What will be the future of Kirkland Parkplace?
Kirkland Parkplace is currently before the Design Review Board with its preferred application to rebuild the site with 1.8 million square feet of office and retail space, a larger QFC, a theater, gymnasium and hotel.
The project is to include underground parking, and approximately 40% will be open space. But there is a catch: the developer, Touchstone Corporation has requested exemptions to the zoning to allow for zero setbacks along Central Way and up to eight story heights, and this has some residents nervous.
Touchstone has also filed an alternative proposal which complies with existing regulations. This plan is to be an office park — without any of the concessions requested in the first plan. The Design Review Board has scheduled a meeting regarding this “alternate proposal” on Monday, June 2nd.
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3 Responses to “What will be the future of Kirkland Parkplace?”
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By N2H
KCTS 9 Connects - Yakima Valley Gangs
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The future will be a win/win for both Kirkland and Touchstone. Let them build just plain office buildings like they threaten to do if they don’t get their way. They will cut off their own nose to spite the zoning rules, which they knew about when they purchased the property.
It’s a game. If they have offices, the offices will only be valuable if they offer some shops and restaurants for their clients. Do they want all of the workers in the offices to get in their cars for lunch? Let’s be realistic about traffic!
[Reply]
The developer has two options. 1- proceed with a primarily office development in accordance with current zoning without the extended public process of a Private Ammendment Request, or 2- Do the PAR and create a vibrant mixed use project that anchors the east end of Peter Kirk Park.
Clearly, the 2nd option is in the best interest of the community. However, Kirkland is making it so hard to achieve that the developer is simultaneously pursuing option 1.
Kirkland needs to work aggressively WITH the developer to capitalize on a remarkable opporunity to enhance the community. Otherwise, we will end up with an office park in the middle of downtown and we will loose a great deal of retail in the process.
[Reply]
There is currently a STRONG demand for office. Touchstone has no need for retail to attract an office user.
Is it a better deal for Touchstone to do mixed use? Sure. Otherwise they would not have pursued it.
But don’t be naive. They would do just fine with primarily office in accordance with existing zoning. And that is exactly what Kirkland will get if they don’t come to the table quickly. The rejection of a fantastic project at the BofA site has no doubt caused them to re-evaluate their options. Were I them, I would abandon the mixed use option immediately and pursue the office option full speed.
It costs $25-50,000 for each round with the DRB, Planning Commission, or City Council. That is the cost of preparation of materials and consulting time. Why would you spend the money with 0% certainty of outcome? They are not stupid. Nor should the city be.
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