Bibliography

Urban Renewal Program, Record Group 1642-00
This record group contains eleven discrete collections covering activities of Seattle's Urban Renewal Program, dating from 1957 when the program was established until 1976.

Urban Renewal Advisory Board Minutes, Record Series 1802-M9, 1958-1961

Northlake Urban Renewal Project Records, Record Series 1625-01, 1964-1977

Northlake Parcel Appraisals, Record Series 1625-02, 1962-1965

Pike Place Project Business Information, Record Series 1628-05, 1966-1975

Pike Place Market Visual Images and Audiotapes, Record Series 1628-02, 1894-1984

Pike Place Market Records, Record Series 1628-01, 1907-1987

Northlake Urban Renewal Scrapbook, Record Series 1625-03, 1962-1967
The scrapbook has been digitized and is online here.

David Helms Records, Record Series 1622-02, 1970-1974

South Seattle Parcel Appraisals, Record Series 1626-02, 1964

South Seattle Redevelopment Project Records, Record Series 1626-01, 1962-1977

South Park Neighborhood Development Project Records, Record Series 1624-07, 1966-1976

North Greenwood Neighborhood Development Records, Record Series 1624-08, 1971-1979

Yesler-Atlantic Neighborhood Improvement Project Subject Files, Record Series 1627-02, 1961-1977

Yesler-Atlantic Parcel Appraisals, Record Series 1627-03, 1961-1985

Leschi Neighborhood Development Project Records, Record Series 1624-04, 1969-1989

Department of Community Development Housing and Neighborhood Development Central Files, Record Series 1620-02, 1960-1979

Department of Community Development Director's Records, Record Series 1600-03, 1970-1991

Department of Community Development Neighborhood Development Project Applications, Record Series 1624-09, 1965-1974

Department of Community Development Neighborhood Development Program Records, Record Series 1624-13, 1968-1976

Hearing Transcripts, Record Series 1802-B5, 1922-1980

• Box 3, Folder 6: Yesler-Atlantic Renewal Project (1 of 4), 1967
• Box 3, Folder 7: Yesler-Atlantic Renewal Project (2 of 4), 1967
• Box 3, Folder 8: Yesler-Atlantic Renewal Project (3 of 4), 1967
• Box 3, Folder 9: Yesler-Atlantic Renewal Project (4 of 4), 1967
• Box 3, Folder 10: University Addition: Northlake Urban Renewal Project, 1963
• Box 3, Folder 11: University Addition: Northlake Urban Renewal, 1967 

Department of Community Development Departmental Publications, Record Series 1600-06, 1962-1992

• Box 1, Folder 4: News From YANIP Newsletter, 1966-1968
• Box 1, Folder 6: Renewal Report Newsletter, 1967-1969
• Box 1, Folder 8: SURE Newsletter, 1962-1965
• Box 1, Folder 9: Urban Renewal News newsletter, 1966
• Box 1, Folder 10: YA News newsletter, 1974-1976
• Box 1, Folder 11: YANIP Report newsletter, 1968-1973
• Box 1, Folder 12: Yesler-Atlantic Newsletter, 1962-1963
• Box 1, Folder 20: Brochures - Urban Renewal, 1963-1974

Department of Community Development Annual Reports, Record Series 1802-F8, 1973-1985

• Box 1, Folder1: Annual Reports 1970-1976

Building Department Annual Reports, Record Series 1802-F4, 1894-1977

• Box 2, Folder 5: Annual Report, 1960-1962
• Box 2, Folder 6: Annual Report, 1968-1970
• Box 2, Folder 7: Annual Report, 1971-1977

Reports and Studies, Record Series 1802-D9, 1895-1986

• Box 17, Folder 3: Brief Outline of Proposed Urban Renewal Act, 1955
• Box 18, Folder 6: Report of the Urban Renewal Program, 1958
• Box 18, Folder 8: The Workable Program for Urban Renewal, 1958
• Box 20, Folder 13: What About Urban Renewal in University Addition: Northlake, 1962
• Box 19, Folder 7: The Workable Program Application for Recertification, 1959
• Box 20, Folder 5: Cherry Hill Urban Renewal Conservation Project Final Report (SURE), 1962
• Box 20, Folder 8: Progress Report of the Urban Renewal Program, 1962
• Box 20, Folder 16: Progress Report, Urban Renewal Division, Executive Department, 1963
• Box 23, Folder 5: Urban Renewal Plan for Yesler/Atlantic Neighborhood Improvement Project, 1967

