The Rainier Valley is a sprawling area of Southeast Seattle where the future of equitable development relies on strategic, culturally-appropriate policies and thoughtful action for improving the quality of life of residents in the changing economic landscape. The QBL framework facilitates a critical analysis and reflection on current efforts in community economic development and provides integrated insights into potential solutions for existing challenges.
Social Equity
Social equity in community economic development includes access to affordable housing as well as other indicators highlighting the improvement in the standard of living for all residents. According to the 2010 Census, the Rainier Valley is one of the most diverse zip codes in the entire nation, which is not surprising upon learning that people of color inhabit areas outside the City of Seattle at higher rates than inside the City limits. Unfortunately, those outside the City are also more vulnerable to
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Planning around the light rail stations facilitated the emergence of new business clusters, most notably around the Othello station, and other developments that prioritize walkability from transit to local businesses. However, there is a gap between the idealized future of the Rainier Valley and the current day-to-day challenges faced by the population. The lack of “whole systems thinking” was evident in driving around the expansive, residential-focused NewHolly development, which still requires automobile transport to connect to retail and commercial spaces, as well as in the distance from the SEED mixed-use community to the Mount Baker light rail station that also includes an substantial elevation grade and absence of proper path lighting, making walking unsafe for nearby