community

Forty-eight years ago, the Japanese Consulate in Seattle presented the city with a gift to mark our nation’s 200th birthday. That gift, a thousand cherry trees, has been paying dividends each year ever since.

The start of spring may be the third week of March across the U.S., but Seattleites know the true beginning is when the cherry trees light up the city with their delicate pink blooms that put on a magical display for a few short weeks.

As February unfolds and we honor Black History Month, it is a good time to shed light on the aspects of history less discussed – history that persists in the shadows of progress. Here in the Seattle/King County area, and many parts of the U.S., persistent discrimination confronts Black Americans in many walks of life – including residential real estate.

Despite legislative strides, the echoes of bias continue to resonate through the decades, leaving a stark reminder of the long journey toward true equality.

Since the early years of Seattle’s development, discriminatory practices have been woven into the very fabric of the community. Redlining, a discriminatory practice that denied loans or insurance to certain neighborhoods based on racial composition, cast a long shadow for decades over Black communities and the residents chasing homeownership.

We are at a critical juncture in the evolution of Washington residential real estate. Innovation, equity and a realignment of ideals are taking shape.

Notably, 2024 marks the start of a transformative journey as the state addresses – like no other time in history – racial inequities within the housing sector. From untangling historical injustices to pioneering financial support, Washington is rewriting the important narrative of homeownership.

There is no better time to chart a more inclusive future as we celebrate the January birth of great civil-rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and prepare to mark Black History Month in February. Today, two crucial threads weave together an optimistic path of justice for all.

The delicate aroma of freshly brewed tea wafts through the air, enveloping the senses in a comforting embrace. As the warmth from the cup seeps into your hands, a soothing tranquility begins to settle within.

With each gentle sip, the rich infusion of flavor dances on your palate, creating a momentary escape from the chaos of the outside world. The rhythmic ritual of cradling the cup and savoring the tea’s essence becomes a meditative act, gradually coaxing the mind into a state of calm repose.

One might think that, in one of the fastest-growing U.S. cities, Historic Seattle would face overwhelming odds to achieve its mission of acquiring and rehabilitating properties amid a clamor from prospectors to redevelop aging edifices into multi-million-dollar structures of glass and steel.

Living in the Pacific Northwest, however, having respect for the past and a resourcefulness to creatively reimagine iconic places are hallmarks of this region’s identity. In many aspects of our community, we live and breathe the ideal of reuse and recycle.

For nearly a century, timepieces on buildings and sidewalks were important features for Seattleites who typically could not afford a pocket watch.

These necessities of everyday life helped people keep time – and some continue to do so today.

Ancient pine, elm, cedar and fir trees – even a stately redwood and sequoia – dot the pasture of green separated by ribbons of asphalt. The landscape is both high and hilly, discreet and decadant. Their occupants, each with their unique life stories, rest in peace at Seattle’s longest-running burial ground.