Thursday, June 22, 2017

Tonight Learn About University Village 7-Story Garage And Expansion Plans




The Ravenna Bryant Community Association is holding a public meeting tonight at 6:30pm to provide information on the proposed 7 story garage on 25th Avenue NE at the University Village, where currently there is surface parking. 

The plan is to add a 65 foot high West Parking Garage in the parking lot directly near the Anthropologie store. 

In addition, four buildings would be constructed in the northwest part of the shopping center, which would include approximately 100,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and 915 parking spaces provide within one of the structures. A portion of an existing building would be demolished.

The final design has been submitted to the City for approval, under Project 3025629

Susie Plummer, University Village Vice President and General Manager, who has been with the UVillage for 17 ½ years, provided an overview of the University Village expansion plans at the Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) December 2016 Board meeting.  

LCC provided this summary of that meeting: 
The primary entrance of the new parking garage would be off 25th Avenue NE, but also another will be off NE 49th Street. Almost all surface parking in the Village would be removed in this phase, except a few rows on the east side of the center.  And 100,000 sq feet of new retail/restaurant space would be added.   
Currently, the UVillage operates 480,000 square feet of retail/restaurant space, and are considering a "Lifestyle" Shopping Center, without large retail chains as anchors, and this new project would be 21% increase. 
LCC expressed concerns about the already gridlocked traffic that the area experiences from the back ups (especially eastbound) on the NE 45th Street Viaduct, and all the way from the Montlake Interchange.   
Plummer said Transpo, a professional transportation consultant, was hired to do a traffic study.  LCC requested a copy to analyze and collaborate to mitigate adverse traffic impacts.  
Plummer also suggested that more roadway signage could help in directing mall visitors to the parking lots. She is trying to work with neighboring businesses, the University of Washington and SDOT.
Plummer said that the commercial perimeter around the University Village is expected to add "about" 1200 residential units in the next 5 years, on Union Bay Place NE, with more to potentially come along 25th Avenue NE.   
Speed ramps (similar to the airport) and a couple of electric charging stations, although not legally required, are being considered.
Plummer provided history on the mall - Stuart Sloan has been the owner since 1994.  Some long-term shops: Mrs. Cooks (owned by a Laurelhurst neighbor) for 40 years and the Confectionary since 1959.  There are 36 locally owned businesses and 48 regional owners.  The Village is currently at 480,000 square feet.  There are 128 stores and restaurants

 
For more information about the two large developments on Union Bay Place NE, near Safeway, one already under construction, go here.
 
For more information regarding this application or the Design Review process, contact Michael Dorcy at 206-615-1393 or Michael.dorcy@seattle.gov.    

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