Common Ground: Building A Better Seattle Through an Improved Democratization of The City’s Design Review Process

Abstract

The city of Seattle has been one of the fastest growing cities in the US for many years. This growth has led to a need for increased urban density. Demolition and construction has been a way to accommodate the population surge, but many citizens voice concern over the changing fabric of their neighborhoods. Studies in environmental and social psychology have discovered that the sooner citizens are engaged within the development process of new and buildings, the likelier they are to view it as a positive change. Common Ground is a platform for citizens, city planners, and design review board members to engage each other early on in the architectural development process through the city’s ‘Design Review Process’.