From Prototype Suburban Mall to Urban Center

May 8th, 2008
12:00-1:30
Triad Urban Center
NW Corner of Third and Cherry

Northgate, the nation’s first mall, is also one of Seattle’s six Urban Centers.  Urban Centers are supposed to have the greatest housing and job growth.  Northgate is also the site of a future light rail stop, as well as the current Northgate Transit Center.  How does an auto-oriented retail center transition to an urban model centered on transit, mixed uses and walkability? 

One tool is zoning — allowing greater height and a different  mix of uses.  The city recently put out a draft environmental impact statement for a proposed rezone of a portion of Northgate.  The city is now soliciting comments.  So we thought it would be timely to learn about the current proposal, and place it in the context of past and potential future development, as well as the challenges and opportunities at Northgate.

We will hear about the rezone proposal from:

 Paul Fischburg, Senior Policy Analyst, Seattle Office of Policy and Management 

Kristian Kofoed, Land Use Planner, Seattle Department of Planning and Development

Karen Janosky Associate Principal at Mithun and project manager for the Northgate Urban Center Park.  She has completed several notable urban block parks including Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park on the New York City waterfront, two museums on the Capitol Mall in Washington D.C., and the Olympic Sculpture Park here in Seattle.

Please join us to hear about the rezone proposal, and for an informal discussion about how it responds to local and regional goals.