Seattle Central Waterfront Plan Unveiled

The City of Seattle's Department of Planning and Development held an open house on Wednesday to unveil its draft "Waterfront Concept Plan," which is its vision of what the city's Central Waterfront should look like after replacement or reconstruction of the Alaska Way Viaduct. (The viaduct is an elevated freeway along the waterfront that was rendered unstable during the 2001 Nisqually earthquake. It will likely be replaced.) The city has invited a number of stakeholders, including a representative of the historic preservation community, to help write the plan. I've been attending the monthly meetings as a board member for the Association of King County Historical Organizations. The planning process is long and tortuous. This document will now go to the city council for approval. The next step will be working out details of the plan.