Blogs

Solid Ground plans to build an additional 106 units of permanent housing within the Sand Point Housing campus. The new units will complete the vision for Sand Point set forth in the Sand Point Reuse Plan, which calls for 200 units of housing for homeless people at Sand Point. The 106 new units will combine with 94 units currently in operation to total 200 units.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Development, new applications for single-family building permits rose by 4.0 percent in May to an annual rate of 518,000 units, while housing starts rose by 17.2 percent in the same time period.  If compared with 2008, one sees an overall decrease of 47 percent for new building permits and 45.2 percent for new home starts.

Offering the most comprehensive set of pediatric services in the Northwest, Seattle Children’s Hospital is beginning to feel the strain of increasing patient volume on current facilities. Since spring 2007, Children’s has been working with a city-appointed Citizens Advisory Committee to develop a Major Institution Master Plan (MIMP) that will guide campus development for the next 20 years.

Tukwila City Council held a special meeting last night to consider the various elements of the Tukwila South Project, a mixed-use master planned development located east of I-5, between S. 178th/Orillia Road and S. 204th Street. The project encompasses approximately 498 acres; 217 acres of which are currently within Tukwila city limits and another 259 acres located in unincorporated King County.

The proposal in question would amend Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) Section 23.53.006 to add exemptions from sidewalk improvement standards when constructing certain single-family structures.  Sidewalk improvements are currently required within urban centers, urban villages, and along arterials when there is a change in use, alteration to an existing structure, or addition to an existing structure.

Dave Ramsey plans to retire after 36 years of public service, 12 of which were spent as Kirkland’s City Manager.   His official last day will be March 31, 2010. Afterwards, Mr. Ramsey has intentions of pursuing opportunities in the non-profit sector where he hopes to work on Smart Growth or Land Conservancy issues.

In an attempt to promote economic development and improve customer service, Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke is asking City Council to authorize the creation of a new department focused on community and economic development. The department would represent a consolidation of the City’s Community Development Department, Development Division of Public Works and economic development staff from the Mayor’s office.

Seattle City Council is considering changing neighborhood parking restrictions in a big way.  On June 8, the Seattle City Council Transportation Committee passed a resolution to review the Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) program, which is often called the Residential Parking Zone program.

Wallace Partners LLC is proposing a six-story mixed-use building on the northwest corner of Madison and 13th where Precision Tune auto service center currently sits.