PAW Awards 2001

The 2001 APA/PAW Joint Planning Awards were presented September 25, 2001 during the luncheon at the annual Washington State APA FALL Planning Conference in Spokane. A panel of judges from across the state reviewed a strong field of applicants, all examples of excellent work in the field of planning.

The top Honor Award in the Physical Plans category went to the Downtown Enumclaw Enhancement Plan, prepared by Berryman and Henigar. The plan presented a well-organized and user-friendly vehicle for the improvement of the east King County town. Honorable Mention in the category went to another downtown revitalization project - this time in the eastern Washington City of Richland. The Downtown Revitalization Partnership Project submitted by the City of Richland, impressed the judges for its well-conceived approach of involving multiple partners in the City's effort to improve the older core of the downtown.

Receiving rave reviews was the winner in the Implementation category. An Honor Award was handed to the City of Federal Way’s "Sign Compliance in Federal Way". The judges were extremely impressed with the success this project has met. In Federal Way, nearly 500 non-conforming signs have been brought into conformance using a combination of enforcement, assistance to property owners, and monetary incentives.

Connecting the Visions: Harborview Medical Public Benefits Charettes was an Honor Award winner in the Citizen Involvement category. This ground breaking approach to defining public benefit for purposes of deciding whether local streets should be vacated, "set a new standard", according to one judge. The firm, NBBJ, prepared the project.

Two awards were given in the Student Projects category. A student team from the University of Washington earned the Honor award for Jovida Heights Subarea Report; Exploring Neighborhood Potentials. The judges felt that it was a "great analysis" followed by "excellent solutions". The Honorable Mention award went to Shaping Stories: Studies Supporting Corridor Management Plan for SR 17 and 115. This project continued what is becoming a tradition at Eastern Washington University - submitting projects with a unique and fresh approach to planning. The judges appreciated the plan’s use of "stories" as a means of passing-on an understanding of the character and feel of the human and physical face of the planning area discussed.

Judges included Kurt Danison of the Okanogan region’s Highlands Associates; Amy Tousley of Puget Sound Energy; Julia Walton from ARAI/Jackson Architects, and Bob Sokol, Planning Director at the City of Kenmore. Ultimately, they choose six winners in four categories.

Congratulations to all the winners and all of the other excellent projects that were submitted this year! Questions? Contact Paul Rogerson, AICP, PRogerson@co.grays-harbor.wa.us, 360-249-4222 or Lloyd Skinner, AICP, lskinner@adolfson.com, 206- 789-9658.