Design Review - Boards & Staff
Boards
The city is divided into eight geographic districts. Each district has its own designated Design Review Board, made up of volunteer members who are appointed by the Mayor and City Council. The 5 seats on each board represent the following interests: 1 design seat, 2 community / residential seats, 1 development seat, and 1 business / landscape design seat.
Board Members by District
Quanlin Hu
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Quanlin is a Project Manager at SRM Development where she manages the development phases of affordable and market-rate multifamily and mixed-use projects. She is additionally the owner and principal of consulting firm PlanReal Partners. Quanlin has over 15 years of planning and development experience in both public and private sectors. Her extensive background includes planning, development, land use, zoning, transit-oriented development, and community engagement. Quanlin holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Urban Planning from Wuhan University and a Master of City and Regional Planning from Ohio State University. She lives in the Squire Park neighborhood.

Ana Garcia
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Ana is a trained Landscape Architect and works as a Designer at Gustafson Guthrie Nichol. Her work focuses on institutional, corporate, and civic projects. Prior to moving to Seattle, Ana was a consultant and design team member at the Office of James Burnett, working on corporate landscape projects, and has additional professional experience at architecture and landscape architecture firms in Massachusetts and Hawaii. Ana earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in architectural studies and Latin American studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in New York and a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. She lives in Ballard.

Jeffrey Floor
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Jeffrey is an Architect at LMN Architects. His nearly 30 years of experience as a manager and project architect have included multifamily, single-family, civic, educational, and hospitality projects. He completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Utah before earning a Certificate of Urban Design and a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington. Mr. Floor has lived in the Central District for the past 23 years. During this time, he has become involved in community life by serving as the chair of the Central Area Land Use Review Committee and has participated in the Central Area Collaborative which worked to develop the Central Area Design Guidelines.

Troy Britt
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Troy is a Landscape and Urban Designer at Jett Landscape Architecture & Design specializing mixed-use communities, transit-oriented development, and affordable housing projects across the Puget Sound region. He previously held positions in landscape and urban design in Colorado. Troy earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Kansas State University followed by a Master of Landscape Architecture at the University of Colorado Denver. He lives in Squire Park.

Brittany Port
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Brittany is a planning and development professional with eight years of experience in land development and land use review. She was recently employed as a Planning Project Manager at civil engineering and urban planning consulting firm AHBL where she practiced current- and long-range planning throughout Washington and California. Brittany earned bachelor and master’s degrees in city and regional planning from Ohio State University. She lives in Leschi.

Aaron Luoma
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Aaron is a Landscape Architect at Hough Beck & Baird Inc. His projects are mostly public and include small pocket parks, higher education institutions, and large-scale infrastructure projects. He is also a lecturer at the University of Washington. Aaron received a master's degree in landscape architecture and a historic preservation certificate from the University of Washington and a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from the University of Idaho. His extensive public service commitments include serving on the Seattle Landmarks Historic Preservation Board for 8 years, first as a Get Engaged member and later as board chair.

Carey Dagliano
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Carey is a Senior Project Manager at NBBJ. She has been practicing architecture for over twenty years, having previously worked as a Project Manager at Weber Thompson, Rohleder Borges Architects, and Tyler Engle Architects in Seattle, in addition to owning her own company, Graham Street Studio. Her current professional focus is highrise development and the study of commercial real estate development. Throughout her career, Carey has designed highrise commercial office campus projects, large-scale mixed-use market rate housing, affordable housing, and commercial projects. Carey earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute followed by a Commercial Real Estate Certificate from the University of Washington. She lives on Beacon Hill.

Nicole Li
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Nicole is a Licensed Architect employed at global architecture, design, and planning firm Gensler. Her work encompasses code and zoning research, programming analysis, design studies, and permit application submittals. She was previously a Designer at Carrier Johnson Architects and SSW Architects where she produced design iterations for education and civic projects. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from McMaster University and a master’s degree in architecture from Southern California Institute of Architecture. She lives in the Denny Triangle neighborhood.

