Capitol Hill Business Mitigation Plan Finalized with Sound Transit

SEATTLE - The Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce finalized a business mitigation agreement last week with Sound Transit that will provide funding for neighborhood marketing and business technical assistance during 6.5 years of light rail construction slated to begin later this year.

Included in the agreement is a dedicated Sound Transit Project Manager who will work closely with the Chamber managing the mitigation effort, promoting the technical assistance program and marketing efforts, and ensuring communication between Sound Transit and the Capitol Hill community during construction.

"This agreement reinforces Sound Transit's commitment to being a good neighbor as we work to bring light rail to Capitol Hill and the University of Washington," said Sound Transit Board Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "This project will carry thousands of riders to and from nCapitol Hill every day."

The agreement, covering the entire construction period, will be evaluated after the first 3 years to gauge the effectiveness of programs and allow for any needed changes.

"Our goal is to ensure that Broadway and all Capitol Hill business districts not only survive but thrive during this construction period," said Jack Hilovsky, executive director of the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce. "We hope to draw new visitors and businesses to the Hill through our marketing program, strengthen the capacity of existing merchants to enhance their bottom line while delivering superior service to our customers, and ease construction impacts during this period of great transition."

Seattle University and Seattle Central Community College are major partners in the project and developed the curricula for the business technical assistance plan, which will include business and retail consulting, and seminars in topics ranging from retail inventory management to website development.

The marketing effort and business technical assistance program will start in early 2009, coinciding with Sound Transit's demolition of 2 blocks on Broadway for tunneling and transit station construction.