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Community organizers, housing developers, and design professionals who helped shape Liberty Bank Building and Othello Square will describe how each engagement process unfolded and how their partnership evolved over time. Named to honor the region’s first Black-owned bank that once stood at the corner, Liberty Bank Building is a 115-unit affordable housing development built for community who have been displaced from the neighborhood. When complete, Othello Square will support more than 350 living-wage jobs, preserve small businesses, and nurture entrepreneurship among historically excluded community members.

Join Mithun principal Doug Leigh for “Lessons Learned from Engagement” to explore lessons learned on how to develop long-term relationships, and meaningful community engagement both early on and throughout the design process. The session is not meant to be “this is how you do community outreach” but instead present both successes and ways to improve any engagement process.

Doug’s co-presenters include Community Roots Housing CEO Chris Persons, Weber Thompson principal Rachael Meyer, Africatown Community Land Trust community organizer TraeAnna Holiday and HomeSight director of real estate development Uche Okezie. The discussion moderator will be Ubax Gardheere, equitable development initiative division manager with the City of Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development.

Date Posted: 10.20.2020