The University Village has submitted a proposal for a seven story garage on 25th Avenue NE 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 which states:
Land Use Application to allow five new retail buildings and one, seven-story garage building with retail and parking for 880 vehicles (University Village, Major Phased Development). Review includes 10,000 sq. ft. of demolition and the removal of 467 surface parking spaces.
On Monday at 8pm at the Good Shepherd Center (4649 Sunnyside Avenue NE Room #202) there will be a "Design Review Board Recommendation Meeting."
Written comments on important site planning and design issues, which should be addressed in the design for this project, are accepted through Monday in preparation for the meeting.
Comments can be sent to PRC@seattle.gov or City of Seattle – SDCI – PRC, 700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000, PO Box 34019, Seattle, WA 98124-4019.
Susie Plummer, University Village Vice President and General Manager for the last 8 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.
Here are some of the drawings of the latest design proposal from a pedestrian’s point of view posted here.
For more information about nearby developments on Union Bay Place NE, near Safeway, one already under construction, go here.
For information on the Aegis Assisted Living development, where the old Baskin-Robbins was, go here.
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