The meeting, held on the anniversary of the organization's inception, took place at the People Of Color Against Aids Network (POCAAN) office on Rainier Avenue South. The gathering served as a platform for members to address neighborhood concerns, discuss progress since last year's meeting and to organize goals for 2008. In addition to the meeting, the group held its first ever Heritage Neighbor Award ceremony honoring six distinguished business owners and leaders for their community support.
"The most important things that came out of last year's town hall meeting were community building and physical improvements," said Denise Gloster, HCBA president and founder. "It really seems to me that the other things people are interested in, like crime prevention and public safety, will all come as we do more community building."
In 2007, such efforts by the HCBA seemed to pay off. Last year the HCBA, along with the HCNA, held numerous neighborhood events, including a centennial celebration, a time capsule project and party, a National Night Out Against Crime in Hillman City central, clean up efforts and safety walks. The group also focused efforts on physical improvements in the neighborhood and business areas, public safety, marketing and outreach.
"We realized at some point in 2005 that the only way anything was going to change in Hillman City was if we became organized," said Gloster. "The Hillman City Business Association was organized because we want a share of the resources. It's not so much that we want to be independent or be like Columbia City, we're different. We just want to have places to eat and crosswalks and traffic lights so that people can cross the street safely."
Establishing such a business and community environment is the HCBA's primary goal for 2008, and at the top of the group's list is to secure funding for Project No. Rainier 16. The city proposition would add urban design elements like curb extensions, cross streets and street improvements to enhance Hillman City's business district and improve the neighborhood's pedestrian environment.
Gloster started campaigning for the project in December by sending letters to Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and said she feels optimistic about its potential.
"SDOT (Seattle Department of Transportation) has seen the letter and they've started looking at the feasibility of the project," Gloster said. "We don't need a study or a plan; we need implementation. We don't need to talk about it too much; we just need to build."
But securing funds for building such a project can be difficult.
"There's still a lot of questions about funding and making sure it gets into the budget," said Glenn Harris, Southeast District coordinator for the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. "The city is taking a strong look at it, but the folks [in Hillman City] have to keep pushing because funding projects is very competitive."
Gloster encouraged everyone at the meeting to get involved by writing letters, making phone calls, and sending emails to show support for Project No. Rainier 16. To that end, a steering committee was created at the meeting to organize the outreach efforts and to generate greater momentum and neighborhood support for the project.
Neighborhood safety was also addressed during the meeting.
"It's important for people to feel safe so when they get off the bus they don't have to watch their back while walking down the street," said Samba Ceesey, owner of the Rainier Beauty Supply.
In addition, the town hall meeting served as an awards ceremony to highlight the hard work and dedication of six community leaders.
Awards were given to Jean VelDyke, owner of Jean VelDyke Properties; Rudy Hansen owner of Rudy's Auto Service; Kay Godefroy, founder and executive director of the Seattle Neighborhood Group; Veronica Pugh, also with the Seattle Neighborhood Group; Mikala Woodward, executive director of the Rainier Valley Historical Society and Paul Olver, pastor at the Rainier Avenue Church.
"With the smallness of our group, we've accomplished a lot," Olver said. "Any grass roots initiative requires a couple of individuals to lead and organize, and we've done a great job of bringing people together."
"It's been only two years, and we've come a long way," said Brian Lettich, local business owner and HCBA secretary. "I'd like to see more businesses involved. We want the people who live and work here to take ownership and get involved with the growth and shape of the neighborhood. I'd like to see these projects go though and help build momentum."
That momentum appears to be catching according Sita DeGiulio Das of the Seattle Neighborhood Group.
"Every [HCBA] meeting there are new members and it's extremely impressive and representational of the neighborhood and that's not something I see in every neighborhood," she said.
The HCBA will hold its next general meeting on March 5 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Rainier Avenue Church, 5900 Rainier Ave. S.
Beacon Hill writer and photographer Peter Kearns may be reached via editor@sdistrictjournal.com.[[In-content Ad]]