Find Posts By Topic

SAVE THE DATE! Roberto Maestas to be honored during Beacon Rocks! August 28th

Lander Festival Street - looking west towards 16th Ave S

Back in January, SDOT staff attended the North Beacon Hill Council meeting to talk about a proposal to rename Lander Festival Street to Roberto Maestas Festival Street. The NBHC approved the change and asked for SDOT to make it a formal, permanent change, rather than an “honorary” naming, as originally proposed.

On April 25th, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed the naming of S Lander Street between 16th Ave S and 17th Ave S to S Roberto Maestas Festival Street. This is a special way for the city and his “beloved community” to pay tribute to Mr. Maestas, one of the founders of El Centro de la Raza, who was instrumental in the race and social movement in the Seattle area and beyond.

Lander Street Festival, El Centro de la Raza building on the left

 

The unveiling of the newly named street is scheduled for August 28th during the Beacon Rocks!Celebration taking place from 1 – 5 p.m.   El Centro de la Raza is working with local Seattle artists to add Latino flavor to the festivities. The Mariachi Seattle Azteca and Seattle Fandango Project will be performing.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) created the festival street on S Lander Street between 16th Ave S and 17th Ave S in 2009 in response to the North Beacon Hill Community Council’s Bridging the Gap Neighborhood Street Fund (NSF) request.  This street serves as an extension of the plaza north of the Beacon Hill Sound Transit station and provides a space for community festivals and events. Removable bollards have allowed the roadway to be closed to motor vehicles during these events.

Lander Festival Street and plaza north of the Beacon Hill Sound Transit station