By Gwen Davis

The Gathering of Neighbors meeting on Sat. provided an engaging opportunity for West Seattle residents to come together and collaborate in building a North Delridge Action Plan. In small group discussions, residents talked about the neighborhood’s strengths and struggles as well as worked towards creative solutions.

Taking place at the Youngtown Cultural Arts Center, the event involved four breakout sessions: land use, led by Delridge and Southwest District Councils’ Joint Land Use Committee; transportation, left by the West Seattle Transportation Coalition; public safety, led by West Seattle Blockwatch Captains and Seattle Neighborhood Group; and staying informed and getting connected. The event hosted diverse stakeholders across the neighborhood.

“We gathered here to discuss what we loved about our neighborhood,” said Michael Taylor-Judd, member of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition. “The intention is to get in-depth in these projects. We discussed who we are and why we are engaged in this. We talked about where we shop, where we play, where we gather and what’s missing in the neighborhood.”

There were surprises, Taylor-Judd said. “I feel like if you asked us five or ten years ago where we shopped, we’d say [we grocery shopped in West but now we are heading up the junction to Admiral. Seeking healthy food options is drawing us away from the neighborhood. People who have money and can afford it, make those choices. Most of us are driving to get our food.”

He also noted that this trend sheds light on how most people have cars and are affluent. It sends a message about the neighborhood, he said.

There are differences between the event on Sat. and the same event in past years. There were more entertainment opportunities in the past, but now there has been heavy social media campaigns which have attracted a slightly more diverse crowd.

Around 60 people attended the event.

“This event was great,” said Anthony Auriemma, legislative aid to Councilmember Tom Rasmussen. “It’s great that a lot of neighbors can come together to improve the neighborhood.”