Showing posts with label development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label development. Show all posts

Green Building Speakers Series: Green Community Design - Next generation green technologies

Thursday, May 11, 2017


The second session of the Green Building Speakers Series: Green Community Design - Next generation green technologies will be Thursday evening, May 11, 2017 from 7-9pm in the Council Chamber at Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave N 98133.

Presentation by Walker Leiser, LFA, PDC- Living Technology Consultant

This event will introduce next generation technologies and concept projects, including Earth Harmony Habitats, a design that would be net positive (generating more than it needs) with regard to energy, water, and food.

Full series information here


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Lakeview Place construction may start in June

Sunday, April 30, 2017



The Lake Forest Park Planning and Building Department has received the building permit applications for Lakeview Place, the 14-unit multi-family project on NE 155th Street.

Construction could start as early as June of this year.


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Potala Place Shoreline to replace derelict buildings on Aurora

Friday, June 5, 2015

Potala Place Shoreline
Construction may begin this month

Potala Place Shoreline, 15560 Westminster Way N Shoreline 98133, is a strategic mixed-use residential property located at the gateway to the Aurora Square Community Renewal Area in Shoreline, WA.

The 7-level apartment development includes approximately 309 residential units over 298 structured parking stalls.

The project will include two mid-rise residential towers above a single concrete podium. An internal podium level landscaped courtyard creates an outdoor space for the residents allowing fresh air and privacy.

Other amenities include a clubhouse, fitness center, BBQ area, dog walk and bicycle parking. 

Sustainable design strategies are employed and considered throughout the building from material selection to construction waste

The bulldozers are currently working on the site and construction will begin as soon as final permits have been issued by the City of Shoreline later this month. Projected completion date is May 2017.

Apartment homes in this location between the shopping mall and Aurora Avenue, was part of the vision for renewal when the City of Shoreline formed the Community Renewal Area.

The developer is Dargey Real Estate Developers, which specializes in mixed use, multifamily, retail, and hotel development projects. Architects are Caron Architecture.



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North City Post Office property

Saturday, March 21, 2015



According to Ernie Swanson, spokesperson for the Seattle area USPS, the post office has a lease on the North City Station that expires on June 30, 2016. "We are currently in negotiations for a new lease."

In the meantime, the owners of the land are shopping it around for a major site development, using recent buildings such as the Malmo and Polaris as examples.

Flexible zoning is a selling point:
Zoned CB (Community Business) The current CB zoning allows for up to 60 feet of residential, retail, office or mixed use structure development without any density limitations. The Property is located in a planned action area within the City of Shoreline, which is exempt from the SEPA review process. 
They include a copy of the rezone map for the 185th subarea, showing that the site is in the Commercial Business zone.


updated 8:44pm





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City of Shoreline: A Renaissance on Aurora Avenue

Friday, April 11, 2014

The view down Aurora Avenue
 in Shoreline towards Seattle
Republished with permission from the Economic Development Council of Seattle and King County

The City of Shoreline is well known as a boutique city routinely recognized for its desirable quality of life with distinct neighborhoods, strong schools, and enticing parks. Developers, though, are discovering something new to appreciate about the city that borders Seattle to the north: profitable opportunities along Shoreline’s re-imagined, tree-lined version of Aurora with its publicly-funded and completed infrastructure improvements.

Shoreline’s Aurora Corridor Project is the redesign and redevelopment of the three miles of Aurora Avenue North (State Route 99) that run through Shoreline. Shoreline’s section of SR-99 carries 40,000 – 45,000 vehicles per day and is a major transit route. Improving Aurora has been a community goal since the City of Shoreline incorporated in 1995.

Because Shoreline has relied heavily on outside sources of funding for the project, it was built in phases as funding allowed. Impressively, when the last section is completed in 2015, over 90% of the nearly $150 million investment will have been provided by outside partners. The goal of the project is to improve pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle safety, pedestrian and disabled access, vehicular capacity, traffic flow, transit speed and reliability, nighttime visibility and safety, stormwater quality and management, and streetscape amenities.

