Pat Vache': Redmond Town Center's Early History

Pat Vache' in his early days / courtesy of Arnie Tomac

"What is known as 'Town Center' didn’t just happen.  It has history.”​  

-- Pat Vache'

As some know, just prior to the pandemic, the Redmond Town Center was purchased by Fairbourne Properties of Chicago for $192 million.  Fairbourne's vision is to redevelop Redmond Town Center from "an auto-centric, suburban campus to a walkable, mixed-use urban neighborhood with retail at it's core. ​Light rail is a major driver.  ​

In 2022, Pat Vache', a "Founding Father" of Town Center gave testimony encouraging Council  include the founders in the development process citing their previous experience (and collective wisdom.) He emphasized the need of engagement opportunities, especially town hall meetings.

Mr. Vache' stated “Throughout the history of Redmond Town Center two issues were foremost, 1) protecting open space and 2) creating a major retail facility for all to enjoy.  If history taught us nothing else, it is clear that three elements were important then and are critical today:

1) Redmond residents want and deserve the opportunity to engage, 

2) A robust retail environment is a necessity for Redmond residents and the economic sustainability of the City of Redmond, and

 3) Redmond residents demand a sustainable environment, an environment characterized by trees, lots of trees and open space, lots of open space," in fact a minimum of 43 acres."

THE EARLY HISTORY - a quick story

Town Center’s modern history began in late 1978 when the Old Redmond Golf Course​ (in King County)​ was purchased by Winmar, a Safeco company.  A total of 120 pristine acres were purchased, including the 87-acre golf course. Forty-four acres would remain open space. (C. Beason played a large role in that.) The acreage was  invaluable to the community.  Open space is a very big part of Redmond culture. 

Winmar proposed development​ of the 87 acre golf course twice, once in 1979​ ​for $4 million (per Town Center Associates) and again in **1982 for $6 million ($16.5 million in today's dollars.)  Though open space was desirable,​ The Sammamish Valley ​News​, ​​​businessmen​ and many residents wanted shopping and commercial ​development.

To counter development, in 1978 a coalition of preservationists​,​ “Civic Action for Redmond Environment” (C.A.R.E.) formed to retain the golf course and influence public opinion.​  One of the C.A.R.E. Presidents Richard Grubb, Pat Vache', Arnie Tomac, Chris Himes, the Beasons and other citizen activists organized the coalition. Grubb, Vache' and Tomac became councilmembers. Himes  became Redmond's first full time Mayor.  Nothing ever came of the 1979, $4 million Town Center Associates offer, probably because of C.A.R.E.  

Pat Vache', Redmond's first planning commissioner and a councilmember of 16 years, says ​"in over eight years ​the public, planning staff, ​and Policy Advisory Commission​​ had a series of public meetings, visioning exercises and just about any type of public process imaginable. Town Center didn't just happen. It has history." 

​​"Old Redmond" vs. "New Redmond" issues were reaching a boiling point. So, in 1982 Council​,​ led by Council President Arnie Tomac​ and councilmember Pat Vache',​ proposed a $6 million bond measure to “let the voters decide" if they wanted to purchase the land for preservation or take Winmar’s offer and develop it.  According to Rosemarie Ives, the 60% supermajority bond failed by 2%​.​  

Mayor Doreen Marchione is quoted in the Sammamish Valley News, “we have no choice but to annex the property for reasonable development.”  Former Mayor Rosemarie Ives​ felt the city ​should​​​ have immediately​ gone out for a second​ vote​. ​ 

With that, ​​Vache' notes by 198​6​, (Ord. 1328) 120 acres were annexed from King County, pre-annexation zoning was completed, the ***Master Plan was approved, and the property was incorporated into the City of Redmond. ​ ​*Seven years following the City’s 1988 approval (Ord. 1416) Winmar didn’t develop anything with Town Center, though there still was much debate and talk.​ In 1994, Winmar proposed an outdoor mall of 1.3M square feet of shopping and offices. The proposal was approved by Council in 1995 (Ord. 1841.) Construction started in 1996.  

-- written by Bob Yoder, 7/15/2022

Sources:  Sammamish Valley News, Pat Vache, Arnie Tomac, Nancy McCormick, Rosemarie Ives, Holly Plackett, 4/8/2022 Fairbourne Properties Letter to Redmond City Council, Seattle Times, 8/10/1997.

Arnold Tomac's Leadership and Involvement with Redmond Town Center.  Arnie is a good friend of Pat Vache'. 

* Quick stories:  Though, not directly related to Town Center, past councilmember and planning commissioner Holly Plackett wrote Winmar's seven "idle" years were spent developing Target, Mervyns, and Bella Bottega cinema.

This story is so interesting! As editor of the Sammamish Valley News at that time, I was deeply involved in studying the options for this property. Redmond was sorely in need of a better commercial zone….the town was growing and there really was a great need. Although Town Center perhaps failed to fulfill that dream entirely, there is still hope. The city has grown…the possibilities are still endless! I hope Redmond marches ahead, brings itself completely into this century to keep up with the vast population growth!

--Deb Akerstrom, 7/2022.  Deb is presently a Director on the Redmond Historical Society Society.  12/2022

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** The MASTER PLAN was approved in 1986:  "The design and development of this zone is controlled by a Master Plan established to ensure that development here integrates with and positively influences future development of the Greater downtown area and retains traditional building styles, street patterns, variety of uses, and public amenities."  (Ord. 1328.)  

The MASTER PLAN was scrapped in 2022.  New language:  "Design and development of this zone is controlled by zone-based regulations and additional  special design standards for development projects located within the downtown urban core."