Project Status - On Hold
- Updated in March 2010
Thank you for your interest in the Aurora Avenue urban design study, which addressed land use and streetscape on Aurora Avenue north of Greenlake from N 72nd to N 90th Streets. The public involvement and urban design study elements of this study were completed, but DPD does not currently anticipate publishing a draft of this study. The study is not on DPD's current work program.
Background: In response to requests from the community and the development of a citizens’ Action Agenda by a group of community stakeholders, the City launched an initiative in 2007/2008 to assist in the revitalization of the Aurora Avenue N. corridor between N. 72nd and N. 90th Streets. The City undertook this study to investigate a range of future scenarios for this corridor that examine constraints and opportunities relating to land use, urban design, and transportation. The goal is a plan for the corridor that establishes a vision and recommends revitalization and improvement strategies supporting the neighborhood’s Action Agenda.
Organizing the Study: In 2008 and 2009, Seattle’s Office of Policy and Management (OPM) provided support to the Aurora Avenue Task Force, a group of citizens representing neighborhood business, residents and community groups. The Urban Design subcommittee of the Task Force is worked with OPM and the Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD) on the urban design study. DPD hired Cascade Design Collaborative (CDC) to provide Urban Design and Traffic analysis for the study period that took place between October 2008 and March 2009. In addition to OPM, DPD, CDC and the Urban Design Committee, other City Departments provided input on the study. King County Metro Transit was also involved as they began to plan for the Bus Rapid Transit routes that will begin running on Aurora Ave in 2013. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) also provided feedback since they have jurisdiction over the function of Aurora Ave (State Route 99).
Community Input: The Urban Design Committee of the Aurora Task Force (made up of community volunteers) provided guidance on consultant hiring, outreach, meeting format and the content of the study. The team organized a series of community meetings to provide input to the study (click here for community meeting materials and notes). On November 10, 2008 the community provided the team with their thoughts about what is working and what is not working along the Aurora corridor today as well as their vision and values for the corridor. Based on what the consultants heard at this meeting and with the help of the team, they developed four alternatives for locating the bus rapid transit stops and for improving the pedestrian environment in the vicinity of these stops. These alternatives were presented at a second community meeting on December 8, 2008 for community feedback.
The team also repeated the agenda of the November 10 community meeting for the Aurora Avenue Merchant’s Association on November 13, 2008, and last met with the public on February 9, 2009.
Survey: With all of the materials posted on line, additional input was sought through a survey based on the four alternatives mentioned above (click here to complete the survey). With input from the surveys, the results of the December 8 community meeting, feedback from the Aurora Avenue Merchants Association, city departments, King County Metro and WSDOT, the team refined proposals.
