University of Washington's Campus Master Plan Gets Pushback on Equity Issues

The Campaign For Responsible UW is hoping to push for additional changes to a finalized version of a master plan for the University of Washington's Seattle campus before the city can approve it.

1 minute read

July 13, 2017, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


University of Washington

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"The University of Washington (UW) released the final details of their campus master plan [earlier this month]," reports Owen Pickford, updating the draft plan and environment impact statement released in October 2016.

While the main purpose of the plan, to address expected growth of some 20 percent in the student, faculty, and administration population on campus, has not changed, Pickford reports that the plan is facing a "brewing controversy" over concerns about equity. A group called the Campaign For Responsible UW has released a critique of the campus master plan [pdf], which argues that the plan has shortcomings regarding transportation, housing, childcare, and open space.

"Now that the university has finalized the plan, it will go to the City of Seattle, specifically the Department of Construction and Inspections, for authorization, for review and recommendation. If the plan is approved by the City Council, it will guide what can be done within the area designated as a Major Institutional Overlay (MIO)," reports Pickford regarding the final steps of approval for the plan.

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