Residents of Westwood Heights, diverse in age, race, and income level, celebrated 24th annual National Night Out recently with a barbeque, steel drum one-man-band, and children's bicycle parade. Community leaders, and a resident, gave speeches touting the achievements of that neighborhoods seven-year revitalization project, located on 27th Avenue Southwest between Roxbury and Cambridge avenues Southwest.

Once a crime-ridden drug den, the area is now safe and tidy. The Seattle Housing Authority, Washington State Housing Trust Fund, and Housing and Urban Development with its $17 million donation, partnered with the Lutheran Alliance to Create Housing, and Quantum Management to make the transformation happen, and give the block something to party about.

According to National Night Out's website, their block parties are "an excellent way to become familiar with one another or to welcome a newcomer into the neighborhood. When neighbors become concerned, a strong message of unity is present and aids in thwarting crime. Crime prevention starts with the general public being active in and aware of the environment that they choose to live in."

Tom Tierney, director, Seattle Housing Authority, hosted the speeches.

"This place was beset by crime," Tierney said. "People didn't have a sense of community. Look at you all gathered here for a barbeque. Congratulations! Today is a day of thanks. Our mission is to help create community. This will be only one of many barbeques here."

Westwood Heights resident Claudia Hinton told the crowd of about 50 she felt fortunate to live on 27th Avenue.

"I sit up on the fifth floor and listen to children playing and laughing on the street," she said. "We have a choice and need to take care of this wonderful place that so many spent time and money to create."

Doug Repman is president of Quantum, coordinated management of the property with the Lutheran Alliance to Create Housing.

"This really is a great day, and symbolic to me," he said to a group of residents waiting in line for hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon, and chocolate chip cookies. "Today this neighborhood is declaring victory over drug dealers. Cars would be set on fire at the curb of 27th and Cambridge. We got that thing cleaned up, and many evictions. Every day there was drug dealing by that fire hydrant." He pointed about eighty feet from his podium, and continued, "I wrote them a letter to say 'I think you are drug-dealers. Let's talk.' They thought I was crazy. One guy was wanted for murder, so the police raided his building, and that tenant returned his keys. Another drug dealer used his 13 year-old daughter to ride her bicycle up and down street to sell drugs. Now this neighborhood is clean and safe."

Amy Ortiz is a site coordinator and resident at Westwood Heights. Neighbors, mostly children, followed her around as she mingled with officials and organizers. Why is she so popular?

"I guess because I'm always laughing," chirped Amy. "This is a paying job, but more important, I feel this is all my family. I lived in these projects before, when it was very scary. I locked myself in the house."

She returned in 2002 once rehab was complete.

"Now it's chit-chatting over the fence with the neighbors."

Steve Shay may be reached via wseditor@robinsonnews.com