12th Avenue Arts wins prestigious ArtPlace America grant

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Amy

We are thrilled to announce that Capitol Hill Housing has received a $150,000 grant from ArtPlace America for 12th Avenue Arts. Our project was chosen from over 1,200 applications as an exceptional example of creative placemaking.

“12th Avenue Arts shows the arts working as both placemaking and economic development. Arts, community space, affordable apartments and the Police department under one roof – 12th Avenue Arts is a project unique in the nation. Capitol Hill Housing is thrilled to have been selected by ArtPlace America for this grant.”
–Christopher Persons, CEO, Capitol Hill Housing

12th Avenue Arts will bring new life to an underutilized lot in an up-and-coming commercial corridor. The Pike/Pine area was named one of America’s Top ArtPlaces earlier this year for successfully combining art, artists and venues for creativity and expression with independent businesses, retail shops and restaurants, and a walkable lifestyle to make a vibrant neighborhood.

“I thank ArtPlace America for recognizing and supporting the exceptional work that Capitol Hill Housing is doing on the 12th Avenue Arts project. This community development will bring together artists, diverse residents and businesses in one of our city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. It is projects like this that make Seattle a special place.”
–Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn

ArtPlace America is a collaboration of leading national and regional foundations, banks and federal agencies committed to accelerating creative placemaking – putting art at the heart of a portfolio of strategies designed to revitalize communities. With this round of grants, in total ArtPlace America has awarded 134 grants to 124 organizations in 79 communities for a total of $42.1 million.

In conjunction with the award, Capitol Hill Housing received a proclamation from Mayor McGinn declaring today “Capitol Hill Housing Day!”

More Progress at 12th Avenue Arts

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Josh

The ground beneath 12th Avenue Arts is well and truly BROKEN. In fact, where the police parking lot once lay at the corner of 12th and Pine, there is now a 30-foot hole beneath the surface. The hole won’t be there for long either – it will soon be filled with shoring, then concrete, and in the blink of a bulldozer we are going to see a glorious new 6-story building.

Despite having taken a decade-and-a-half to reach this point, the construction of 12th Avenue Arts will be complete before we know it. Keep an eye on our blog for more updates!

And of course you can see more photos on our facebook page.

Providing homes – creating great communities

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Foundation Staff

We are very proud of our buildings – both the character properties that we have preserved and dramatic new construction. But the real reason we do what we do is to provide homes for our neighbors and to create great communities.

In 2012 we opened our 44th building, the Jefferson, in the Central District – welcoming 40 new households to the neighborhood. Three of the first residents to move in were Nicole and Benjamin Thomas-Kennedy and their 15-month-old daughter Vivienne.

Nicole recently completed her Bachelor’s degree and works for the Seattle Alehouses, travelling between Columbia City and Queen Anne. Ben works as a security guard at the Frye Art Museum and is a musician in a number of Seattle bands.

Before finding the Jefferson, they lived in a small one bedroom apartment on Capitol Hill. It was a tight fit for two. Once Vivienne arrived, it was vital that they find a home where a toddler could have room to grow. But affordable homes in central Seattle are few and far between – especially homes that are clean, safe, and quiet.

By providing affordable and high quality housing to families like Nicole and Benjamin’s, we ensure that central Seattle and all Seattle remain vibrant and diverse, and we help our residents to have more spendable income to meet their needs.

GiveBIG on May 15: Donate to CHH through the Seattle Foundation website on May 15, 2013 to support our Resident Services program, which works to build community for all CHH residents.

Capitol Hill Housing Special Meeting Notice

Posted on May 1, 2013 by CHH staff

Capitol Hill Housing Special Meeting Notice

May 1, 2013: CHH Finance Committee will hold a special meeting Friday May 3,2013 at 10AM at the CHH offices located at 1402 Third Avenue, Seattle Washington Suite 200.

Agenda: Report on Current Financial Status

Sponsor Run for Homes!

