THE FUTURE OF 35TH AVE NE - Final Report

FINAL REPORT
Click to Download (5MB)

In January 2012, the 35th Ave Committee kicked off a proactive community-driven planning effort for the 35th Ave NE Business District. After 3 years of public meetings, field trips, data collection, Coffee Talks, surveying, being awarded a grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, selecting a consultant team, hosting public workshops, collecting more data, and receiving the endorsements from the Wedgwood Community Council and Ravenna Bryant Community Association, we have finalized the Future of 35th Ave NE Plan final report.

This Future of 35th Ave NE Plan final report includes the following elements, which together, are intended to provide a foundation and direction for future development of the 35th Ave NE Business District as change occurs.

SUPPLMENETAL DESIGN
GUIDELINES - HANDBOOK
Click to Download (PDF, 1MB)

• Streetscape Toolkit which describes a Street Concept Plan, similar to those within the Seattle Right-of-Way Improvements Manual, for neighbors and future developers to consider when making improvements to the pedestrian environement. 
• Supplement Design Guidelines that are intended to accompany the citywide Seattle Design Guidelines and provide direction for future architects and designers as new developments are proposed along the 35th Ave NE Business District within Wedgwood, Ravenna, and Bryant and reviewed by city planners and the NE Design Review Board. 
• Zoning Recommendatons to encourage modest redevelopment at existing commercial "nodes" of the scale that supports the types of retail desired by the community while minimizing effects to the immediate and surrounding residential community. Please note: The proposed zoning recommendations are just recommendations and do not constitute any changes to the existing zoning.  Future changes to the zoning may occur, however, through a Legislative Rezone completed by the Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD), which was requested by the 35th Ave Committee or future Contract Rezones completed on a parcel-by-parcel basis.

These three elements are intended to work together to shape the future of 35th Ave NE into the type of walkable business district desired by the community, improve the conditions which support the businesses that occur in the district, and provide improved predictibility for landowners and future developers. Therefore, considering only one of these elements in isolation does not provide the context and complete picture intended by this plan. If you have questions or concerns regarding this plan which are not addressed in the final report, please review the FAQ prepared.

There are many who we, the 35th Ave Committee, need to thank for helping to complete this report and playing a critical role in the quality of this document.

Engaging discussion between
neighbors during a public workshop.

• First and foremost, a HUGE thank you to all of our neighbors who provided their feedback and joined us in difficult, but necessary, discussions about the future of our shared business district.
• Thank you to the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods for providing the resources, through the excellent Neighborhood Matching Fund grants, to make it possible for community groups to identify and complete important projects for the betterment of the community as a whole.
• Thank you to our excellent consultant team, Makers Architecture & Urban Design LLP and SvR Design Company, for the invaluable experience and professionalism which you brought to this project.
• Thank you to the Seattle Department of Planning & Development and Seattle Department of Transportation for providing us with critical, techincal feedback.
• Thank you to the Wedgwood Community Council and Ravenna-Bryant Community Association for endorsing the 35th Ave Committee and this final report.

TO ACCESS THE FUTURE 35TH AVE NE FINAL REPORT, CLICK HERE (PDF, 5MB).