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Office of Regional Affairs

UW in the Neighborhood

The University Community Urban Center Plan encourages the community to "seek an active partnership with the University of Washington as a catalyst for positive change involved in both residential and business concerns". The University is stepping up to this challenge by committing people and resources to projects that will improve the area. Specific examples include:

North of 45th Committee: Report & Recommendations

In February 2006, University of Washington President Mark Emmert appointed a group of interested stakeholders to take a comprehensive look at concerns regarding the neighborhood located north of 45th Street, bordering the University campus. The president's action was taken in response to long-standing concerns by neighbors, the City of Seattle, and students about uncontrolled parties, excessive noise, vandalism, crime and safety in this area. President Emmert's invitation to the Work Group members acknowledged that with more than 6,000 University of Washington students living north of the campus, including approximately 3,000 in the Greek System, UW students are a significant presence in the neighborhood.

The report has now been published, and the recommendations are as follows:

  1. Develop an ongoing Committee and Create a Campus-Community Coalition
  2. Strengthen Police Coordination and Enforcement
  3. Re-Evaluate the Student Conduct Code
  4. Amend and Enforce Land Use and Housing Codes
  5. Purchase Property in the Area
  6. Establish a Housing quality Assurance Program
  7. Enhance Educational Efforts
  8. Develop and Support an Ongoing "Adopt an Area" Program
  9. Improve Safety and Student Welfare
  10. Encourage Communication Between Students and Resident
Click here to read the full report. [4.2 MB]

Husky Neighborhood Cleanup

More than 600 cubic yards of extra garbage are typically generated in the University District as students move out for the summer and return in the fall. Much of this garbage gets piled next to dumpsters and other places. In response, the University of Washington has sponsored efforts to keep adjacent neighborhoods clean during these times. The ìHusky Neighborhood Clean-Upî provides large dumpsters, reusable goods collection, recycling and increased garbage service for student housing.

This program has collected over 1,600 cubic yards of garbage in the past two years. Collection sites are typically located at NE 17th Ave & 47th St and 20th Ave & 52nd St. UW Panhellenic Council, UW Interfraternity Council, Seattle Public Utilities and Waste Management are significant partners in the Husky Neighborhood Clean-Up

A similar program is operated on campus by UW Housing and Food Services. Summer Scram allows students who live on campus to donate their unwanted clothing, books, food, and reusable materials to charitable organizations. The program also targets reusable materials found in the garbage each year during move out.

Wi-Fi Access along University Way

The University of Washington partnered with the City of Seattle and University District Chamber of Commerce to provide free Wi-Fi access along the Ave. The goal of this pilot project is to attract customers to local businesses and provide additional incentive to live along the Ave.

The University provides internet connectivity through its PNW Gigapop organization. The City purchased & installed hardware and provides technical support. The Chamber pays for electricity and pole rental. In the first month of operation (April, 2005), more than 6,500 people used the free access.

Read the City's press release about this partnership. Learn more about the City's commitment to Wi-Fi access.

See a map of Wi-Fi coverage along the Ave.

UWPD Incident Prevention Teams

The University created the Incident Prevention Team (IPT) to patrol Greek Row and the adjacent neighborhood of University Park

These IPT teams are staffed by two UW Police Department (UWPD) officers and members of the State Liquor Control Board, as needed. Because the area outside of the University of Washington is the Seattle Police Department's (SPD) jurisdiction, the IPTs operate under a mutual aid agreement between SPD and UWPD whereby SPD "invites" UWPD to work in their area of jurisdiction. Again this year, SPD has asked the UWPD to implement the IPTs in the area described above.

Patrols generally operate Thursday through Saturday nights. However, schedules are adjusted throughout the year based on demand and special events.

The Seattle Police Department has suggested that if you see something you wish to report to the police, please use the usual procedures by calling SPD's non-emergency number to report any loud parties, noise complaints, etc. If it is an emergency, such as a life threatening incident or a serious crime in progress, you should call 911. If you have any questions about the IPTs, please contact Acting UWPD Assistant Chief Richard Lewis at rwlewis@u.washington.edu or 206-685-2550.

Community Gathering

For a fourth year, the University sponsored a Community Gathering at University Heights to welcome new students to the neighborhood. Over 500 students and community members attended this year.

The gathering included dinner catered by local restaurants, giving some students their first taste of the diverse cuisine available along the Ave. This gathering was designed to introduce students to issues and opportunities that exist in the University District, with strong encouragement for students to get involved through volunteering or service learning. Community members were invited to meet students and facilitate discussions about the neighborhood.

The Community Gathering was organized by the UW's Carlson Center in cooperation with the U-District Chamber, local churches and community members. This event is part of Dawg Daze, the fall orientation program for new UW students.

Hold it Down Please! - A Guide to Off-Campus Living

The Guide to Off-Campus Living provides students with tips on being a good neighbor, noise expectations, parking restrictions and resources to help solve neighborhood problems. With publication of this guide, the University is fulfilled a commitment made to the City and neighbors during adoption of the Campus Master Plan. This document is sent out to more than 6,400 students living in the 98105 zip code.

