March 16, 2009

Opinion: Supporting local arts, culture key to livability

We usually find out how livable our city is when a magazine or organization conducts a survey and ranks Seattle based on a variety of indicators. The indicators range from the cost of living to how easy it is to get a taxi. Such rankings might be useful for travelers, but probably won't help us make our city more livable.

However, as we use economic indicators to evaluate affordability and environmental ones for sustainability, livability could be the measure of how the city's built environment accommodates, invites and inspires the people who live here.

Some would argue that these elements can't be planned for or measured. But a key indicator of livability is the number of places that produce and support local arts and culture.

Join in the discussion

Words like affordable, sustainable and livable are thrown around regularly in conversations about how Seattle should grow. But we want to know what these words actually mean, and how the city can achieve them. Today, Roger Valdez introduces the topic of livability. Upcoming editorials on this page will offer opinions provided by members of the community, including elected officials, organizers and A/E/C industry players. Bloggers at the DJC blog SeattleScape will also take on the debate. We hope you will join in. Here's how you can participate: • Email our AE editor, Shawna Gamache, at shawnag@djc.com with your thoughts and 50-word submissions for the page. • Join the discussion at SeattleScape at www.djc.com/blogs/SeattleScape.

We can build a city that has enough galleries, museums, diners, bars and restaurants, and create a transportation system to get ourselves there safely. We can create affordable housing near these amenities. And we should be thoughtful enough to preserve buildings for their historic value. These elements together form neighborhood character, and that is what makes our city livable.

Economics drive development, but there are ways to shape how that development happens. There are things the city could do to encourage development that enhances neighborhood character.

Amending the incentive zoning legislation passed last year to include ground floor cultural uses — including locally owned cafes, bars and music venues — as a basis for allowing more density could inspire better development. The transfer of development rights could preserve historic buildings and the current uses of those buildings while creating more housing elsewhere.

Keeping our city livable in the years ahead will require a bolder and broader definition of arts and culture. City government can't support and fund every local arts organization or music venue. But it can use tools like zoning to encourage uses that create vibrant and livable neighborhoods. Planning to preserve and enhance character can create support for sustainable and affordable density where today there is resistance.

Roger Valdez is a blogger on the DJC's SeattleScape blog and a former city council and legislative staffer. He now works as a consultant, with an interest in using zoning to support neighborhood arts and cultural organizations.

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The Daily Journal of Commerce welcomes your comments.

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Previous columns:

• In 50 words: What is sustainability and how can Seattle achieve it?, 02-23-2009
• What can we learn from Cuba's economy?, 02-17-2009
• Want to be more sustainable? First, define it, 02-09-2009
• Opinion: Don't add new tax to pay for water rebate, 02-06-2009
• Opinion: How about intersecting tunnels?, 02-02-2009
• In 50 words: What is affordability and how can Seattle achieve it?, 01-20-2009
• Opinion: What do we mean by affordable housing?, 01-12-2009
• Letters to the Editor: Viaduct idea an innovative compromise, 01-05-2009