Local activists want developers to provide community benefits, too

Seattle's Little Saigon neighborhood is not opposed to development. It's just that area residents want something more than a new Target and Lowe's. They want affordable housing, union jobs, small shops for locally owned businesses, even a Vietnamese cultural center — and they want developers to pay for it.

In a model used elsewhere around the country, a coalition of neighbors, small business, labor and church groups is seeking a community-benefits agreement with developers of a shopping and residential complex on South Dearborn Street.

Such a legally enforceable contract, they say, could serve as a template for other neighborhoods seeking to maintain their sense of identity while still respecting a developer's need to turn a profit.

The $300 million South Dearborn Street project includes three six-story buildings on land now occupied by Seattle Goodwill. The 10-acre plot would support up to 500 new apartments and condos and 600,000 square feet of retail. That's nearly double the size of the Northgate North building, which houses Target and Best Buy.

The South Dearborn Street developers envision a Redmond Town Center-style project with apartments and condos perched atop retail stores.

But community activists say they want more than a suburban shopping mall. They're concerned the development could drive up rents for small businesses, add traffic and sever the area's cultural roots.

"Building this property is basically like injecting yourself with steroids," said Quang Nguyen, co-chair of the Dearborn Street Coalition for a Livable Neighborhood. "We will have fast growth over a short time, but it's not good for the body or for the community."

The Dearborn Street Developers, a partnership between TRF and Ravenhurst Development, have listened to such concerns. The partners' previous projects include the Whole Foods center in Roosevelt Square and Factoria Square Mall. They have held 60 community meetings for this development and they say they are willing to meet another 60 times if needed.

The company has agreed to changes — adding at least 100 low-income housing units, more pedestrian-friendly features, and helping launch a Little Saigon business-improvement area. From the beginning, the project included constructing a new thrift store and job-training center for Seattle Goodwill in exchange for the nonprofit's land.

"We endorse many of the ideas that the community has proposed," said Darrell Vange, the president of Ravenhurst.

The coalition says that while it appreciates the compromises, it wants more, and it wants it in writing.

"Our concern is developers very frequently say, 'Oh yeah, we'll do this stuff,' and when it comes down to the end it doesn't get done," said Bill Bradburd, coalition co-chair. "If you say that's a good idea, let's put it in writing, let's contract that either through the city or a community-benefits agreement."

Such agreements, where developers underwrite community benefits in exchange for public benefits, have become popular across the country.

Such an agreement was struck in 2001 between a community coalition and the developers of a project next to the Staples Center sports arena in Los Angeles. The developers agreed in writing to provide livable wages, environmental standards, affordable housing and local hiring. In an agreement in New Haven, Conn., a hospital even agreed to debt forgiveness for people with large medical bills in return for community support to expand its cancer center.

In many cases, developers are seeking tax subsidies. While such subsidies are not allowed in this state, the developers are seeking a street vacation from the city.

On Thursday, the Seattle City Council's Urban Development and Planning committee is to consider a change to the comprehensive plan that would lead to a zoning change the developers need. Council members said a benefits agreement is a compelling idea. The coalition wants the city to require an agreement, but committee chairman Peter Steinbrueck said the city could not legally include it in the current proposed changes.

"I don't know that we are opposed to" a community-benefits agreement, said developer Vange. "Our expectation is to enter into binding agreements, but we intend for those binding agreements to be with the city, not with a loosely organized community coalition."

The coalition represents about 20 groups, including the Vietnamese American Economic Development Association, the Jackson Place Community Council, Seattle Alliance for Good Jobs and Housing for Everyone, unions and church organizations.

"If the mix of stores is Petco or Bed Bath & Beyond, it doesn't really serve people who live there except for once or twice a month," said Bradburd. "That's not the Central Area. We have an Eritrean community, a Vietnamese community, African-American, Chinese community, a growing Latino community. It's not Olive Garden and T.G.I. Friday's."

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958