Vertical files, Record Series VF-0000

• Box 1, Folder 261: Pike Plaza Urban Renewal Fact Sheet, 1967 
• Box 1, Folder 262: Yesler-Atlantic "T" Urban Renewal Project Fact Sheet, 1963
• Box 1, Folder 263: Northlake Urban Renewal Fact Sheet, 1963-1967
• Box 2, Folder 750: Urban Renewal and Neighborhood Development Maps: South Park, Northwest Leschi, Southwest Leschi, North Greenwood, Pike Place Project  

Miscellaneous Agency Publications, Record Series 9910-02, 1932-2010

• Box 2, Folder 25, Office of Urban Renewal Publications

Zoning Ordinance Records, Record Series 1650-09, 1953-1972

• Box 3, Folder 3: Zoning, Urban Renewal Offices, 1973

Rosemary Horwood Records, Record Series 1612-05, 1957-1971

• Box 3, Folder 10: Urban Renewal, 1957-1971

Planning Commission Subject Files, Record Series 1650-16, 1952-1982

• Box 4, Folder 21: Urban Renewal, 1962

Fire Marshal Subject Files, Record Series 2810-08, 1951-1979

• Box 8, Folders 1-8: Urban Renewal projects, 1960-1974

Design Commission Project Files, Record Series 9323-02, 1968-2006

• Box 1, Folder 12: South Seattle Urban Renewal Project 10/31/68.12, 1968-1969
• Box 9, Folder 37: Northlake Urban Renewal Area / Street and Service Improvements 6/22/72.3, 1972-1976

City Council Audio Recordings, Record Series 4601-03, 1955-2015

• Yesler-Atlantic Urban Renewal Project hearings, 1967: Event 81, Event 82, Event 83
• Pike Place Market hearings, 1969: Event 1, Event 93
• South Seattle Redevelopment Project hearing, 1965: Event 27   

Community Renewal Program Steering Team Audiotapes, Record Series 1642-14, 1965-1966

Law Department Correspondence, Record Series 4401-02, 1939-1977

• Boxes 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 31, 32, 35, 37, 40, 44, 47, 48

Records of the Office of the Mayor, Record Series 5210-01, 1956-1970

• Boxes 4, 8, 19, 34, 53, 73, 98, 99, 116, 127, 142, 151, 152

Condemnation Files, Record Series 4403-04, 1897-1981

• Boxes 46, 49, 56, 57

Legislative Records

The Office of the City Clerk holds over 1,200 legislative records related to the City's urban renewal program. Below is a list of selected legislation referenced in the exhibit.

Clerk File 191719, 1946. Petition of City Planning Commission for Enabling Act granting cities right of condemnation regarding redevelopment of blighted areas.

Clerk File 201144, 1948. City Planning Commission on the proposed State Enabling Act for redevelopment of blighted areas.

Clerk File 201282, 1949. Letter to Mayor Devin to A. M. Young re: proposed Urban Redevelopment Act for State of Washington.

Clerk File 229617, 1956. Petition of Jackson Street Community Council regarding Urban Renewal Program.

Resolution 17507, 1957. Relating to "blighted areas" as defined by the Urban Renewal Law and requesting the City Planning Commission to make a preliminary report and suggestions for a workable program for the City of Seattle.

Ordinance 86463, 1957. "Blighted areas" as defined by the Urban Renewal Law exist in the City of Seattle and that rehabilitation, redevelopment or a combination thereof is necessary. 

Ordinance 86767, 1957.  Providing for the formulation and coordination of a "workable program."

Ordinance 86463, 1957. Finding that "blighted areas" as defined by the Urban Renewal Law exist in the City of Seattle and that rehabilitation, redevelopment or a combination thereof is necessary.

Clerk File 233200, 1957. Report of City Planning Commission on blighted conditions in Seattle.

Clerk File 234924, 1958. Recommendation of Mayor Clinton for a full time program of urban renewal.

Ordinance 86856, 1958. Authorizing a contract with Talbot Wegg as Urban Renewal Coordinator.

Clerk File 236033, 1958. Petition of Seattle Urban Renewal Enterprise for City to declare area from 18th to 23rd Ave., Yesler Way to Cherry Street, a non-assisted conservation urban renewal project and request the Housing and Home Finance Agency to certify the area for FHA insurance, etc.

Ordinance 88069, 1959. Establishing a Minimum Housing Code.

Clerk File 236957, 1959. Petition of SURE for designation of area between Yesler Way, Empire Way, Lake Way and Rainier Ave. and 14th Ave. South, as a project for Urban Renewal.

Clerk File 237094, 1959. Petition of Jackson Street Community Council and residents of area from 14th and Yesler, to Empire Way, to Atlantic Street to 14th and Yesler, for declaration of this area as an urban renewal project.

Resolution 18043, 1959. Designating the Cherry Hill area as an Urban Renewal Conservation project area.