In addition, the City set a goal of unlocking the economic potential represented in the six miles of now improved SR-99 frontage. The project has already helped stimulate the construction of over 750 homes, the ISHS medical clinic, Chuck Olsen’s Kia dealership, US Biotek’s lab, and the Rat’s Nest, the new home and practice rink of the Rat City Rollergirls. In order to further capitalize on Aurora’s investment, the City’s economic development strategy will focus on placemaking to make Aurora function as an attractive neighborhood in its own right.

To that end, Shoreline’s City Council designated Aurora Square, currently home to Central Market, Sears, Marshalls, and WSDOT’s regional headquarters, as a Community Renewal Area (CRA). 

“Aurora Square has enormous potential,” stated Will Hall, Shoreline Councilmember and long-time EDC Board Member. “Aurora Square’s renewal will create more places for the community to enjoy and will make the area more environmentally friendly.”


Concept model of Aurora Square as described in the CRA Renewal Plan

The Aurora Square CRA Renewal Plan spells out substantive ways that the City is willing to engage in public-private partnerships to encourage transformation into a destination shopping, entertainment, and employment center. The City believes that a renewed Aurora Square will trigger development up and down Aurora, especially with the recent addition of Metro’s RapidRide E-line providing convenient connections on Aurora to downtown Seattle.

“I smile when I meet skepticism about Aurora’s potential,” remarks Dan Eernissee, Shoreline’s Economic Development Manager. “Look what’s happening along Aurora between Shoreline and downtown Seattle: wherever a sense of place is established, Aurora experiences dramatic redevelopment. We trust that when investors consider developing along Aurora in Shoreline, they will find that we’ve been working for two decades to prepare a place for them.”

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Aurora Square Master Planning Open House Wednesday, Apr 24

Friday, April 19, 2013



As part of its ongoing Aurora Square renewal efforts, the City will host an open house on Wednesday, April 24 to share information and hear from residents about the City’s master planning process for the area.

Aurora Square is home to many outstanding businesses, but due to the absence of cohesive planning and investment, the center provides little cohesion between them. In the first step of the Aurora Square renewal plan, the City is stepping in to act as the master planning agent.

Our City’s master planning is intended to provide a dynamic and flexible framework for guiding public-private partnership projects by allowing each individual property owner to understand and invest in the “big picture” while not needing to control other properties.

Master planning will enable the City and property owners to take a fresh look at the current structures and road network in and around Aurora Square. Planning will emphasize repurposing buildings, increasing land use efficiency and improving traffic flow and pedestrian connectivity, all in an effort to enhance the visitor’s experience.

The open house will provide residents with an opportunity to learn more about the master planning process and a chance to provide comments on the planning efforts.

The open house will be held at City Hall from 7:00 to 8:30pm on Wednesday, April 24.


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Aurora Square and Film Board presentations at Pro Shoreline meeting Feb 27

Monday, February 25, 2013



Pro Shoreline Community Meeting

Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 7pm

Richmond Beach Library
19601 21st Ave. NW
Shoreline, WA 98177
206-546-3522

The Pro Shoreline Board has invited Dan Eernissee, Economic Development Manager for the City of Shoreline to share some interesting and exciting developments in the Aurora Square area. This includes the Community Renewal Area, the Shoreline Film Office and other place making opportunities.

What does CRA mean?

Shoreline City Council adopted Resolution 333 on September 4, 2012, thereby creating the Aurora Square Community Renewal Area (CRA) The CRA establishes that economic renewal for the 70+ acre Aurora Square commercial area is clearly in the public interest.  With the CRA in place, the Shoreline Office of Economic Development is freed to work in cooperation with the Aurora Square property owners to draft an economic renewal plan for the CRA.
  • What is a Community Renewal Area (CRA)?
  • Why a CRA at Aurora Square?
  • What is Aurora Square's potential?
  • What role might the City play?
  • Does the CRA change zoning or heights of buildings?
  • Will the City master plan Aurora Square?
  • Will my property taxes or values increase or decrease.
What is the Shoreline Film Office?

