Coffee Talk 5: Density and its Benefits

The old JCC Building at
35th and 86th.

Coffee Talk 5: Density and its Benefits
Thursday, June 21st, 7-8:30PM
Temple Beth Shalom (6800 35th Ave NE)

For some along 35th Ave NE, the thought of a 4-story, mixed-use building at the intersection of NE 86th Street, created anxiety. This isn't uncommon for predominantly residential neighborhoods, like those along 35th Ave NE. In fact, some came together to oppose the project despite the property's Neighborhood Commercial-40 (NC40) zoning which allows this scale of development. Years on, the Jasper Apartment building is nearly complete (certificate of occupancy expected in July) and the first mixed-use residential building along 35th Ave NE (in Ravenna/Bryant or Wedgwood) is now a part of the landscape.

New Jasper Apartments at
35th and 86th.

On Thursday, June 21st, Catherine Benotto with Weber Thompson Architects will discuss the benefits to communities that comes from increased density. Increased residents by way of greater density provides tangible benefits that the community has identified as important values. Its important for us as a community to recognize these benefits and their roots if we are to take the fear of the "D word" away. This isn't to say that there aren't real trade offs that come along with land use planning and increased density, which will be discussed during Coffee Talk 7, but there are many benefits as well.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for the final two Coffee Talks after this:

• Coffee Talk 6: “Financial realities of development.  Incentivizing successful development” – Thursday, July 26th, at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church (Fellowship Hall – Downstairs) from 7-8:30PM. - Speaker: Ellen Miller-Wolfe, Economic Development Director for the City of Kirkland
• Coffee Talk 7:  ”The Trade Offs of Land Use Planning” – Thursday, Aug 23^rd , at  Wedgwood Presbyterian Church  (Fellowship Hall - Downstairs)  from 7-8:30PM - Speaker:  Erin Christensen, AIA, LEED AP ND, Mithun