Overview
In collaboration with neighborhood groups, property owners and individuals - the City is developing a streetscape concept plan for Thomas St. from Eastlake Ave. to Elliott Ave. W., passing through the South Lake Union and Uptown neighborhoods. Thomas St. is one of several streets that will be reconnected between South Lake Union and Uptown when the North Portal of the waterfront tunnel is completed. This will create important new pedestrian connections.
A streetscape concept plan is an urban design plan to help guide future streetscape and public realm improvements. Streetscape concept plans can be implemented over time either through improvements with new private development, or through City capital projects. A key feature of the Thomas St. Streetscape Concept Plan is that it anticipates physical changes that will occur in conjunction with planned revisions to Aurora Ave. N. and SR 99. The concept plan can help inform decisions about configuration and character of east – west roadways in South Lake Union and Uptown. The concept plan builds on other recent planning work for South Lake Union including the South Lake Union Urban Design Framework. The preferred outcome for a Streetscape Concept Plan is adoption as an appendix to the City’s Right of Way Improvements Manual in order to provide formalized design guidance for future streetscape improvements on the street.
Much of Thomas St. is designated as a Neighborhood Green Street. Green Streets designations are a way to achieve particularly excellent pedestrian corridors by coordinating streetscape investments Green Street improvements make streets safe and comfortable for walking and bicycling, and often include a high level of landscaping and other amenities. Green Streets add to livability of a neighborhood, link public open spaces, and can include green stormwater infrastructure. The streetscape concept plan explores design options to integrate these types of Green Street features on Thomas St.
May 17, 2010
