Redmond's Western Gateway view corridor and "wooded hillside" assets are blocked off by the new "ElementRedmond" townhouse project. 15-20 foot setbacks don't help the look. 
"Gateway View Corridors" are a similar yet different issue from "Shoreline View Corridors." Have you seen the "ElementRedmond Townhome" project just west of Willows Road on Redmond Way? For affluent Redmond, WA. they look "affordable" but at $400,000 and up? Though not near a "shore", this project seriously harms Redmond's Western Gateway view corridor. I gag every time I drive down Rose Hill and see this massive cluster of "mega-town homes". We need new housing and ElementRedmond has nice amenities, but at this 'price'? Click on the link above to learn more about them.
These tall, angular structures, seem to jut out at you. Worse, they completely block the views we once had of the green wooded hillsides of Education Hill and North Redmond. Thin setbacks leave virtually no room for vegetative buffering. These structures, "3-deep" with garaged parking, appear to be set-back only 15 feet from Redmond Way sidewalk! Prepare for increased traffic congestion on Rose Hill a year from now.
The above pictures tell the story...or take a drive down Rose Hill. How on God's Green Earth could we allow this "WALL" of structures blocking public the scenic views of our wooded hillside city asset? (ref: Guy Michaelson, Berger Partners, Seattle)
Is it time for the city to amend zoning and design standards to protect our public view Gateway and Shoreline corridors from mega-projects and mega-homes?
These tall, angular structures, seem to jut out at you. Worse, they completely block the views we once had of the green wooded hillsides of Education Hill and North Redmond. Thin setbacks leave virtually no room for vegetative buffering. These structures, "3-deep" with garaged parking, appear to be set-back only 15 feet from Redmond Way sidewalk! Prepare for increased traffic congestion on Rose Hill a year from now.
The above pictures tell the story...or take a drive down Rose Hill. How on God's Green Earth could we allow this "WALL" of structures blocking public the scenic views of our wooded hillside city asset? (ref: Guy Michaelson, Berger Partners, Seattle)
Is it time for the city to amend zoning and design standards to protect our public view Gateway and Shoreline corridors from mega-projects and mega-homes?
Or would you prefer just to leave public view corridors unregulated, with the market deciding how far property owners will go with obstructive, intrusive buildings?
What are your thoughts? Any comments?
From a City Staff Member -
ReplyDeleteYou will remember this project better as Billy Townhomes, located at Redmond Way and Willows.
The City of Redmond has already identified public view corridors within the city and the necessary means to protect them. This section of code can be found in RCDG 20D.42.50, Design Standards for Public View Corridors and Gateways.
It is important to to note that the Billy Townhomes [now ElementRedmond] site is not identified as a protected view......and that this code was not adopted until May 26, 2007.
The Billy Townhomes project [now ElementRedmond] was reviewed and approved in 2005 and is vested in the codes that were in place at that time.
- C.O.R. staff