Resolution 18682, 1960. Approving an urban renewal plan for the Cherry Hill project area.

Ordinance 89201, 1960. Revised Minimum Housing Code.

Clerk File 245066, 1962. Recommendation of Mayor Clinton that City Council authorize submission of application to the Federal Government for assistant in preparing a Community Renewal Program.

Clerk File 245373, 1962. Community Renewal Program Application.

Resolution 19168, 1962. Authorizing an application to the proper agency of the Federal Government for a Community Renewal Program Grant.

Clerk File 248954, 1963. Exhibits for the Northlake Urban Renewal Project public hearing (includes letter from Mrs. William E. Cowling).

Clerk File 259022, 1967. Protest of Dwight S. Mitchell against Yesler - Atlantic Neighborhood Improvement Project (includes letter from Pearl Opie Brown).

Clerk File 253211, 1965. Approval of Allie B. McCall of Yesler-Atlantic Urban Renewal Project.

Clerk File 255079, 1966. Petition of Yesler - Atlantic Citizens' Conference, Inc., regarding Yesler-Atlantic Urban Renewal Project.

Clerk File 258412, 1967. Petition of Central Area Citizens' Committee (First A.M.E. Church), favoring the Yesler-Atlantic Urban Renewal Program (includes letter from Central Area Motivation Program).

Clerk File 255047, 1966. Petition of Central Area Community Council for a new Yesler - Atlantic Area Urban Renewal plan.

Resolution 32015, 2021. Regarding the impact of Seattle's Urban Renewal program in displacing Black community members from the Central Area; supporting community demands to fund quality affordable social housing to prevent and reverse displacement; and urging the Office of Housing to fund the affordable housing project proposed by New Hope Community Development Institute. 

Workable Programs filed with the City Clerk's Office:

Clerk File 234996, 1958

Clerk File 238284, 1959

Clerk File 241297, 1960

Clerk File 244144, 1961

Clerk File 244723, 1962

Clerk File 248168, 1963

Clerk File 251271, 1964

Clerk File 254203, 1965

Clerk File 259654, 1967

Clerk File 262460, 1968

Clerk File 264221, 1969

Clerk File 270760, 1971

Clerk File 277914, 1974  

Published Documents Collection, Series 1801-92

A full list of documents related to Seattle's urban renewal program is here. Below are documents sourced for the exhibit.

Document 1172: Overview of Seattle urban renewal, 1973

Document 3980: Yesler/Atlantic land disposition report, 1984

Document 4661: Background report on housing, population, and land-use in Seattle's Central Area, 1981

Document 4833: Urban renewal in Seattle / a study of group attitudes, 1966

Document 7243: A review of progress under the workable program for community improvement for the elimination and prevention of slums and blight in Seattle, Washington, 1967

Document 7350: Report of Planning Commission on proposed urban renewal act, 1954

Document 7639: Relocation in Seattle / helpful hints on moving your family, 1964

Document 7786: Data files for the Community Renewal Program / working paper no. 2, 1962

Document 7787: Urban blight studies / Community Renewal Program / working paper no. 3, 1962

Document 7788: Analysis of industrial land development for the Community Renewal Program / working paper no. 5, 1962

Document 7789: Analysis of commercial land development for the Community Renewal Program / working paper no. 6, 1962

Document 7790: Analysis of the Seattle housing market for the Community Renewal Program / working paper no. 7, 1962

Document 7791: Sociological studies for the Community Renewal Program / working paper no. 8, 1962

Document 7792: Urban design considerations in the Community Renewal Program / working paper no. 9, 1962

Document 7793: The role of the Mayor's Committee for the Community Renewal Program / working paper no. 10, 1962

Document 7794: Goals, techniques, scheduling and organization of the Community Renewal Program / working paper no. 1, 1962

Document 8562: Yesler-Atlantic neighborhood improvement project, 1967

Document 9669: Program audit of the Urban Renewal Program / City of Seattle, 1973

Visual Materials

Over 250 photos and over 30 maps relating to urban renewal have been digitized and are available on our Digital Collections site.

Moving Image 510: Paid campaign advertisements from the Re-Elect Mayor Clinton Committee: A series of one-minute "progress reports" from Mayor Clinton, 1959. The final segment relates to Urban Renewal (9:55).

Moving Image 2101: KOMO-TV documentary on 1971's Save the Market Initiative. Includes interviews with anti-initiative Central Park Plaza Association and other developers, and pro-initiative Friends of the Market.

SMA also holds records on Model Cities, Community Development Block Grants, the Housing Rehabilitation Program, and other programs related to urban renewal. Just ask an archivist!