Dear Neighbors:
Below is one last update for this year, along with a request for you to respond and let us know your interest in this issue going forward.
On September 19, the City Council’s Select Committee voted 9–0 to approve the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan and related legislation. The proposed Whittier Neighborhood Center — with the updated boundaries released in May — was included in the plan approved by the committee, despite many community concerns.
Additional information and ongoing status updates on the Plan can be found on the City Council website here: https://seattle.gov/council/topics/2025-comprehensive-plan
The City is still completing the environmental review required before the full Council can take the final vote, and the timing for that vote has not yet been announced.
Phase 2 of the Comprehensive Plan, which includes rezoning the properties within the Whittier Neighborhood Center, is expected to begin in early 2026.
Councilmember Dan Strauss continues to support upzoning our neighborhood for tall multifamily buildings, and to date has declined to substantively address the concerns raised by community members. He has informed us that he will be doing outreach related to rezoning specifics next year, so the next steps for concerned neighbors will be to participate in that process.
If you’re still concerned about upzoning and its impacts on our Whittier neighborhood, please email whittierzoning@gmail.com and let us know you’d like to stay involved. This group will continue its advocacy efforts if there’s enough community interest and participation. We really need to hear from you to inform future efforts!
Thanks,
- Friends of Whittier Heights
whittierzoning@gmail.com