Matthew Bissen
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Matthew is a Registered Architect and Senior Project Designer at Integrus Architecture where he is the Lead Designer on civic and educational projects. Previously, he worked as an Architect and Director of Design and Research at McGranahan Architects in Tacoma and as the Lead Project Architect at Ennead Architects in New York City. Matthew's education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in architectural studies from the University of Washington, a Master of Architecture degree from Parsons in New York, and a Master of Philosophy degree in geography from City University of New York. He has additionally completed a Sustainable Design Advisor certificate and a Construction Management certificate. Matthew has served as academic faculty at multiple institutions, including the University of Washington, Parsons, and Hunter College, teaching design, planning, and studio courses. He lives in Downtown Seattle.

Che Fortaleza
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Che has practiced architecture for 24 years and currently works as a project manager at Jackson|Main Architecture. Her focus is on multifamily projects and her portfolio includes mixed-use, adaptive reuse, hospitality, retail, and industrial projects. Che earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Santo Tomas. She lives in Belltown.

Jake Woll
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Jake is an architectural designer at Johnston Architects. His experience encompasses large urban multifamily and civic projects, as well as small-scale residential, master planning, and land use topics. Jake graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture followed by a master’s in architecture from the University of Washington. He resides in First Hill.

Emily van Geldern
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Emily is a certified Landscape Architect and Project Manager at Site Workshop in Seattle. Previously, she was employed at Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects PC and Ennead Architects, both in New York City. Emily holds a bachelor's degree in urban design and architectural studies from New York University and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, in addition to a Certificate in Horticulture from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Emily lives in the Madrona neighborhood.

Gina Gage
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Gina is a Registered Architect with nearly ten years of professional experience. She currently works as a Project Manager and Project Architect at Hybrid architecture, focusing on multifamily projects. She is additionally a small business owner of Yes Architecture, which specializes in backyard cottages, single-family residences, interior renovation, residential small lot development, and feasibility studies. Previously, Gina was an Architect at Perkins+Will in Seattle, and Behnisch Architekten and Hermann + Oettl Architects, both in Munich. Her career has focused on design-centric roles, including city design and land use approvals, design development and construction documents, and public and private projects. Gina earned a Bachelor of Science degree in geobiology at the California Institute of Technology, followed by a Master of Architecture degree from Washington University. She lives in the Admiral neighborhood.

Michael Cannon
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Michael is an Urban Designer and a Licensed Landscape Architect with over 30 years of international and domestic experience. He is currently a Senior Associate at VIA Architecture where his work includes providing design leadership on landscape, site planning, and urban design projects. Prior to VIA, he was the Landscape Architecture Director at CIVITAS Urban Design & Planning in Vancouver BC, and a senior Associate and Landscape Architect in various firms in different west coast cities. Michael earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Oregon followed by a Master of Urban Planning and a Certificate in Urban Design from the University of Washington. He lives in Capitol Hill.

Christopher Bendix
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Christopher is a project developer at Mercy Housing Northwest, where he works on publicly funded affordable mixed-use and multifamily housing developments in and around Seattle. He has previously worked in the roles of Associate Project Developer and Project Assistant. Christopher's responsibilities include financial analysis, site selection, design development, construction management, financial closing, lease-up, and financial conversion. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy at Whitman College before earning a Master of City and Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He lives in Columbia city.

Joe Reilly
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Joe is the Policy and Development Director and Social Media Producer at local nonprofit Seattle Subway, where his work encompasses stakeholder and data management, programming, and building relationships in the community. Joe earned a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies with a concentration in urban design and a minor in environmental studies from Fordham University in New York. He lives on First Hill.

Katherine Liss
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Katherine is a landscape architect with 10 years of professional experience. She is currently employed at Gustafson Guthrie Nichol in Seattle, and previously worked at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates in Brooklyn, New York. She has worked on a variety of project types, including public parks, residential developments, corporate headquarters, and streetscapes, and is tasked with overseeing projects through from design to construction. Katherine earned a Bachelor of Sciences in Landscape Architecture from the University of Connecticut. She lives in the Roosevelt neighborhood.

Kun Lim
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Kun is an Architect and Urban Designer with 35 years of experience spanning across Asia, Africa, and the United States. He is the owner and founder of two firms, Kun Lim Architect based in Malaysia and Kun Lim Studio based in Seattle. His portfolio encompasses a wide range of project types, including mixed-use, multifamily, commercial, athletic, campus, worship, medical, and recreational. Kun earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Houston. He lives in the University District.

