Comments on: Drawings of Kirkland Parkplace options and the Planning Commission to hold final public hearing http://www.kirklandviews.com/2008/06/24/drawings-of-kirkland-parkplace-options-and-the-planning-commission-to-hold-final-public-hearing/ Kirkland's Blog for News and views on life in the City of Kirkland, Washington Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:15:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Want to be kirkland http://www.kirklandviews.com/2008/06/24/drawings-of-kirkland-parkplace-options-and-the-planning-commission-to-hold-final-public-hearing/#comment-318 Want to be kirkland Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:26 +0000 http://www.kirklandviews.com/?p=223#comment-318 This development as proposed is the same size as Redmond Town Center, with fewer parking spaces. Total square footage is on par wiht the Columbia Tower. What makes us think we can support a regional mall of this size? Why not do something mixed use with fewer square feet. I enjoyed a coffee at Parkplace Starbucks the otherday, sitting outside in the sun, looking up at blue sky Under these plans, I would be at the base of a 11 or 8 story building, looking across at another 11 or 8 story building. No sun. Kirkland needs mixed use, but there are way too many unanswered questions and promises from the developer. And is any one concerned that this developer does not specialize in mixed-use retail? In fact according to his Web site, they have done only one retail development. I would want some assurances on tenants. RTC has a bunch of major retailers to support their size. I am not conviced Kirkland can attract them given that we can only draw from the East,South and North (no shoppers in the lake) and east of here is RTC, North is Lynnwood mall and south is Belle Square. This development as proposed is the same size as Redmond Town Center, with fewer parking spaces. Total square footage is on par wiht the Columbia Tower. What makes us think we can support a regional mall of this size? Why not do something mixed use with fewer square feet. I enjoyed a coffee at Parkplace Starbucks the otherday, sitting outside in the sun, looking up at blue sky Under these plans, I would be at the base of a 11 or 8 story building, looking across at another 11 or 8 story building. No sun.

Kirkland needs mixed use, but there are way too many unanswered questions and promises from the developer. And is any one concerned that this developer does not specialize in mixed-use retail? In fact according to his Web site, they have done only one retail development. I would want some assurances on tenants. RTC has a bunch of major retailers to support their size. I am not conviced Kirkland can attract them given that we can only draw from the East,South and North (no shoppers in the lake) and east of here is RTC, North is Lynnwood mall and south is Belle Square.

]]> By: Some Thoughts http://www.kirklandviews.com/2008/06/24/drawings-of-kirkland-parkplace-options-and-the-planning-commission-to-hold-final-public-hearing/#comment-315 Some Thoughts Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:56:27 +0000 http://www.kirklandviews.com/?p=223#comment-315 l think that Kirkland needs to slow down its rapid development. I also feel like a salmon swimming against the current. I want the historic aspects of Kirkland preserved and tearing down Park Place is not the answer. The historic clock should be kept at the very least. I am emotional about this issue because I have spent much of my life at Park Place. Change is hard to swallow. My intellect tells me something needs to be fixed with the stores in Park Place but I do not trust the developer or the city to make things better. l think that Kirkland needs to slow down its rapid development. I also feel like a salmon swimming against the current. I want the historic aspects of Kirkland preserved and tearing down Park Place is not the answer. The historic clock should be kept at the very least. I am emotional about this issue because I have spent much of my life at Park Place. Change is hard to swallow. My intellect tells me something needs to be fixed with the stores in Park Place but I do not trust the developer or the city to make things better.

]]> By: Tia http://www.kirklandviews.com/2008/06/24/drawings-of-kirkland-parkplace-options-and-the-planning-commission-to-hold-final-public-hearing/#comment-310 Tia Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:34:23 +0000 http://www.kirklandviews.com/?p=223#comment-310 LofL, I believe those lower heights along 85th are to partially preserve the long view as you enter Kirkland via this gateway street. They also serve to lessen the impact of the overall size by pushing the height away from the street. Pedestrians aren't a factor there but drivers are, and they won't feel like there is a huge structure at their shoulders if heights are lower there. Going to eleven stories with shorter sections lets the developer maintain the same overall square footage as the eight story plan. LofL, I believe those lower heights along 85th are to partially preserve the long view as you enter Kirkland via this gateway street. They also serve to lessen the impact of the overall size by pushing the height away from the street. Pedestrians aren’t a factor there but drivers are, and they won’t feel like there is a huge structure at their shoulders if heights are lower there. Going to eleven stories with shorter sections lets the developer maintain the same overall square footage as the eight story plan.

]]> By: Summer Dreams http://www.kirklandviews.com/2008/06/24/drawings-of-kirkland-parkplace-options-and-the-planning-commission-to-hold-final-public-hearing/#comment-305 Summer Dreams Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:08:51 +0000 http://www.kirklandviews.com/?p=223#comment-305 Of the three pictures shown, it looks like the citizens for responsible development will be pushing for option A not because they want lower heights but they also don't want the views blocked of Ken Davidson who just happens to own a huge building next door. Ken's beautiful views will be blocked by the project just as his neighbors' views were blocked when his building was built. What goes around comes around I guess. Ken's issue is clear but the rest of those who follow him do not seem to have a clear message because they say they are in favor of development of park place but just not to the extent that the landowner wants. I wonder how many of them are willing to grant their neighbors veto rights over their property when it is time to for them to sell. Of the three pictures shown, it looks like the citizens for responsible development will be pushing for option A not because they want lower heights but they also don’t want the views blocked of Ken Davidson who just happens to own a huge building next door. Ken’s beautiful views will be blocked by the project just as his neighbors’ views were blocked when his building was built. What goes around comes around I guess. Ken’s issue is clear but the rest of those who follow him do not seem to have a clear message because they say they are in favor of development of park place but just not to the extent that the landowner wants. I wonder how many of them are willing to grant their neighbors veto rights over their property when it is time to for them to sell.

]]> By: Lack of Leadership http://www.kirklandviews.com/2008/06/24/drawings-of-kirkland-parkplace-options-and-the-planning-commission-to-hold-final-public-hearing/#comment-302 Lack of Leadership Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:41:00 +0000 http://www.kirklandviews.com/?p=223#comment-302 In another post greg sparhawk said we need buildings designed with input of the people who live in and around them. I think his name is on the list of people trying for the new DRB slots I agree with his statement and i hope he gets on the board. With regard to these options I wonder how 11 stories will look from the park. I think there will be step ups from the park but what will be gained by 11 stories? If I read the plans correctly it looks like lower heights will be along 85th. That is a busy intersection about to get busier with little or no pedestrian activity on the north east corner. Why have low buildings there? What is the benefit? The lower building heights should be where people can enjoy them not cars. In another post greg sparhawk said we need buildings designed with input of the people who live in and around them. I think his name is on the list of people trying for the new DRB slots I agree with his statement and i hope he gets on the board. With regard to these options I wonder how 11 stories will look from the park. I think there will be step ups from the park but what will be gained by 11 stories? If I read the plans correctly it looks like lower heights will be along 85th. That is a busy intersection about to get busier with little or no pedestrian activity on the north east corner. Why have low buildings there? What is the benefit? The lower building heights should be where people can enjoy them not cars.

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