HLCC Land Use Updates

See below for the latest. A lot of these we've been tracking for a while now. As I'm sure you can imagine, nothing moves quickly in Seattle!
Lincoln Towing redevelopment: It appears that there is now a proposal out there from BODE Apartments for just the parcel located off Aurora to construct a 7-story, 642-unit apartment building with 8 Live-Work Units, retail, and parking for 200 vehicles. The remainder of the Lincoln Towing property is noted as 'future development' so not sure what will be proposed there. BODE is also proposing another 7-story, 414-unit apartment building with retail on the west side of Aurora at 137th.
Puetz Golf Center redevelopment: Pulte Homes is continuing to work on obtaining construction permits for this one. They are proposing two 4-story apartment buildings (102 units total) and 134 townhouse units. Of particular interest on this one are improvements to the trail along the east side of the site in conjunction with a stormwater bioretention feature that Seattle Public Utilities is working on.
LA Fitness redevelopment: It's been a while since I spoke with the developer, but what they submitted to the City was a 7-story, 413-unit apartment building with parking for 206 vehicles. This one is still in the early stages so hard to say if it'll go or not. The existing LA Fitness would be torn down. 
New City of Seattle Fire Station: This is going to be located on Meridian across from Washelli at approximately 113th and will be the new Station No. 31. The last milestone schedule I saw showed this one starting construction in late 2023.
UW Medical Center Behavioral Health Teaching Facility: Under construction and coming along nicely!
James Baldwin Elementary School: Under construction and planned to open in Fall 2023. The existing Northgate Elementary School will be demolished following completion of the new school.
Aurora Avenue safety improvements: SDOT recently wrapped up a public survey on this with more updates expected soon. Money was previously approved to pilot safety improvements on a section of Route 99 south of 105th. There is also a local group called Aurora Reimagined Coalition that is continuing to push for much needed safety improvements along Aurora.
Shoreline activity: I'm sure those of you that have driven north up Meridian or 1st Avenue have seen the ongoing development taking place in Shoreline in advance of the N 145th Street Station opening in 2024. There are also two projects planned on the east side of I-5 along 5th Avenue across the street from the new 145th St. Station. I also saw this article regarding the proposed traffic modifications at the highway exchange - https://www.theurbanist.org/2022/03/07/shoreline-moves-ahead-with-highway-expansion-on-seattles-doorstep/. Personally, I have mixed feelings about the pedestrian safety of the roundabouts as the whole premise is for cars not to have to stop. It is already really dicey trying to walk east along the south side of N 145th Street where cars are turning onto I-5 South. I don't have any updates on this one at the moment. I did talk to Lakeside's CFO a little while back and she mentioned that SDOT was in the process of trying to acquire a portion of their land for construction of the new interchange.
130th Street Station: In the process of obtaining their construction permit. The station is still tentatively scheduled to open in 2025, but I know the extension to Lynnwood is delayed so I'm not sure yet if that will impact this station or not. Here is the link to the latest design - https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/OPCD/DesignCommission/NE130StLightRailStation/SeattleDesignCommission-2021.06.20130thStLightRailStationPresentation_DRAFT.pdf
City of Seattle Comprehensive Plan updates: The City has started the process of updating  their Comprehensive Plan. This would likely be the process where rezoning is considered throughout the city in order to provide more opportunities for providing much needed housing in the city. Here is the link: http://www.seattle.gov/opcd/one-seattle-plan. They previously completed public outreach to determine the overall concepts that they will study moving forward. I've attached a PDF that gives a good overview of the entire process and includes a timeline. 
Former Sam's Club: Costco had filed some initial documents about taking over this space but it appears to have gone quiet. I have an email into a contact there that we had spoken to previously about it. I'll let you all know if I hear back.
New Trail Connection: I saw this story last week and wanted to share - https://www.seattlebikeblog.com/2022/10/17/new-trail-connection-to-1st-ave-ne-bridge-opens-in-northgate/. Honestly, I still would not be too keen to ride my bike on that overpass and then try to get into the left turn lane. I would also argue that we still do not have much in the way of good pedestrian/bike connections to Northgate. Meridian and over on the pedestrian bridge has been my preferred route to the light rail station there.
As always, feel free to pass along anything else you come across or anything I should be looking into.
Sean McEwan

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Junction Point Homeless Shelter Off 128th Street

Image
 I was able to tour the Catholic Community Services Homeless Shelter, Junction Point, last week.  This shelter is located at 1132 N 128th St. near Stone Way and 128th St.  There shelter is a series of small, individual building for the residents that look something like "tiny homes".   I met up with Sharonda Duncan, Division Director within CSS Homeless Services.  She manages 4 of CCS's shelters around Seattle.  This shelter became active last June.  It has capacity for 49 individuals, men or women who are 50 years old or older.  The shelter is currently at full capacity. The shelter does utilize volunteers from the community.  They can use help with their plants/gardening and putting together hygiene packs and move out packs for the residents.  If you are interested, you can visit the shelter and ring the door bell. This is a shelter that moved from the old Junction Point location along Elliot Avenue.  The Elliot avenue shelte...
Read more

Green Tips From The Community - November 2024

  Let’s build soil! This time of year gives us a great opportunity to build our soil. If you haven’t picked up your leaves yet, please consider using them. Also, how about woodchips in your yard? Nature is amazing at building healthy soil if we get out of the way and let it. Healthy soil is rich in nutrients and does a get job managing water.    It helps grow happy plants and creates an ecosystem system within its self. Here are a few ways you can help nature build your soil…. Leaves - if you still have leaves on the ground, leave them. You can put them under your trees and shrubs, in your home composter, turn them in your garden bed or spread a layer of them on your garden paths and top them with arborist woodchips. These lovely leaves are great at making soil! Arborist woodchips - woodchips are excellent at building healthy soil. I say arborist woodchips because woodchips you buy at the store generally aren’t great soil builders. Reason… arborist chips come untreated, s...
Read more

From The Archives - December 2024

As a teen floating around the Lake on my all wood paddleboard I made in the 1960s, I couldn’t help but notice the many flowering lily beds tucked on shorelines.  The bright green pads fashioned as designer plates looked stunning against multi- colored full-open flowers.  Add blue dragonflies whizzing about to get the full effect.  R. C. Byers, an early Haller Lake pioneer dating to 1910s, was known as the “lily man” not to mention he built his own cabin, cleared land, and replanted trees, shrubs and…25 varieties of lilies.  A story appeared in Sunset magazine “The Lily Grower of Haller Lake” claiming his status.  Our own Shawn MacPherson’s aunt, Anne Segale, told her local kids would sell Mr. Byers lilies at Pike Place Market. Today many Lake homeowners have the coveted lilies, well, perhaps some are coveted. They spread from Byers's shore front to around the Lake over 100 years.  It’s a tedious job to clear lilies. I’m told people spend several sessio...
Read more

Baldwin School Report

  I interviewed Guillermo Covajal, social worker at Baldwin.  Twenty elementary schools are considered for closure in SSD for 2025-26.  In any case, the new and large Baldwin will take on twice their number of students.  Not a done deal yet, but Broadview looks to close sending their staff and students to JB.  District officials will speak at Baldwin on October7, at 6:30 under the topic “Well Resourced Schools.”  With the huge school deficit, the meeting will cover cost saving measures. We’re off to a good start with 3rd grade science.  Our overarching theme is saving orangutans from lost habitat due to palm oil production.  Students look at three islands as refuge.  They study the landscape, collect climate data and do weather experiments. Randy Baldwin Liaison
Read more