Off-Campus Housing Complaints & Information

The Associated Students of the University of Washington's (ASUW) Student Housing Affairs office provides information about off-campus housing. While this student-run office is a useful resource, there have been problems with landlords who take advantage of students or violate land use regulations. As a result, the ASUW has revised its Housing Complaint Policy to respond more effectively to students' issues with landlords and property management firms in a manner consistent with City policy. The ASUW is also educating students about their rights under the Landlord-Tenant Act and how to file land use complaints with the Department of Planning & Development (formerly DCLU). ASUW's complaint policy meets requirements in the new City/University Agreement.

Community Partnership Town Hall

On May 24, 2005, President Mark Emmert and Mayor Greg Nickels hosted a Community Partnership Town Hall. The goal of this meeting was to hold a dialogue about challenges and opportunities in the U-District and surrounding neighborhoods. Meeting participants were asked to suggest ways the University, City, community and businesses could work together to solve problems and strengthen adjacent neighborhoods. More than 150 people attended this event. Ideas and suggestions on a variety of topics were discussed and debated.

Supplemental Police Presence on the Ave

The University joined with four other U-District businesses to pay for off-duty Seattle police officers to patrol University Way. The University believes that improved public safety is a key to the revitalization of the U-District and its surrounding residential areas. This program began in 2003 and ended in August 2005. The program is currently on hold pending the identification of further funding. Safeco, University Bookstore, Wells Fargo, and University Towers Hotel also contributed to this project.

Illegal Parking

During the Campus Master Plan discussions the University Park community voiced strong concern about the number of students that were parking in the area without Residential Parking Stickers and the lack of enforcement being carried out by SPD. SPD said they were understaffed and that is why they were unable to patrol the area. In response, the University agreed to pay for one full-time SPD parking enforcement officer to patrol the streets in the Primary and Secondary impact zone (the areas around the University) and give out tickets for cars parked there without Residential Parking Zone stickers. There have been very few complaints since this program went into effect.

Storefront Studio

In Spring 2003, Students from the UW School of Architecture and Urban Planning established a "storefront studio" at the former Tower Records space to assist small businesses and property owners design new facades for their buildings. These designs helped businesses and property owners apply for facade improvement money from the City. This project represented a win-win for the community: a vacant storefront was filled; business and property owners received assistance to improve their buildings; and students got a valuable learning experience. For more information contact Jim Nicholls.

Read more about this project in the Seattle-PI or the University Week.

Give Voice - Student Public Art Project on Campus Parkway

The smoothly rusted steel structures in the strip of land between Schmitz Hall and the Visitors Information Center comprise a public art project called "Give Voice," entirely conceived, built and installed by undergraduate and graduate UW students. Students gathered from various artistic disciplines for a spring quarter class called Design-Build Studio, otherwise known as Art 332. The project sprang from the multi-million-dollar improvements to University Way last year. The budget included $25,000 for sidewalks along the site of the art project. For this relatively small amount, the student artists installed the entire public art project, plus sidewalks.

Campus Parkway Planting

University gardeners worked with the community to complete landscape restoration for Campus Parkway with new seasonal plantings. Plantings included colorful foliage plants such as shrubs & perennials and seasonal color from perennials & annuals.

The University worked with the community to complete landscape restoration for Campus Parkway with new seasonal plantings. Plantings included colorful foliage plants such as shrubs & perennials and seasonal color from perennials & annuals. The University of Washington took the lead on providing labor to design, install and maintain this project. In addition, the U-District Youth and Community Project (UYACP) provided ten homeless youth to assist with the planting under the supervision of the UW crews. The University provided $7300 in goods and services for this project. The remaining $3800 was paid for out of a City of Seattle Neighborhood Matching Fund grant.

Art on the Ave fills empty storefronts

Art on the Ave was a program that displayed UW student art in vacant storefronts along University Way. This program started in response to concerns over the look of these storefronts and resulted in a win-win situation for students and building owners alike. Students got the benefit of having their work in the public eye while property owners got better looking storefronts. Property owners donated the use of their space for a set period of time or until it was leased. When the space was no longer available, the art was simply packed up and moved to the next available space. If you have questions or would like to make space available for displaying student art, please contact Aaron Hoard at (206) 221-7684.

Read more about Art on the Ave in University Week.

Housing for Faculty & Staff in the U-District

Everyone agrees that housing is a key factor to revitalizing the U-District. The University is making it easier for its employees to purchase housing in the neighborhood through the Hometown Home Loan program. This program offers UW employees a series of discounts on loan fees, escrow, title, and related financing costs. Additional benefits are available to households with modest incomes and located in the City of Seattle.

Since bringing this program to campus in 1998, over 2,200 UW employees have taken part. Over 200 of these were first time home buyers.

University's Commitment to Sustainability

The University of Washington's comprehensive approach to environmental sustainability includes utility, building, landscape and transportation management, as well as waste reduction and recycling. Read more...