Published March 2003

Lynnwood development plans reflect urban trends

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Editor

Lynnwood’s proposed City Center Project — a 20-year development that would create a downtown core with five- to 25-story office buildings, housing, pedestrian-friendly shopping areas and 14,000 new jobs — is expected to face an official “green light” vote by the City Council this month.

During February, a series of six public forums was held to present city officials’ thinking about future city development. The downtown expansion plan has been the focus of research and planning by the city since 1995 in this community best known for its residential neighborhoods, the regional Alderwood Mall and miles of retail businesses strung along 196th Street SW and Highway 99.

Lynnwood is the only city within south Snohomish County to declare an intention to “assume the role of a subregional urban center,” said Kevin Garrett, Lynnwood’s planning manager.

The development plan is designed to capitalize on the city’s already expansive retail hub; its new multimillion-dollar Class A office buildings — Sparling and Cosmos Lynnwood Center — that have joined a skyline once dominated only by the Fisher Building; its growing population; and the increasing interest from businesses wanting to move north from King County.

With street links to both the new $31 million Lynnwood Convention Center on 196th Street SW, due to open in late 2004, and the Alderwood Mall, now in the midst of a $50 million expansion, the new city center is expected to attract businesses, office buildings, retail stores and new residential districts in high-density configurations.

“This is a concept stage,” said Mayor Mike McKinnon. “Ninety-five percent of the site has 40- to 50-year-old, single-story buildings that are ripe for redevelopment. It’s a terrific opportunity.”

The entire 345-acre city center plan is expected to create 1.5 million square feet of retail space, 6 million square feet of commercial and office space, and 4.8 million square feet of residential space in 4,000 dwelling units, for a total of 12.3 million square feet of downtown development.

Urban developers and planners see the unmistakable trend tied to 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, including Lynnwood’s urban design plans, the Everett Station area development and the new Mill Creek Town Center project.

“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 timing for our (city center) development in Lynnwood is kind of a surprise given the economy right now,” said Jim Cutts, Lynnwood’s community development director. “But we’re on a pace to do $100 million in new building permit valuations this year, about the same as last year and close to the $92 million in 2000 — after years of reaching around $50 million annually.”

For more information, contact the city’s planning manager, Kevin Garrett, at 425-670-6292 or visit the Internet at www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us.

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