Governor Gregoire Announces 2007 Smart Communities Awards

For Immediate Release: September 26, 2007

Eight communities recognized for outstanding achievements in community development

OLYMPIA � Governor Chris Gregoire today announced the winners of the 2007 Governor�s Smart Communities Awards. The awards will be presented this evening at an Olympia reception honoring nine winners from among 20 nominees for creating livable communities.

�As Washington works to position itself in the global economy, the work of local governments and their partners to create vibrant, quality communities is vital to our success,� said Governor Gregoire. �The leadership of these award winners helps to make Washington a great state in which to live and do business.�

Winners include: the cities of Everett, SeaTac, Oak Harbor, Seattle, Bothell and Bellevue, and merit awards were given to Stevens County and the Seattle and Tacoma housing authorities.

�The Smart Communities award winners reflect the wide variety of efforts that make up effective growth management planning,� said Juli Wilkerson, director of the Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED). �Communities can move forward when good, collaborative work like this is accomplished.�

Washington�s comprehensive Growth Management Act has been in place for 16 years. It offers tools to local communities to help determine how to achieve a vision for the future.

Wilkerson said she was pleased that the judges gave special Merit Awards to two neighborhood redevelopment projects that offer affordable housing. �High Point in Seattle and Salishan in Tacoma demonstrate that progress can be made in revitalizing declining neighborhoods.�

"An impressive body of work by 19 communities was nominated for the Governor's Smart Communities Awards," said Leonard Bauer, managing director of the Growth Management Services unit for CTED. "The plans and projects include some of the best recent examples of creativity and innovation in developing livable communities."

2007 Smart Communities Awards

Smart Vision Award � Comprehensive Planning
City of SeaTac � Airport Station Area Action Plan and South 154th Street Station Area Action Plan
City of Everett � Downtown Subarea Plan

Smart Choices Award � Implementation of a Comprehensive Plan
City of Bellevue � Neighborhood Investment Strategy
City of Bothell � Capital Facilities Plan

Smart Partnerships Award � Development Project to Implement a Plan
City of Seattle � Broadway Crossing, a Public/Private Development Project
City of Oak Harbor � Fort Nugent Park Community Built Playground

Judges� Merit Award
Seattle Housing Authority � West Seattle�s New High Point Neighborhood
Tacoma Housing Authority � Salishan HOPE VI Redevelopment Project
Stevens County � Public Participation for the Stevens County Comprehensive Plan

2007 Nominees
City of Bellevue � Neighborhood Investment Strategy
City of Colfax � New Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Following Large Annexation
City of Bothell � Capital Facilities Plan
City of Everett � Downtown Subarea Plan
City of Liberty Lake � Liberty Village: Specific Area Plan Overlay and Neotraditional Development Project
City of Mill Creek � Town Center Plan
City of Mountlake Terrace � Town Center Plan
City of Oak Harbor � Fort Nugent Park Community Built Playground
City of Oak Harbor � Windjammer Plan: Waterfront Redevelopment and Branding and Marketing Program
City of Port Townsend � Shoreline Master Program
City of SeaTac � Airport Station Area Action Plan and South 154th Street Station Area Action Plan
City of Sammamish � Critical Areas Ordinance Update
City of Seattle � Broadway Crossing, a Public/Private Development Project
City of Tacoma � Critical Areas Ordinance Update
City of Yelm � Transportation Planning and Enhancements
City of Washougal � Town Center Zoning and Design Standards
Seattle Housing Authority � West Seattle�s New High Point Neighborhood
Stevens County � Public Participation for the Stevens County Comprehensive Plan
Tacoma Housing Authority � Salishan HOPE VI Redevelopment Project

###

For more information on the Smart Communities Awards or the Growth Management Act, visit www.cted.wa.gov/growth. Click on �What�s New� for information on the awards program.