Manuel Castaneda
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Manuel is a Registered Architect with nearly ten years of experience in mixed-use, multifamily, educational, civic, and health care projects, and is currently employed at The Miller Hull Partnership. He has previously worked as an Architect and Associate at b9 Architects in Seattle, as well as at KDF Architecture and Traho Architects in Yakima. Manuel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture from Washington State University and a Master of Architecture degree from the Pratt Institute. He lives in Meadowbrook.

Christian Gunter
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Christian is the Senior Vice President of Development at Alexandria Real Estate. Prior to this role, Christian was the Vice President of Skanska Commercial Development, where he was responsible for all aspects of development for the Seattle office, including acquisition, project vision, entitlements, design and construction management, marketing, community outreach, leasing, and project divestment. Previously, Christian held leadership roles as Sellen Construction and Bentall Kennedy after starting his career in public policy as a legislative aide and senior legislative assistant. Christian earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Whitworth University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington. He lives in the View Ridge neighborhood.

Tim Carter
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Tim is a Registered Architect and founding principal of Cone Architecture. He has professional experience designing and permitting large-scale multifamily projects. Originally a designer of townhomes and K-12 schools, Cone has in recent years shifted to larger scale multi-family developments. Mr. Carter lives in the Maple Leaf neighborhood. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Washington. His 18 years of experience have been primarily in the Seattle area, with a residency in Hawaii.

Penn DiJulio
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Penn is a Senior Development Manager at Touchstone Development with almost 15 years of experience working in construction and project management in the greater Puget Sound region. His work involves all aspects of the development process, from acquisition to project closeout and transition. Penn's work experience includes urban development, hospitality, mixed-use, multifamily, and single-family residential development. Penn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Washington and a certificate from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He lives in the Ravenna neighborhood.

Phoebe Bogert
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Phoebe is a licensed Landscape Architect with ten years of experience working in the Northwest. She is currently a Principal at PLACE. The projects she has worked on vary in scale from grassroots work with local, traditionally underserved communities, public engagement focused projects, and design innovation. Phoebe lives in Phinney Ridge. She earned a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts in Art and Environmental Studies from Pitzer College Claremont in California.

Brian Johnson
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Brian is a licensed architect with 15 years of experience. Currently, he is a Project Manager at hinge studio in Seattle, working on a mix of project types including commercial, single-family residential, and adaptive reuse. Previously, Brian has worked for Environmental Works and b9 Architects as a Project Manager and Project Architect. Over his career, the projects Brian has worked on range in scale from single-family residences to mixed-use multifamily housing. Brian earned a bachelor's degree in architectural studies from Washington State University and a Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois. He lives in the Whittier Heights neighborhood.

Christina Lin
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Christina is a Design Program Director at Splice, where her scope of work includes overseeing a team of designers and program managers while leading strategic initiatives across workplace design. She has worked on a variety of project types, including science and technology, residential high-rise, education, and healthcare. Christina received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Washington followed by a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Oregon. She resides in Ballard.

Adrienne Watkins
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Adrienne is a Licensed Architect with over eight years of experience. She has worked at Weinstein A+U and ZGF Architects in Seattle. Her projects have included multifamily and low-income housing, higher education institutional work, and recreational facilities. She earned a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture with a Minor in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley. Adrienne has lived in Seattle for 13 years, with the last five years in the Sunset Hill neighborhood.

May So
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May, a Registered Architect, has over 20 years of architectural experience, practice management, and project leadership working on complex, large-scale, mixed-use high-rise office and mixed-income residential developments. A Senior Associate at Mithun, she works on urban placemaking projects, where she manages an integrated design process from concept to construction. May previously worked as an Associate at Henriquez Partners Architects in Vancouver, Canada. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Calgary and a Master of Architecture from the University of British Columbia. May currently serves on the Pike-Pine Neighborhood Council, the Capital Hill EcoDistrict, and the AIA Seattle Committee on Homelessness. She lives in Capitol Hill.

