWilsonwrotehisPulitzerPrizewinning
ThePianoLessonwhilesittingintheoldB&OEspressocoffeeshoponCapitolHill.The
coffeeshophassincebeenleveledtomakewayforamixedusedevelopmentandMr.
Wilsonhaspassedaway.Amarker,aplaque,withanonlinelink,couldkeepsomeofthe
"erased"historyofculturalneighborhoodsfromdisappearingaltogether.
*PopupSpaceActivations:In2010,OAClaunchedthe(nowindependent)Storefronts
Seattleprogramofactivatingvacantstorefrontspaceswithartists'projects.Theprogram
flourishedandforatimeactivatedspacesregionwide.TheDistrictsprogramwillbringthe
Storefrontsprogramtospecificneighborhoodstoactivatevacantstorefrontsspaceswith
temporaryartistdrivenprojects,suchastemporaryinstallations,popupboutiquesand
galleries,andtheincubationofnewcreativebusinesses.
*Parklets:In2013,theCitylaunchedapilotprogramofparklets,ortinyparkscreatedin
singleparkingspotsintherightofway.Thefirsttwoprojectshavesucceededinsofteningthe
streetscape,andprovidingawalkablerestingspot.Repurposedasatoolforcreative
placemaking,parkletscouldincludepublicartcomponents,incorporateacrosspromotionof
Seattle'sOlympicSculpturePark,andserveasartspublicspaceinDistricts.
*B.A.S.E.Certification:OACisintheprocessofdevelopinganewpilotcertificationfor
commercialandmixedusedevelopments,analogoustoLEEDenvironmentalcertification,but
designedtorewardprojectsthatincludeculturalspace.TheBuildArtSpacE(B.A.S.E.)
Certificationprogramisexploringvariouswaystorewardtheinclusionofculturalspacein
newdevelopmentwithsuchthingsasmarketingsupport,informationaboutcultural
neighborhoodsandneeds,andotherassistance.
*CulturalPreservationandLandmarking:ThereistheveryrealpossibilitythattheCitycould
designateDistrictsonlytospendthenextdecadewatchingthespacesthatdefinethemget
displacedandredevelopedintocommercialpropertieswithnoculturalcomponent.Various
mechanismsarebeingexploredtosupportthepreservationofolderbuildingsandthe
innovativesmalllocalcompaniesandartsorganizationstheytendtohouse.
*AdditionalStrategies:InadditiontotheimplementationoftheToolkitdescribedabove,the
Cityiscommittedtoidentifyinglongrangestrategiesfortheongoingeconomicbenefit,

preservation,operation,andmaintenanceofculturallyandartisticallyactivevenues
includingbutnotlimitedto:oAssistingDistrictartsandculturevenueownersand
leaseholdersinidentifyingCity,county,state,andfederalfundingopportunitiesforimproving
andpreservingtheirvenuesoSupportingDistrictartsandculturalvenuesinconversations
withcorporate,private,andfoundationfundingwheretheCitycanbeanadvocateo
AssistingDistrictartsandculturalpropertyownersandleaseholdersinexploringenergy
efficiencytoolstomaintaintheintegrityoftheirvenueswhilealsobecomingmoresustainable
intheconsumptionofenergyoReviewingtheCity'szoning,financing,PercentforArt
program,developmentincentives,andotherpoliciesforopportunitiestosupportthe
operations,renovations,orexpansionsofartsandculturalfacilitiesinDistrictsoHelpingto
identifymarketingorincentiveprogramsrelatedtoculturaltourismthatbringmorepeopleinto
DistrictsandoConsideringthecreationofan'ArtsDistrictsDay'thattheCitycouldhelp
promotethroughexistingcommunicationmeansandmaterials.
Additionally,theCityiscommittedtoidentifyingorganizationalstructuresthatbenefitthe
District'snonprofitorganizationsandindividualswhoactasstewardsofartsandcultural
activitiesthatcontributetotheeconomicvitalityofSeattle:oAssistingDistrictstakeholdersin
exploringformalstructuresthatmightbeavailableforusebyDistrictstakeholderstogenerate
fundingforthemaintenance,operation,andpreservationofthedistrict(e.g.PublicFacilities
District,BusinessImprovementArea,PublicDevelopmentAuthority)oIdentifying
opportunitiestopartnerwithCity,county,state,andfederalgovernments,theSeattle
ConventionandVisitorBureau,ChambersofCommerce,andothercivicstakeholderson
marketingprogramsthatwillattractlocal,regional,andoutofstatevisitorstotheDistricto
AssistingDistrictsinidentifyingotherstrategicCity,county,statewide,orfederal
partnershipsandoIncludingDistrictsineconomicdevelopmentconversations,proposals,
andCityinitiatives.
Finally,theCityiscommittedtoidentifyingmarketingopportunitiesconsistentwithCity
regulationsthatsupportculturaltourismfortheCityofSeattle,Districts,andotherbusinesses
whobenefitfromthevitalityofDistrictsincludingbutnotlimitedto:oIncreasingthestreet
presenceofDistrictartsandculturalvenuesoPlacingDistrictartsandculturalvenuesonthe
City'swebsiteandoUsingDistrictartsandculturalvenuesforCitymeetingstohighlighttheir
culturalassets.
2
MatthewRichter
OACArts&CulturalDistrictsRESATTA
November6,2014
Version#5
RandyEngstrom,Director|EdMurray,Mayor
StreetAddress:700FifthAvenue,Suite1766,Seattle,WA98104MailingAddress:POBox
981244748Tel:(206)6847171Fax:(206)6847172arts.culture@seattle.gov
www.seattle.gov/arts