by CHS
(This article was originally published on the Capitol Hill Seattle Blog and has been reprinted under an agreement.)
Mayor Jenny Durkanannounced this year's Equitable Development Initiative grants Tuesday including a new wave of funding for Central District organizations.
She also signed legislation finalizing the transfer of city properties to community organizations including theCentral Area Senior Centeron 30th Avenue South andFire Station 6at 23rd Avenue and East Yesler Way.
AfricatownCommunity Land Trust andByrd Barr Placewere key organizations on the day.CHS reported hereon Africatown's plans to transform the unused fire station into a new technology center development as Byrd Barr Place is also taking ownership of the former fire station on 18th Avenue that it calls home. Both organizations also received a new round of EDI grants, according to Tuesday's announcement.
A nonprofit, meanwhile, has been stewarding the senior center property on a month-to-month lease since the City took over ownership in 1975 and has paid little rent instead paying the city through its services. But the City has done little to pay for upkeep of the building that has set the center back about $120,000 a year since 2014. The center can now move forward with its own plans for the facility.
"To tackle the challenges of displacement, our city is investing in community-based organizations who are leading the way to empower and strengthen underserved communities and create economic vitality," Durkan said in an announcement of this year's grants. "The Economic Development Initiative has a strong record of creating the newest homes for our city's residents, nonprofits, and local small businesses through leveraging other City programs."
Tuesday, Durkan announced nearly $6 million in awards through the EDI program, "part of the City's effort to support Seattle's existing residents and businesses in high-displacement-risk neighborhoods."
The City awarded $4.4 million to community organizations for site acquisition and major capital projects and another $1.25 million is intended to provide capacity-building support to existing EDI partners providing services during the current pandemic and economic crisis. The awards to organizations led by and serving People of Color will be used for organizational capacity building, property acquisition, and capital expenses. In addition to the $36 million in EDI funds awarded, these community-based organizations have leveraged more than $105 million in City-funded dollars since 2017.
For Africatown, the money granted won't be earmarked for the 23rd and Yesler —the former Fire Station 6 property — project. Instead, the $640,000 awarded will help the nonprofit include affordable commercial space in the plannedAfricatown Plazaaffordable housing developmentplanned to rise at 23rd Avenue and Spring Street.
The roster of EDI grants announced this week is below:
Featured image: "Africatown Plaza is coming to 23rd and Spring." (Image source: GGLO via Capitol Hill Blog.)
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