Community Begins Here
At the Phinney Neighborhood Center, we’ve always been dedicated to helping community members connect in meaningful ways.
The many programs and services at the Center build community by enabling people to gather, learn, and make new friends. Yet, as our city continues its dramatic growth, places that have brought us together are quickly disappearing.
That’s why we’re committed to our Community Begins Here Capital Campaign. The Campaign provides for the purchase and preservation of a neighborhood landmark and ensures its ability to serve our extended community for generations to come.
In addition to securing ownership of the Phinney Neighborhood Center property, the Campaign addresses improved accessibility, enhanced gathering spaces, and updated systems for safety and security throughout the site. In keeping with our values of environmental stewardship, we’ve embraced a new initiative that challenges us to make all of these improvements at the highest level of sustainability possible.
With a goal of $12 million, our vision is to create a living, sustainable, enduring space that allows people of all ages and abilities to gather together and share their lives, ideas and experiences, creating a sense of belonging and a deeper commitment to our community.
We are connecting with people who share our vision and hope you'll become a partner in this effort to create a great future for the Phinney neighborhood Center and for our community.
John Smith, Campaign Chair
Neighborhood Spotlight
Dixie Rae has lived in the Phinney neighborhood all of her life, graduating from the John B. Allen School in 1942 and raising her family here. Her son, Richard, attended Allen as well and she and her husband Bill were among the first PNA members. Today you’ll find Dixie here volunteering regularly at the PNA’s Greenwood Senior Center.
Campaign News
In July 2010, the advisory board of the Washington State Historical Society recommended full funding for a $1 million grant request we submitted. The request still needs approval from the Washington State Legislature and the Governor but this recommendation is very good news! Final decisions won't be made until spring 2011.
CHALLENGE GRANT! Earlier this year, an anonymous donor pledged a gift of $100,000 from his family foundation if we could raise $50,000 by the end of June. WE DID IT! Thank you to all of our Challenge Donors.
The brick building roof has been repaired. The roof is the original slate that dates from 1917. We were able to re-use 70% of the existing slate, in effect “mining” Vermont slate in Seattle, and reinstalled each tile with new copper nails.
Work has begun on reducing the Phinney Neighborhood Center's energy and water use through our commitment to the Living Building and Site challenge. We insulated the exterior walls of the Blue Building and are developing a plan for new "smart" lighting that would be highly energy efficent and sense the light level outside and modify their output.
The Phinney Neighborhood Association now owns the Phinney Neighborhood Center site. Thank you to the City of Seattle and the State of Washington for providing the funding for the purchase.
Neighborhood Spotlight