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Foundation Staff

On June 22 the Run for Homes team hits the pavement for Capitol Hill Housing at the Rock and Roll Marathon! The team raises individual donations and solicits sponsorships from local businesses.

Sponsorships range from $100 to $1,000. All sponsors get either their logo or their name on the Run for Homes shirts, worn around town for training runs and on race day with 20,000 other runners, walkers and spectators.

Sponsorship Packages
Medalist $1,000
Prominent logo on team shirt, prominent logo in e-newsletter, logo on crowdrise, mention on facebook, visit and photo with the team

Placer $500
Logo on team shirt, logo in e-newsletter, logo on crowdrise, mention on facebook

Finisher $250
Logo on team shirt, logo on crowdrise, mention on facebook

Cheerleader $100
Name on team shirt, mention on facebook
Logo must be received by May 31 for inclusion on team shirt.

If your business is interested in supporting the Run for Homes team, please contact rthorisson@capitolhillhousing.org

Meet EcoDistrict Director Joel Sisolak

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Foundation Staff

Capitol Hill Housing (CHH) has been working with community leaders over the past two years to establish an EcoDistrict on Capitol Hill. CHH and the EcoDistrict steering committee, led by Seattle University’s Robert Schwartz and local developer Liz Dunn, are pleased to announce the hiring of Project Director Joel Sisolak.

What’s an EcoDistrict? It’s sustainability applied at the neighborhood scale. EcoDistricts provide a framework for realizing advanced sustainability by reducing pollution, restoring ecosystems and strengthening communities – through behavior change, building design and infrastructure investments.

In the first phase of the Capitol Hill EcoDistrict, CHH conducted an analysis of neighborhood resources, and produced a report in collaboration with GGLO. Six performance areas were established: community, transportation, energy, water, habitat and materials.

The EcoDistrict seeks to engage Capitol Hill’s active community to improve the neighborhood’s health and resiliency and become a role model for other communities – encouraging city, state and national governments to match Capitol Hill’s commitment to sustainable development.

Learn more at www.capitolhillecodistrict.org or visit the facebook page: www.facebook.com/CapitolHillEcoDistrict.

EcoDistrict bike tour

Posted on April 12, 2013 by CHH staff

On April 4, Capitol Hill Housing co-hosted (along with Cascadia Green Building Council and Cascade Bicycle Club) a bicycle tour of the Capitol Hill EcoDistrict.

It was a great turnout and participants talked about ways to strengthen the health and sustainability of the neighborhood. If you missed the tour but want to be a part of the EcoDistrict, look for future events and other opportunities for involvement on facebook.

Learn more about the Capitol Hill EcoDistrict.

Progress at 12th Avenue Arts

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Foundation Staff

Just over a month after the groundbreaking celebration, work is now underway at the construction site of 12th Avenue Arts!

See more photos on our facebook page.

We’ll be continuing to document building progress over the coming months.

Spring Flowers

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Josh

Last year CHH held a corporate “Day of Caring” at Hazel Plaza. Dozens of volunteers from Microsoft planted more than 300 spring bulbs which are now blooming! If you are in the neighborhood come by and check out the daffodils, tulips, glads and more!

Capitol Hill EcoDistrict Bike Tour

Posted on March 28, 2013 by CHH staff

On Thursday, April 4, Capitol Hill Housing, Living Future Institute, Cascade Bicycle Club and neighborhood partners will host a bicycle tour around Capitol Hill.

Stops along the way will highlight some of the great neighborhood efforts to promote healthy living, walking and biking. It will end with happy hour at Sam’s Tavern at 11th and Pike with a few words about the Capitol Hill EcoDistrict effort and a discussion led by Dr. Howard Frumpkin about the relationship between neighborhood design and health.

The ride will depart from 11th and Pike at 4pm. Registration (FREE) is required. Get details and sign up here. No registration required for the happy hour at 5pm.