Here are a few things FHIA does to make First Hill a great place for everyone.
Terry Avenue Vision Process and Site Development Plan
First Hill has long been identified as a high-priority neighborhood for open space. The 1998 neighborhood plan recognized the need to improve existing transportation infrastructure for car, bus, bike, and pedestrian travel on First Hill and the need to increase the amount of open space. Both the 2000 Pro Parks Levy and the 2008 Parks and Open Space Levy identified First Hill as a priority area for development of a neighborhood park and funds were allocated for land acquisition. In 2005, a “First Hill Urban Village Park Plan” was developed to offer strategic approach for identifying potential sites for a new park through the Pro Park Levy acquisition project. Despite significant efforts in securing an appropriate site(s) for park use, land acquisition has proven challenging and the Levy money remains unspent. A new approach has been taken to consider street right of way as a means to achieve not only connectivity, but also park space that serves the working and residential populations of First Hill.
The First Hill Public Realm Action Plan (PRAP) was finalized in 2015 with the goal of expanding the total area of public space through right-of-way reallocation, private development partnerships and site acquisition for open space. The Public Realm Action Plan includes the development of near-term implementation strategies to expand the public space network through right of way reallocation, private development partnership and strategic site selection for potential acquisition. The Public Realm Action Plan has identified key streets to be developed into street concept plans for adoption into the Right of Way Improvement Manual.
The Terry Avenue Concept Plan, as identified in the PRAP, seeks to create 40,000 square feet of new open space along Terry Avenue by creating a pedestrian-priority street from Spring to Terrace Streets. Incremental development of the Terry Avenue pedestrian priority has been identified by the community and adopted into Seattle’s Right-of-Way Improvement Manual. On just three blocks of Terry Avenue, over 1,100 additional residential units are being constructed. This rapid growth provides opportunities to leverage private development and meet our community’s critical public open space needs through the implementation of the Terry Avenue Concept Plan.
In 2018, FHIA secured $4 million from the City Council- approved Community Benefits Package to create a promenade on Terry Avenue between Cherry and Marion Streets. The Community Benefits Package funding for this project will be managed by Seattle Department of Transportation. The design and community engagement for this project will be managed by FHIA.
Through a generous donation from a First Hill resident, First Hill Improvement Association engaged with David Yeaworth of Catalyst Strategies to convene a Steering Committee for Terry Avenue in the fall of 2018. Through support from David, FHIA engaged representatives from St. James Cathedral, O’Dea Highschool, Skyline Senior Living Community, Old Colony Condominiums, Westbank (707 Terry), Frye Art Museum, and Bloodworks to strategize, pose questions and plan for the future of Terry Avenue.
In 2019, FHIA secured funding through The Department of Neighborhoods Neighborhood Matching Fund for community engagement and a 30% architectural design this project. Through an RFQ process, FHIA has selected Berger Partnership to create the design and lead the engagement with the First Hill Community. This process began in January 2020.
The Terry Avenue Vision Process and Site Development Plan is a community visioning and concept design process for the design of Terry Avenue between Cherry and Marion Streets. Building upon work completed through the 2015 First Hill Public Realm Action Plan (PRAP), the community-driven design will serve as a catalyst and template for the overall redesign of Terry Avenue.
FHIA is grateful for the support from the Department of Neighborhood's Neighborhood Matching Fund to engage this process.
Georgia Gerber Selected for sculpture in First Hill Park
Georgia Gerber, well known for the iconic Rachel the Pig at Pike Place Market, as well as many bronze sculptures located in and around Puget Sound, has been contracted by First Hill Improvement Association to create a sculpture for First Hill Park. Historically, the neighboring Stimson-Green Mansion was home to two orphaned black bear cubs, which is the inspiration for this sculpture. Around 1910, a logger came to the front door of the Stimson-Green Mansion, holding a baby bear in each hand. Raised in the mansion until they were about 10 months old, the bear cubs were considered to be pets of the Bullitt family.
First Hill Improvement Association (FHIA) created a national call for artists, received over fifty submissions and selected Georgia Gerber’s concept for her playful interpretation of the bear cubs. A Northwest artist, Georgia has operated her own studio and foundry on Whidbey Island for over 30 years. Primarily working with life size animal and human figures, Georgia often incorporates architectural or abstract elements into her designs. Georgia’s creations emphasize accessible public artwork that encourages viewer interaction.
