Published February 2004

Development of city centers is regional, national trend

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Editor

Mill Creek isn’t the only Puget Sound community seeking to create a “downtown” focal point for residents, shoppers and tourists — so are Lynnwood, Tukwila and Federal Way.

It’s a real challenge for cities that have never had a “real” town center amidst their sprawling subdivisions and strip-mall developments, making it tough to choose the right location, attractions, architectural designs and amenities that people, and investors, will learn to love.

Tough challenge or not, the trend is unmistakable and urban developers say the reasons are clear: shifting demographics and lifestyle tastes.

“Of course, the Growth Management Act is behind a lot of it, forcing people to look inward for development rather than continuing to spread out, but it’s also the fact that we’re going through a huge demographic shift in the region,” said Mark Hinshaw, director of urban design for LMN Architects, a Seattle firm that has participated in the recent development of more than a dozen city and town centers.

“Locally, a lot more people want to live closer to their work and transportation. Increasing numbers of retired and semi-retired people want to be closer to services, and young singles are looking for fun and interesting places. They don’t want a place in the suburbs,” he said.

The urbanizing of suburbia is also an established national trend. In 1999, a report by urban planners Chris Duerksen of Clarion Associates in Denver and C. Gregory Dale of McBride, Dale, Clarion in Cincinnati, noted that “the traditional city center is where the action is. … It sets one city apart from another and makes each city special. … Many suburban communities have no old downtown … there is no ‘there’ there.”

Their study found that citizens are increasingly concerned over the lack of “a sense of place” and “community character” in their suburban domains, feelings that are fueling the growing need for creating city centers as “community focal points.”

Hinshaw emphasizes that creating a successful city center in suburban communities isn’t a short-term building blitz but rather a 20- to 25-year effort that requires both public and private investment.

Related: Developer enjoying role in new Mill Creek Town Center

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