Sustainable Seattle has been a leader in the creation, use, and application of neighborhood-level sustainability indicators. Building from our past experience on the Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods Initiative (SUNI), we launched the NABRS (Neighbors Acting to Build Resiliency and Sustainability) program in 2009. In the Spring of 2009, we began the pilot round of NABRS, supported by a small grant from the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. The two neighborhoods selected for this pilot project are Rainier Beach and North Greenlake/Greenwood. There are two parts to the project: the creation of a neighborhood sustainability scorecard and the facilitation of a neighborhood action project.

Phase 1: Sustainability Scorecards

Phase 1 began in April 2009, when Sustainable Seattle gathered data experts, members of government and local non-profits, and neighborhood residents together to select a core set of 20 indicators to be used for the neighborhood Sustainability Scorecards. From a list of nearly 100 potential indicators, the 40 workshop participants selected about 20 indicators, ranging from Habitat and Resource Consumption to Affordable Housing and High School Graduation Rates. To view a report about this workshop, please email ed@sustainableseattle.org with the subject "NABRS April Workshop" in the heading.

After the workshop, Sustainable Seattle staff and volunteers spent several months collecting data for each neighborhood scorecard. Data contributors included the city of Seattle, King County, and various non-profits.  Sustainable Seattle also collaborated with local neighborhood leaders to collect primary data for topics that do not have good existing data, like food production and community involvement.

Please view the final Rainier Beach Sustainability Scorecard here.

Please view the final north Green Lake Sustainability Scorecard here.

Phase 2: Neighborhood Action Projects

Phase 2 of the pilot NABRS program began in fall 2009 when neighborhood leaders in Rainier Beach and north Green Lake used the Sustainability Scorecards to identify and inform a neighborhood-level action project. Each neighborhood received $1,500 (from a city of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods grant) to fund their project.

In North Green Lake, the neighborhood has chosen to make improvements to the pedestrian environment along Aurora Avenue for their action project. Currently, the street is dominated by automobiles, lacking in pedestrian amenities and neighborhood destinations, and has many empty storefronts that detract from the incentive to walk along Aurora Avenue. Inspired by a similar successful initiative in Columbia City, local project leaders believe the installation of community art, including murals by local artists and artwork created by Bagley elementary students, on vacant storefront windows along the highway will make this area more attractive. The hope for Aurora, as demonstrated in Colombia City, is that the murals will attract new storeowners to the street, resulting in a stronger business district with more gathering places and stores selling goods.  The improved Aurora Avenue will be attractive to visitors arriving by foot or bicycle. Several scorecard indicators were identified in the development of this project to address community needs including Walkability, Neighborhood Gathering Places, Strength and Diversity of Neighborhood Economy, Arts and Safety.

In Rainier Beach, neighborhood leaders initiated an Efficient Energy Outreach Program (EEOP). The Efficient Energy Outreach Program (EEOP) is a young adult (ages 14-19) development project where energy efficiency audits are undertaken.  EEOP creates safe times/spaces for young adults of the Rainier Valley to learn about the green economy and develop mutually beneficial relationships with local merchants. Several scorecard indicators were identified in the development of this project to address community needs including involvement in Community Building Activities, Carbon Emissions, and Electrical Energy Use. Check out our youtube to hear more about this project.

Young adults attending Rainier Beach and Cleveland High Schools and local businesses are the targets for the Efficient Energy Outreach Program. The goals of the program are to:

1. Engage young adults to initiate discussions with local business about available energy conservation opportunities and funding;
2. Navigate language and trust barriers that may have precluded previous participation in available energy conservation programs;
3. Improve social cohesion between young adults and business owners in the Rainier Valley.