The Shoreline Film Office is a collaborative effort of the City of Shoreline's Office of Economic Development and the Performance Arts and Digital Film making program at Shoreline Community College. We are growing a local film industry, and the talent to support it, by providing affordable resources to film professionals willing to create in an educational context.
  • What resources are available through the Shoreline Film Office?
  • Will you be blocking any Right-of-Way (ROW) for an extended period during shooting?
  • Are you requiring exclusive use of a significant part of a City-owner park or facility
  • Are you conducting an extended commercial shoot in a residential area?
  • Is your film going to clearly cast Shoreline in a positive light?
These are two of the interesting topics that will be discussed this evening. Hope that we will see you there.

Pro Shoreline Board
Judy Parsons, Gretchen Atkinson, Carolyn Hope, Kyrie Cataldo, Rich Gustafson

Good government begins with you!


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Brighter economic forecast for 2013 and 2014

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

From the City of Shoreline

While Shoreline and the region are still feeling the effects of the Great Recession, things are beginning to look up. Local economists speaking at the Economic Development Council of Seattle and King County’s 41st Economic Forecast Conference on January 10 forecasted a better economic outlook for 2013 and 2014. According to them, the region will be moving into a period of modest growth and inflation.

Here in Shoreline we have already seen improvements in a number of different ways. One key sign that the economy is improving for Shoreline residents is that the unemployment rate dropped to 6.2% in November. This is down from a high of 9.7% in 2010 and matches the City’s average over the past ten years. It is also lower than the regional unemployment rate for November of 6.8% and the state unemployment rate of 7.3%.

Another indication of the improving economic health in Shoreline is that permit revenue exceeded projections in 2012 by 85.5%. Increased permit revenue is an indication of people investing in their properties and expanding their businesses.

Assessed values, which is another indication of the economic health of a community, showed a smaller decrease than anticipated. The City projected a 7% decrease in assessed values for Shoreline. However, the final results from King County show that property values will decrease by only 4.91%. While any decrease is bad news, the fact that the decrease was lower than projected points to a slowly improving economic picture for Shoreline.

A priority for the City Council is strengthening Shoreline’s economic base. 

“Many families and individuals are still struggling, but it is great to see improvement in economic trends and consumer surveys,” stated Councilmember Will Hall, who also serves on the board of the Economic Development Council. “We are working hard at the local and regional level to implement our economic development strategies, and they are beginning to pay off for our businesses and residents.”

Mayor Keith McGlashan adds, 
“The Council is committed to promoting investment in Shoreline and supporting our small businesses. The City is excited that we are going into our fourth year in partnership with the Shoreline Community College to provide the Quick-Start Program for small business owners and managers.” 

Quick-Start, which is part of the College’s Small Business Accelerator Program, provides weekly workshops and classes, and one-on-one counseling for Shoreline’s business owners.

“Shoreline is in a great position to see positive growth in the area,” stated Economic Development Manager Dan Eernissee. “The Council has worked hard to create an environment that is attractive for new businesses and that support our existing businesses. The Aurora Square Community Renewal Area is a perfect example of how the Council is working to make Shoreline an attractive place to invest.”

Since incorporation in 1995, the City has maintained strong financial policies that have allowed it to weather the Great Recession without it adversely affecting service delivery. The City continues to provide the quality services our community has come to expect and demand. It also continues to maintain a Standard & Poor’s AA+ bond rating and financial management assessment rating of “strong,” maintain reserve levels to address unanticipated needs and comply with the City’s adopted financial policies. In addition, the City continues to produce clean audits and to be recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association for the Distinguished Budget Award. As the economy improves and revenues pick up, the City will continue to maintain its strong financial policies allowing the City to respond to residents needs and provide quality services.


