Reply #63: Goodwill Industries Real Change rally 4/21/07 Seattle [View All]

[eridani]

SAVE OUR COMMUNITIES!
MARCH and RALLY

Sat., Apr. 21 at 1 pm. Gather at 12th & Yesler (near Bailey-Gatzert School) to march to Goodwill Industries (Dearborn & Rainier.) Follow the dragon dancers Mak Fai and Big Box costumes…

Do you care about…
-Living wage jobs?
-Low-income & family housing?
-Supporting small, local business?
-Little Saigon, the I.D., and the Central District?
-Curbing gentrification?
-Environmental sustainability? Open space? Traffic?

Then join your friends and neighbors for this Real Change endorsed march. (and check tomorrow's Real Change newspaper for more information. )

Background:
The biggest shopping complex between Northgate and Southcenter is in the planning stages and will be built on the Goodwill property at Dearborn St. & Rainier Ave. Surrounding neighborhood groups, local small businesses, labor organizations, faith groups, and others have joined together as the Dearborn Street Coalition for a Livable Neighborhood (DSCLN) to have a say in how that development takes place.

The Coalition’s goal is to make sure that the development benefits the community immediately surrounding the project, and the region as a whole. DSCLN is seeking a Community Benefits Agreement with the developer to address issues such as:

Protection for immigrant-owned small businesses
Development of permanent low-income and workforce housing
Creation of quality jobs
Mitigation for increased traffic
Assurance of adequate open space

After months of mediation, the project developer failed to agree to a benefit package that adequately addresses community concerns. This is about communities having a voice: we have a chance to shape not only this development, but also future development in the city. Will people of all income levels share in the prosperity? Let's build a community for all.

By coming to the march, you'll send a strong message to City Council and the developer about:

- your desire for responsible, neighborhood- friendly development at the Goodwill site
- your opposition an auto-oriented shopping mall in the International and Central Districts

FACTS about the proposed project:
*2/3 the size of Northgate Mall
*Mostly Big Box stores & national chains
*2,300 parking spaces (2.5 times the size of Pacific Place)
*Traffic doubled on Rainier Ave. - 25,000 auto trips daily
WHAT WE WANT:
*A project that better fits the character and scale of these neighborhoods
*Quality jobs and low-income & family housing - prevent gentrification
*Preservation of Little Saigon
*Less auto traffic
*Opportunities for small, local business
*Environmental sustainability, open space
For more information, contact SAGE. Or pugetsoundsage {at} gmail.com / 441-0499 x23