Stewart Germain
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Stewart is a registered architect and a real estate development professional with nearly 20 years of experience. He currently works as a Senior Development Manager at Skanska Commercial Development USA. Previously, Stewart worked for The Miller Hull Partnership as an Architectural Designer and Project Manager, J.A.S. Design-Build, and was a teaching assistant for studio and shop classes at the University of Washington College of Built Environments. Stewart earned bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture from the University of Washington. He lives in Columbia City.

Daniel Maier
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Daniel is a Project Engineer at PAE in Seattle. He has been active in the building design field since 2011 as a mechanical design engineer in both the Seattle and Washington, DC metro areas. Daniel earned his Master of Architectural Engineering degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Central Florida. He is an active participant in ACE Mentors Seattle and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). He lives in the Othello neighborhood.

Lisa Richmond
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Lisa is a Senior Fellow at Architecture 2030, a non-profit organization focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts of buildings. Her work emphasizes advocating for equity, community engagement, and sustainability in the face of climate change. Previously, Lisa was the Executive Director of the American Institute of Architects Seattle and the Founding Director of the Seattle Design Festival. Lisa was awarded a Loeb Fellowship to study at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. She additionally has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia and a Master of Arts Administration from the University of Wisconsin. She lives in the Mount Baker neighborhood.

Ben Maritz
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Ben is a Real Estate Developer and founder of affordable housing firm Great Expectations LLC. His scope of work includes land assembly, fundraising, ground up development, acquisition, and improvement of existing housing in Seattle and across the Pacific Northwest. He previously was a partner at management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. Ben earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science followed by a Master of Science in applied mathematics at Johns Hopkins University followed by a Master of Business Administration at Stanford University. He lives in Capitol Hill.

Johanna Lirman
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Johanna is a Project Architect and Project Manager at Weber Thompson. She previously worked as a Project Architect and Project Manager at ARC Architects and as an Architectural Designer at Hinge Architects, both in Seattle, in addition to holding Architectural Design Internships in Oregon and Tokyo. Johanna has experience working on mixed-use, multifamily, and single-family residential projects in Seattle, including projects focused on providing affordable housing opportunities in urban hubs such as Mt. Baker Village Apartments and The Opportunity Center at Othello Square. Johanna earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Whitman College and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Oregon. She lives in the North Admiral neighborhood.

Alan Grainger
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Alan has 40 years of experience in the field of architecture. He was a Founding Principal of the firm GGLO, and a Principal at The Bumgardner Architects prior. His work included affordable and market-rate multifamily housing, including townhouses, low-, mid-, and high-rise apartments, historic renovations, and hotel projects. Alan lives in the Fauntleroy neighborhood of West Seattle. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and Environmental Design at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom and a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington.

Patrick Cobb
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Patrick is the Vice President of Acquisition and Development at StoryBuilt, where his work includes leading acquisition, design, development, and construction activities through Seattle's permitting and entitlement processes. He has additionally worked as a Design and Permitting Manager at Granger Family Homes in Seattle and as an Associate and Senior Designer at Laguarda.Low Architects in New York. His scope of work includes multifamily residential, mixed-use, townhouse, rowhouse, live-work, single-family, office, and master planning. Patrick completed a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture from the University of Texas before pursuing a Master of Architecture degree and Master of Science degree in real estate development from Columbia University. He lives in Fauntleroy.

Brenda Baxter
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Brenda has fifteen years of experience in design, construction, and real estate development in the Pacific Northwest. She is Senior Project Manager at Jones Lang LaSalle performing a wide range of roles including development, design, and construction management; space planning; feasibility studies; and capital and cost management. Brenda earned Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Construction Management degrees from the University of Washington. She lives in Hillman City.

Gavin Schaefer
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Gavin is a Registered Architect and Associate Director of Sidewalk Labs. His work focuses on design and architecture aimed to create adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and vibrant vertical development. Previously, Gavin was a Project Architect at Katerra Seattle, where he worked on large-scale mixed-use and multifamily projects along the West Coast, and a Development Planner at the City of Vancouver, Canada. Gavin’s education includes a Master of Architecture degree from Dalhousie University and a Master of Science degree in Sustainable Urban Development from the University of Oxford. He resides in the Fairmount Park neighborhood.

