One of the major challenges facing historic preservationists is communicating the idea that history and historic buildings are vital components of a healthy community, and should be acknowledged within the planning process. This year, several students in the University of Washington's undergraduate Community and Environmental Planning Program (CEP) are helping to bridge that gap as a part of their core studies.The CEP major is designed to give students tools to fulfill public and community service roles, based on several core issues. These include quality of life enhancement, the environment, social equity and managing growth.

I recently spoke with Elizabeth Faulkner, a junior at UW and recently-declared CEP major, who is working with four other students on a project to create a historic walking tour of the University District. This group, which includes Crystal Johnson, Joanna Valencia, Kathlyn Kocher and Lisa Cooper, is also planning a façade upgrade of a historic building along "The Ave."

This group hopes to increase awareness of historic resources in the University District, encourage reinvestment in properties along University Way NE, and increase the positive interactions between the University of Washington and the surrounding neighborhood.

Community Identity Through History

The City of Seattle is in the process of publishing the University District Historic Survey Report, as a part of its commitment to undertake a comprehensive inventory of the city's historically significant structures. To increase the public's awareness of local history, the students plan to curate and publish a pamphlet about the survey and some of the University District's historically significant buildings, and distribute it at several locations throughout the district.

Originally unaware of the existence of the city report, the students initially wanted to conduct a similar survey themselves. Upon learning of the report's existence, the students decided that a user-friendly informational brochure would enhance the existing survey's exposure.

Using the University District Walking Art Tour as a model, the proposed brochure will contain a map marking the location of historically significant buildings, a brief description of each building discussing its history, and photographs.

The students began their project in late October and hope to be completed by mid-May, in time to publish and hand out the pamphlet at the upcoming University Street Fair. Currently the students are working to gather the $250 needed to rent their stall, and to collect funds to cover the printing costs of the brochure.

Saving the "Ave" Today

For the second part of their project, the students will apply for a Façade Improvement Matching Grant available through the University District Chamber of Commerce. For their project, the students chose the building at 4740 University Way NE, currently home to Bedazzled Disks on the first floor and UW Street Ministries on the second.

Currently, many of the buildings along University Way are in need of rehabilitation and cosmetic maintenance. Though some of the older commercial buildings in the city are located in this area, many have been subjected to years of neglect. Some are vacant.

Students are coordinating with the building's owner, Phillip Scott, who has agreed to provide the required private investment portion of the project. The CEP students will apply for the grant, solicit design proposals, and plan the project. "Phillip is very excited about this project," said Elizabeth Faulkner. "He is very interested in maintaining the historical elements of the building."

According to the King County Assessor's records, the building consists of a three-story rooming house that was built at the turn of the century, with a 2-story façade dating from 1979.

The grant, part of the Chamber of Commerce's "Save the AVE Today" (STAT) program, is designed to enhance the appearance of businesses and buildings along the "Ave." The program is operating concurrently with SDOT's University Way Improvement Project, a major undertaking that has included landscaping, new sidewalks, and repaving, which began last spring.

Currently the program is limited to buildings along University Way from NE 50th St. south to NE Campus Parkway. In the future, the eligible boundaries may be increased depending on the availability of funds. Property and business owners may apply for as much as $10,000 to cover the material costs of a proposed façade enhancement. A Federal Community Development Block Grant, administered by the City Office of Economic Development, provided funding for the program.

The first recipient of the grant was the building at 4337-9 University Way NE, home of Tokyo Garden Teriyaki and Beyond the Wall.

During the first ten days of the quarter, the students will present their proposal for the façade improvement to UW architecture and design students to generate interest. "We would like to have several proposals to compare," says Faulkner. Proposals must be feasible, as the project has a limited budget for materials and labor.

Although it has not yet been approved, there is also a possibility that independent study credits will be offered for the design work. John Owen, a Seattle-based architect, is donating his time to assist the students.

Students hope to have a funding and design proposal for the project and a journal of the project's progress, completed by the end of the school year.

A Learning Process

Other topics include a project to address the University District's issues with homeless youth, a mural project, a neighborhood water quality educational program, and a project designed to foster increased communication between community groups in the district. Students hope to gain media and community attention for their projects, including a potential spot to be broadcast on the radio.

Instructors designed the program in phases. A different instructor guides students each quarter, but the process is also designed to allow self-direction. Joe Brown, Assistant Director for Community-Based Learning at UW's Carlson Leadership and Public Service Center, and Christopher Campbell, Assistant Professor of Urban and Community and Environmental Planning, were the instructors during Fall (2002) Quarter.

During the first part of fall quarter, students worked on smaller "discovery projects" within the University District to identify the elements of the neighborhood and community.

Joe Brown then set up a meeting between students and members of the University District community during fall quarter. Called the "Saturday Summit," students discussed potential projects for the neighborhood with residents and business owners.

2003 is the first year that CEP has embarked on this kind of program, and the projects will take three consecutive quarters to complete. Students will receive core credit and also have the option of enrolling in senior-level independent study credits.

On December 19th, students presented their project proposals to the community, peers and faculty, and received feedback.

Community and Environmental Planning

The Community and Environmental Planning program is a multidisciplinary major that was founded 9 years ago by several students. The goal of the program is to prepare students for active community and public roles related to community organization, environmental activism, government-community interaction, or social education.

Emphasizing personal responsibility and self-direction, CEP is somewhat unique in that it is a student-governed program. Students meet every Friday for "governance meetings" to discuss their major, set the levels of expectation, and discuss the direction of their program and its elements. Decisions made by the group are based on consensus.

Another unique aspect of the program is its service-learning requirement. Students must volunteer for 2 hours per week for a community service organization. Examples include the University District Youth Center, and the Street Ministries. Students are also required to participate in committees, such as the "Students for Social Change," which sponsors lectures and events relating to community issues.

There are approximately 60 students in the major, and applications are competitive. To enroll as a CEP student, students must submit five essays and participate in a panel interview. The panel is comprised of 2 current students, and alumnus, and a faculty member.

For More Information

Those interested in learning more about the University District Identity Project are invited to email identitygirls@hotmail.com.

For information about the Community and Environmental Planning Program, visit their website at http://www.depts.washington.edu/cep/index.html.

To learn about the Greater University District Chamber of Commerce, or the Façade Improvement Matching Grant Program, call 206.547.4417 or visit online at http://www.udistrictchamber.org/index.cfm.

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