Welcome to the Ballard District Council


The Ballard District Council was formed to

  • create a powerful and yet representative voice from the Ballard community
  • encourage the many diverse interests in Ballard to find each other and work together for community improvement
  • create an organization of representatives; the BDC believes that the "whole" is greater and more powerful than the "sum of its parts"
  • support and strengthen existing community organizations and encourage new efforts to create opportunities for civic involvement
  • seek out, develop or strengthen civic leadership
  • insist that city government and other government jurisdictions affecting Ballard are accountable to the Ballard district

Seattle is composed of 13 neighborhood districts including Ballard. The neighborhood district system was created by City Ordinance in 1988. Each of the 13 districts has a district council composed of representatives from community organizations within that district. Each council is supported by a District Coordinator from the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. The Ballard District Council is composed of reps from 25 member organizations. These include reps from business organizations, community associations, school-based groups, and a host of special topic organizations such as the Ballard Historical Society, Groundswell NW, and others. Three political party organizations in the 36th Legislative District are represented.

The Ballard District Council advises the city about budget priorities and city policies; especially those most significant to this community. Past issues addressed by the Ballard Council include

  1. future development of Terminal 91
  2. replacing the Alaska Way Viaduct
  3. promoting public and private investment in accordance with the Crown Hill/Ballard Neighborhood Plan adopted in 1998
  4. provide guidance to major private and public development proposed within the Ballard district

BDC provides a town hall style forum where all from the Ballard district are welcomed to attend and participate. Ballard District Council meetings are on occasion when different and sometimes opposing points of view gather as neighbors and work together on a first name basis. Ballard DC believes that all points of view are important whether they be by well-informed and experienced civic leaders, by those who have more recently joined this community or are learning the ropes on how things get done. This includes those who are inclined to shun traditional community organizations. Ballard DC respects and promotes this community’s cultural heritage. At the same time, the Ballard District Council is not a "NIMBY" force resistant to growth or change. Although the Ballard DC must take formal actions through its established structure of member organization reps; anyone with an interest in this part of the city is encouraged to participate at general meetings, serve on project or topical committees, or otherwise be part of civic leadership.

For more information contact City of Seattle Ballard District Coordinator Rob Mattson at 206-684-4060 or rob.mattson@seattle.gov