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| Imagining a new town center |
OPINION: It's all so confusing and I'm still unclear. The new owner of Redmond Town Center, Fairbourne Properties, is proposing "zone text amendments" that would allow two 12-story buildings on his property in exchange for "public benefits" such as, affordable housing, environmental stewardship, and business diversity (eg. retail retail, retail; restaurants, entrepreneurs, recreation, small business, commercial, The benefits are vague and Council is working to clarify them.
A partial summary of the proposed amendments appear as follows:
1) Increase maximum height to 12-stories through an incentive program of 3 extra levels for above grade parking per building, electric bike space and decent pedestrian lighting.
2) One amendment involves the owner offering "exceptional amenities" for additional height. I crave colorful, covered plazas and courtyards, eclectic and cultural artworks, sustainable-public-rooftop-patios-with-pristine-views, public spaces for daycare and pets, and above all else, well lit performing arts spaces welcoming and entertaining all, including commercial and retail employees. Pickleball is a craze and rooftop courts to activate the Center are being looked at.
3) It's my understanding, the final amendment, if passed, could expand "Town Center Mixed Use" into certain parcels along Bear Creek Parkway; serviced by an office gateway. The expansion plan is unclear; and it may never happen.
-- Bob Yoder, Opinion, 1/30/2023, Updated 2/22/23, Resident of Redmond, WA.
SOURCES:
Council "Planning and Public Works" Committee of the Whole memo, 1/3/2023, excerpted and edited. Unfortunately, the city red-lined this memo.
City Council memo, 1/17/2023 - discusses privately initiated text amendments.
FAIRBOURNE Properties (owner)
Hines, RTC owner's consultant and outreach arm. (Patrick Woodruff is the Hines lead; he's local and enthusiastically seeking ALL opinions and feedback.)
Engage with the community and the owner HERE)
Carol Helland, Director of Planning and Community Development. (Ask for Ms. Helland's contact information at info@redmond.gov or Mayor@redmond.gov)
Arnold Tomac, Past President Redmond City Council, a Town Center founder, and co-founder of the Ped/Bike Advisory Committee. Arnie's BIO.
-- Bob Yoder, 2/23/23
Twelve stories on that property is way too high. I truly hope that Redmond will hold the developer to a lower height level, many step backs to allow for sunshine and a less mass, especially giving consideration for the nearby wildlife area. Of course we all crave the vitality that Redmond town Center was when it first opened, however, Redmond really needs to stop bowing to developers.
ReplyDeleteUnless an entire 12 story building is going to be for low-income housing I will be at the city Council meetings and the plan development meetings arguing against this. It’s simply too tall for that area. It could be mitigated with setbacks and open spaces and reduced masking as the building goes higher. But in general, that’s not as profitable for developers, so they won’t offer it, unless it’s required!!!.p However, if you push the developers back, they will come back to you with better plans.
In my opinion, Redmond has been spineless when it comes to development. I look at Kirkland and I see the way they’ve pushed developers to offer setbacks in public plazas and greater light at Street level (often pushed by citizens, speaking out at city, Council meetings in planning commission meetings, and through letters and petitions)l. And then I look at these horrible, plastic looking blocks around Redmond and I’m so disappointed. In general, I feel like our city is awesome and they listen to us as people. So people come on, COME ON!, speak out. It’s easy to read an email to your city Council… Take a moment to help shape our downtown to be what the people Redmond and envision. I think some of it is because we’ve had so many people from foreign countries move in here, who are not used to speaking up. Come on folks this is the American way… make your voice heard! Do not let us become a bunch of dark alley streets… That will never bring people to our businesses. But the developers will make out like that rabbits and chubby bunnies.