Northgate Action Agenda unlocks barriers to growth

SEATTLE—Mayor Greg Nickels last week announced an Action Agenda for the Northgate area that unlocks a package of economic, community and environmental benefits.

The agenda involves a development proposal with Simon Properties and removes land-use regulations that have failed to achieve their purpose, blocked investment and stalled progress on community benefits, according to Nickels.

The development proposal with Simon Properties, if approved by the City Council, would include the major redevelopment at the Mall, improvement at the 5th Ave. entrance and conveying nearly three acres of land to the city at no cost.

The mayor’s agenda also moves forward long-awaited community amenities. These include:

• a new library and community center

• a community garden

• pedestrian and transit improvements

• adoption of almost 100 community-driven recommendations to improve Thorton Creek habitat

• new transit-oriented development

“This is a turning point for Northgate,” Nickels said.

“We’re moving past more than a decade of indecision and city regulations that have choked progress. We have the vision and the partners in place to make major investments to improve this urban center for families, businesses and consumers. To get moving, we will get rid of land-use rules intended to help Northgate but which did just the opposite. They’ve failed. They’ve got to go,” he added.

Mandating a General Development Plan (GDP) for large Northgate sites began in the early 90’s. The rule is unique to Northgate. No other Seattle neighborhoods has similar regulation.

The GDP was supposed to improve traffic management and building design, but didn’t, according to Nickels. He said his agenda is a better way to achieve community goals, which include a design review and a coordinated transportation analysis for major projects.

“Removing choking regulations will allow new investments at Northgate. Removing these regulations provide jobs and stronger tax base and will serve Seattle’s families for decades to come,” Nickels said.

“This is the sort of thing we should and must do during a recession. It’s a good move for our economy and an excellent, long-term step for the residents of northeast Seattle,” he added.

The Simon Properties proposal would also help the city achieve major environmental benefits, according to Nickels. The proposal transfers three acres of open space, currently at the mall’s south lot, to the city at no cost. The parcel will be used for public open space and a stormwater pond landscaped with native vegetation.

The pond will control stormwater and will clean up polluted water runoff from more than 30 acres that currently drains untreated into Thornton Creek.

The mayor’s plan further calls for implementing almost 100 drainage recommendations in the Thornton Creek Action Agenda, a product of the Northgate community-driven Watershed Action Plan. In addition to the stormwater pond, other improvements of the Thornton Creek Watershed include habitat enhancements along the creek downstream from the South Lot to improve the environment for fish and other wildlife.

"The new stormwater pond will help meet the community’s and the city’s objectives to make Thornton Creek healthier for people, fish and other wildlife," Nickels said. "Plus, the city will work with other South Lot developers to make this open space a great gathering place for residents."

Removing the GDP will also allow new transit oriented development, a step praised by King County Executive Ron Sims.

"This proposed private commercial development and publicly financed transit center will not only achieve our vision for how this area should grow in the future, it will also serve as a vibrant new urban center for the region," Sims said. "By tightly integrating housing, retail, entertainment and a public transportation hub—all within close walking distance—we will create the kind of environment that allows people to live and work in one place while making it easier for residents, shoppers and commuters to use public transportation."

Office of the Mayor release, March 17

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