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Council unanimously approves establishment of Aurora Square Community Renewal Area

Thursday, September 6, 2012

From the City of Shoreline

In an effort to spark economic renewal of the 70+ acre Aurora Square commercial area, on September 4, 2012, Shoreline’s City Council adopted Resolution 333 creating the Aurora Square Community Renewal Area (CRA). With the CRA, the City is freed to work in cooperation with the Aurora Square property owners and developers to draft an economic renewal plan for the area.

Washington law (RCW 35.81) allows cities to establish a community renewal area along with a community renewal plan to help areas that need renewal. In the case of Aurora Square, the Council and many community members believe economic renewal is needed. Once a CRA is established, the City gains a toolkit designed to help it facilitate renewal. For example, while Washington law typically limits cities from working with private enterprise, cities are encouraged to partner with private enterprise to rejuvenate a CRA, a tool than can be particularly effective at helping Aurora Square reach its potential.

The Aurora Square commercial area is comprised of ten separate pieces of oddly shaped property creating disconnected islands of buildings that are difficult to navigate. What’s more, current building and stormwater laws add more challenges for individual property owners in the area who wish to redevelop their site. Together, these challenges have stymied redevelopment, limited reinvestment and produced poor sales, values and rents.

The City regularly surveys its citizens about ways to improve Shoreline, and better shopping, entertainment, and destination restaurants are constantly mentioned. Aurora Square has the potential of accomplishing all of these opportunities. By creating a CRA, the City will be able to work directly with property owners to plan improvements that benefit all property owners. Aurora Square can become a model of “lifestyle Shoreline,” with smart-built infrastructure, residences, offices and generous open spaces tied to transit, neighborhoods, and the Interurban Trail.


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Community Renewal Area - Aurora Square

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Sears was cutting edge when it was built
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline
By Jack Malek

Shoreline’s office of Economic Development hopes to see the Aurora Square commercial district, home to the Central Market and the old Sears building among many other stores, revived and redeveloped. 

Forty-five years ago the Sears Building was a national example of a cutting edges quality, a higher standard of living, and a symbol for progress and prosperity. As time marched on, it has become outdated and obsolete with very little value and suboptimal tax revenues for the city.

Presently, Aurora Square generates $6,000 Sales Tax Dollars per acre each year while Aurora Village at 205th Street and Aurora generates $39,000 Sales Tax Dollars per acre per year. If the site and stores were improved even modestly so that they bring in $21,000 Sales Tax Dollars per acre per year, then Aurora Square would add $500,000 Total Sales Tax dollars “every year” to the Shoreline City budget.

Ten different owners are involved
Orange lines show boundaries of each land parcel
King County iMaps

Redevelopment plans have been stymied due to the obsolete buildings, inadequate street layout, excessive land coverage, and diversity of ownership. There are ten different ownership groups who have a stake in the 70+ acre property. According to the CRA - FAQs, “this many owners has resulted in an inability to make changes at the speed necessary to respond to opportunities.”

State law prohibits the city from devoting public resources towards an economic redevelopment project such as Aurora Square unless the area is designated as a Community Renewal Area. With the CRA designation, the city establishes that economic renewal is in the public interest. 
Together with a Community Renewal Plan, the city can assist the ownership groups by getting them to a redevelopment table and assisting with architectural drawings, storm water and energy system designs, tailoring zoning incorporating the Interurban Trail and other transit routes, and financing major infrastructure improvements.

This project accomplishes all three elements of the city’s sustainability goals (Economic, Social, and Environmental) in that it will increase revenues for services, strengthens community by adding a state of the art venue hosting integrated trails, transit and shopping, and is environmentally friendly. Two recent examples can be found at Bremerton’s Waterfront Park redevelopment and Vancouver’s Fourth Plain Renewal.

The location along the Aurora corridor is ideal. This type of cooperative effort with the city, and together with land and business owners, and community members has a “signaling effect” that attracts and welcomes large-scale developers, along with quality retail stores, services and dining.

With the help of QBL Real Estate Consulting and Foster Pepper Law Firm, the head of Shoreline’s Economic Development, Dan Eernissee, presented the idea for this project to the city council August 13. The council was very receptive to the idea and following a public hearing, they return to the council September 4 for approval.


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