Do We Need a Big Box Store on Capitol Hill?

For Immediate Release May 13, 2011

Media Contact Michael Seiwerath Office: 206.204.3840 [email protected]

Do We Need A Big Box Store on Capitol Hill? A panel discussion for Capitol Hill Housing’s Annual Report to the Community

Every Saturday morning urban residents wake up and drive to affordable shopping at a Target or Ikea. How can we build strong neighborhoods where residents can walk to the goods and services they need? How does a neighborhood like Capitol Hill balance the desire for locally owned businesses with the affordability of chain retail?

Each year at Capitol Hill Housing’s Annual Report to the Community a topical neighborhood issue is discussed. This May, the conversation focuses on the mix of businesses that make a community thrive. Four experts will discuss what Capitol Hill needs, and other models that have worked around the nation.

The panel of developers, retail experts, small business owners, and community members will be moderated by C.R. Douglas, host of Seattle Inside/Out. Dana Behar is President and CEO, HAL Real Estate, who brokered the sale of a downtown Seattle space to Target. Target is opening one of its first urban stores at Second and Pike in 2012. Jon Milazzo is the owner of Retrofit Home, an independent business in the Pike/Pine neighborhood specializing in contemporary furnishings. Michael Wells, Executive Director of the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, represents 170 members and works for a strong commercial district. The former owner of Bailey Coy Books, he ran small business on Broadway for years. Kelly Kost is Retail Strategist at Downtown Works. Kelly has worked in nearly a dozen American cities, advising downtowns and neighborhoods on what makes retail work.

EVENT DETAILS

1406 10th avenue – suite 101 T 206 329-7303

seattle, WA 98122 F 206 329-1857

www.capitolhillhousing.org Do we need a big box store on Capitol Hill? 4 experts talk about how retail makes walkable neighborhoods work

Capitol Hill Housing’s Annual Report to the Community

Monday, May 23rd, 2011 5pm Doors 5:30pm Panel Discussion 7pm Reception

Seattle Academy Arts Center Theater 1100 12th Avenue, Seattle

Panelists Dana Behar, President and CEO, HAL Real Estate Michael Wells, Executive Director, Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce Jon Milazzo, Owner, Retrofit Home Kelly Kost, Retail Strategist, Downtown Works C.R. Douglas, host of Seattle Inside/Out will moderate.

Free and open to the public. Space is limited. Please RSVP to [email protected] or 206- 204-3842. This event is produced by the Capitol Hill Housing Foundation.

ABOUT CAPITOL HILL HOUSING: Capitol Hill Housing provides affordable housing and leads community development efforts— helping families, immigrants and the recently homeless. Based in Capitol Hill, we have properties in nine Seattle neighborhoods. Since 1976, we have served low and moderate income residents and worked to improve the Capitol Hill neighborhood for all.

CHH helps people of limited means have a home. We provide a secure, affordable home to more than 1,600 people each night, including hundreds of children. We place a special focus on affordable housing for families. In neighborhoods where two and three bedroom homes are rare, CHH works to develop new large apartments.

Many CHH residents come from a situation of poverty. Our residents include single parents and their children, senior citizens bankrupted by medical bills, and refugee families escaping political strife. Living in a CHH apartment allows them to afford other necessities such as food, transportation and healthcare. Hundreds of our neighbors across the city have an affordable home because of Capitol Hill Housing.

Our Community Development work focuses on transit oriented development, preservation of historic buildings, creating walkable neighborhoods and supporting a thriving commerical district on Capitol Hill. We strive to impact specific households we serve as well as the entire community. CHH currently owns and operates 42 buildings across Seattle, including historic Seattle apartments and new, award-winning projects. We are proud to develop buildings in a community context and provide affordable homes that strengthen the neighborhoods we live in.