Interview with Chris Leverson, LCBA Executive Director
If you live, work, or spend time in Lake City, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Chris Leverson. For years, Chris has been a steady champion, advocate, and liaison for the neighborhood, helping connect community members, small businesses, and local partners around shared priorities.
Now, as the Executive Director of Lake City Business Alliance, Chris is bringing that same commitment to strengthening Lake City’s business district and supporting a more connected, welcoming, and vibrant neighborhood.
We sat down with Chris to hear more about what keeps him motivated, what he sees ahead for LCBA, and what meaningful progress could look like for Lake City. Here is what he had to say:
What keeps you motivated and driven as the Executive Director of LCBA?
Several things keep me motivated, especially when I have the opportunity to talk with community members who continue to see Lake City as full of opportunity. I have been so excited to see young business owners eager to put in additional effort to bring people back to our business district. Seeing Lake City's beautifully rich diversity in public spaces like the Lake City Farmers Market makes me proud to have lived in LC for 23 years. I remain so optimistic because most people I talk to have a genuine affinity for our neighborhood and a commitment to retaining residents and attracting new businesses and amenities to better serve the community.
How do you envision the LCBA’s role in the community over the next 3 years?
I would love to see us continue to bring more cohesion and a unified voice among our small businesses. We are very hopeful that we can establish a Business Improvement Area for Lake City and feel that the recent investment from the City can help drive that effort. In the next three years, we hope to be involved in helping businesses purchase spaces, see more empty storefront activation, and improve the perception of safety in Lake City. We plan to launch beautification projects, advance retail attraction, and work with the community on a neighborhood branding effort.
When you think about the future of Lake City, what kind of progress would feel most meaningful to you and to the community?
Grocery access is unquestionably a top priority. While the neighborhood continues to reel from the loss of Fred Meyer and pharmacy access, it seems we are lacking a cohesive and collective response to the issue. We absolutely have to tackle the grocery gap, which will take a broad community response in partnership with elected officials.
I would like to see more mixed-income housing development. I also see high-impact potential in implementing strategies to bring people back to our business district. Businesses struggle for myriad reasons, including labor costs, permitting challenges, changing consumer habits, inflation, and neighborhood perceptions of safety. I believe we need to better promote our incredible mix of small businesses. I also believe that participation from our larger commercial property owners is absolutely critical to the future of Lake City's economic well-being. There is much work to be done to engage with property owners who have been unwilling to be part of a collective solution in the past.
What's the most challenging and the most rewarding part of your work?
A major challenge is that neighborhood planning and economic development take time. That can be really hard when major challenges seem to “happen to us” and we don't feel like we are part of a solution. It is important to work on the “long game” as well as short-term wins that keep people invested. I find it challenging when I hear or read people saying that Lake City is a horrible place. There is no question that we have significant challenges, but negativity is often a self-fulfilling prophecy. That being said, I try hard to recognize my privilege and know that the experiences of our neighbors most disproportionately affected by crime, affordability, and the threat of displacement often go unheard.
By far, the most rewarding element of my work is talking with people and learning from them. It is also a great honor to work for the betterment of the neighborhood where I live and raised my family. I love when things come together: the tree lights along LCW at night, the murals at places like Lake City Mini Park, events like Winterfest and Lucha Libre at Akin, painting facades at places like Muller Salon and Senait, and bringing programs like Seattle Restored to the neighborhood. I am a proud Lake Cityzen, and the more we work together to address shared priorities, the more rewarding the work becomes.