Maria Barrientos
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Maria is the owner of barrientosRYAN, an urban real estate development firm that focuses on urban infill, large civic projects, placemaking, and building strong relationships with the surrounding community. She has resided in the Queen Anne neighborhood for over thirty years and in that time served the community on over twenty-five boards and commissions. Maria earned a degree in marketing, real estate, and advertising from The University of Texas at Austin.

Gargi Kadoo
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Gargi is a Designer at GGLO concentrating on multifamily housing and urban design projects where he work includes all phases of design from conceptual through building completion. Gargi earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Mumbai University followed by a Master of Community Planning and Urban Design and a certificate in historic preservation at the University of Cincinnati. She lives in Belltown.

Jen Montressor
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Jen is a licensed Landscape Architect at Walker Macy. She was previously a Project Manager at the Berger Partnership and a Landscape Designer at the firms GGLO and HBB. She works on a variety of project types and scales, including multifamily housing, mixed-use, urban design, master planning, corporate and college campuses, residential, civic, and parks. Jen earned a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Puget Sound. She resides in Whittier Heights.

Tiffany Rattray
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Tiffany is a Design Manager of a real estate development team at Burrard Properties with over ten years of industry experience in architecture, design, real estate, and construction. Prior to moving to Seattle, she was a Senior Designer at Studio Tack and an Architectural Designer and Project Manager at Rockwell Group, both in New York. Over her career, Tiffany has worked on hospitality, highrise, and retail projects across the country and internationally. Tiffany earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in architectural studies and a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from the University of Washington before pursuing a Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University. She lives in the Squire Park neighborhood.

Allan Farkas
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Allan is a Registered Architect and co-founder of Eggleston Farkas Architects with nearly thirty years of professional experience. He was previously a Project Architect and Designer at Weinstein Copeland Architects. His projects have included single-family residences, townhomes, small commercial projects, and master plan studies. Additionally, Allan has held several teaching positions at the University of Washington and currently volunteers as a visiting critic. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Design of the Environment from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Washington. He lives in Queen Anne.
Staff & Program Administration
The Design Review Program is administered by the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections.
Staff
Our Design Review Program staff:
- Manage the program
- Recruit and train residents to serve on the Design Review Board
- Schedule and advertise the Design Review Board's project review meetings
Shelley Bolser, Program Manager
shelley.bolser@seattle.gov
(206) 733-9067
Brinn Campaz, Scheduling and Administration
brinn.campaz@seattle.gov
(206) 684-8919
Heather Harris, Public Relations Specialist
heather.harris@seattle.gov
Erika Ikstrums, Program Specialist
erika.ikstrums@seattle.gov
(206) 684-3160
Daniel Kopald, Public Relations Specialist
daniel.kopald@seattle.gov
Design Review Planners
Our Design Review planners:
- Lead developers and architects and their development projects through the design review process
- Explain the land use code and design guidelines
- Serve as professional staff support for the Design Review Boards
Ellen Aebischer
ellen.aebischer@seattle.gov
(206) 386-1981
Corey Buttry
corey.buttry@seattle.gov
(206) 727-8607
Irving Chu
irving.chu@seattle.gov
(206) 684-8737
Sean Conrad
sean.conrad@seattle.gov
(206) 733-9063
Holly Godard
holly.godard@seattle.gov
(206) 684-0532
Carly Guillory
carly.guillory@seattle.gov
(206) 684-0720
Annie Hillier
annie.hillier@seattle.gov
(206) 256-6499
Joe Hurley
joseph.hurley@seattle.gov
(206) 684-8278
Alisa Johansson
alisa.johansson@seattle.gov
(206) 733-9964
Greg Johnson
greg.johnson@seattle.gov
(206) 727-8736
David Landry
david.landry@seattle.gov
(206) 684-5318
Theresa Neylon
theresa.neylon@seattle.gov
(206) 615-0179
Scott Reynolds
scott.reynolds@seattle.gov
(206) 386-0044
David Sachs
david.sachs@seattle.gov
(206) 684-0814
Crystal Torres
crystal.torres@seattle.gov
(206) 684-5887
Allison Whitworth
allison.whitworth@seattle.gov
(206) 684-0363