Georgia has already begun work on preliminary models, telling the selection committee, “Seldom do opportunities such as this come along that so wholly incorporate those aspects of public art that I find most important and inspiring as an artist. I look forward to bringing to life the story of these bear cubs in a way that will enhance the park and delight the community for generations to come.”
For the past two years, FHIA has engaged the community to reimagine and update First Hill Park, located immediately north of the Stimson-Green Mansion. FHIA secured grant funding from the Department of Neighborhoods and hired landscape architects at SiteWorkshop to guide First Hill through a neighborhood visioning and design process. The design is now complete, and construction is set to begin late Spring of 2019. Funding of the park has been enabled through commitments from Seattle Parks & Recreation and Swedish Medical Center. FHIA has also received generous donations for the sculpture and is actively seeking the balance from local individuals, organizations and foundations.
first hill Park
First Hill Park is one of the neighborhood's few park spaces. At .25 acres, the park is a contemplative green space frequented by residents and workers, with few activating amenities. The First Hill Improvement Association heard loud and clear that neighbors wished for an update to the park to provide more opportunities to relax and play n this neighborhood jewelbox. FHIA secured grant funding from the Department of Neighborhoods and hired landscape architects at SiteWorkshop to guide First Hill through a neighborhood visioning and design process. You can read the full report from that process. Funding for the redevelopment was secured through Swedish Medical Center’s Expansion and Seattle’s Parks and Recreation. Construction for the redevelopment of First Hill Park is set to be complete in Summer of 2020.
Photo courtesy of Alex Garland
Interstate 5 columns artwork - Sunlight over first hill
The First Hill Improvement Association received a grant to beautify the 72 columns under Interstate 5 between James Street and Cherry Street. This area is a prominent vehicular and pedestrian gateway to First Hill, but suffered from a drab concrete grayscape. FHIA undertook a public art selection process to hire a designer, and received over 3,000 votes from around the city, ultimately selecting local artist Nathan Watkins and his design, Sunlight Over First Hill. We partnered with local art non-profit Urban Artworks to manage installation, which took over 1,000 hours! We are grateful to the Only In Seattle program from the funding to make this entrance to First Hill as welcoming as the people who live here.
Image courtesy of registryps.com
Park to Park Path
First Hill remains short of our parks and public open space goals by several acres, making every square foot of the public realm an important part of creating a healthy, green, and lush environment for all. FHIA is proposing a 1.5 mile urban walking path to connect the existing 5.2 acre Freeway Park to the soon to be completed 1.7 acre Yesler Terrace Park. The Park to Park Path connects these important park spaces along our neighborhood greenways of Terry and 8th Avenues, creating a beautiful and safe walking route supported by amenities such as Free Little Libraries, public art installations, and benches. FHIA continues to advocate and plan for capitol improvements along this pathway including pedestrian-priority streets, safe cross-walks and curbs, sidewalk improvements, wayfinding, and lighting.
Download the map and take the walk, and then let us know your ideas for improvements along this trail!
Little free libraries
The First Hill Improvement Association acquired two Little Free Libraries and worked with property owners throughout First Hill to have them installed in our neighborhood, providing enrichment, building community, and supporting literacy in First Hill. The libraries were the first ones in our zip codes, providing that these delightful amenities can exist in a dense urban neighborhood. The libraries are located at:
Terry Ave and Jefferson Street (Harborview Medical Center)
Terry Ave between University and Union Streets (Horizon House)
Signal box Artwork
The First Hill Improvement Association acquired funding to install original artworks inspired by the neighborhood on all signal boxes at intersections throughout First Hill. As part of the supplementary amenities of the Park to Park Path these artworks assist in cultural placemaking, sense of neighborhood identity and cohesion, and provide additional wayfinding. Signal box installations can be found at locations throughout First Hill.
first hill: second to none
This film series highlights the people, places, and businesses that make First Hill a rich and vibrant place.
The First Hill Improvement Association commissioned these films to help tell the some of the stories of the people who call this community home. First Hill: Second to None debuted at FHIA's annual Valentine's Day Party.
Community Events
The First Hill Improvement Association is dedicated to building community and increasing safety through a robust calendar of community events for all to enjoy. Our summer event series include neighborhood dog shows, outdoor reading parties, tree walks, pop-up petting zoos, outdoor movie nights, and an outdoor bingo nights. You can read the full reports from past summer event series below!