Seattle should create center for living and learning

Neal Pierce’s Jan. 27 column, “The value of multigenerational cities” [Opinion] and a March 6 New York Times article on a project in Newark that links living and learning with affordable housing for teachers, made me think about how we might respond to recurring downtown needs.

As a partial solution to street crime and the challenge of affordable housing for middle-income community members, has the city considered a state-of-the-art center for living and learning with affordable housing for teachers and seniors, a day care, a P-12 school, a senior center, and possibly retail in the urban core?

We already have a wonderful library, art museum, aquarium, science center and waterfront park. Such a center could contribute to a stable multigenerational population of residents who enjoy the heart of the city, day and night. It might also showcase Seattle’s commitment to innovative and community-minded urban development.

--Margery B. Ginsberg, Seattle