Downtown’s rapid growth and economic vitality were the main topics of discussion as residents got a chance to voice their concerns and ask questions of Redmond Mayor John Marchione last Friday at the Redmond Senior Center (RSC).

The informal meeting was the first of “First Friday Coffee Chats” hosted by the senior center. The chats feature different city officials on the first Friday of every month to help educate residents about city programs and services.

The mayor kicked off Friday’s discussion by explaining his vision for downtown, which he hopes will grow into a happening — but humble — neighborhood.

“We’re creating a new neighborhood downtown, instead of spreading the growth evenly throughout the city,” he said. “We want to create a new neighborhood downtown and create growth there.

“We don’t want to make downtown skyscrapers, so we’ve capped things at four-to-six stories, no buildings over six stories.”

The model for downtown development will be mixed-use, Marchione said, with retail, restaurants and stores on the first floor and housing up above “to help create this new neighborhood.”

“It’s been a challenge, but it allows us to preserve our existing neighborhoods.”

Upgrading infrastructure

The city is working hard to upgrade the infrastructure — the roads, sewers and water drains — in order to balance out all of the new downtown development, Marchione said. The city just completed the Bear Creek Parkway expansion, the first project to come out of the city’s Downtown Transportation Master Plan and the first new road in Redmond in 15 years, Marchione said. The $9.3 million project extended Bear Creek Parkway to the portion of 159th Place Northeast south of Cleveland Street and west of Leary Way. A second phase of the project will connect 161st Avenue Northeast to the parkway extension, which will help the flow of traffic — both pedestrian and vehicle — in downtown, Marchione said.

Also, part of the Downtown Transportation Plan is to turn the major one-way downtown arterials, Redmond Way and Cleveland Street, into two-way streets. One major piece in all of the downtown traffic revisions is the old, unstable Burlington-Northern railroad, which runs through downtown. Marchione said the city has hopes of buying the tracks by the end of the year and putting “water, sewer and stormwater underneath the railroad right- of-way, instead of tearing up the streets.”

Above the ground, Marchione said he is hoping the the railroad right-of-way will be used for light rail and trail uses. Currently, there is funding for light rail to reach the Northeast 40th Street Park and Ride in the Overlake neighborhood near Microsoft Corp. Marchione said “if there’s more funding or a way to get more funding,” a light rail station would be built in downtown Redmond, somewhere between Cleveland Street and Bear Creek Parkway.

“So our preferred route for light rail is to come down 520 to the end of 520 and then buttonhook up the Burlington-Northern line, come into the heart of downtown and the (light rail) station would be just west of Leary Way,” Marchione said.

In addition, the city plans to build a downtown park, adding a much-needed green area and avoiding a concrete jungle, Marchione said. The preferred site is approximately two acres, located between Redmond Way and Cleveland Street.

Many of the residents in attendance were worried that the infrastructure is not in place to support the rapid new development going on in downtown.

The mayor said that was the reason he got involved in city government in the first place: to ensure that the infrastructure keeps up with the growth. That is why he said the city is slowing growth down in surrounding neighborhoods and increasing it in downtown. He assured the residents in attendance that plans are in place to make sure the proper infrastructure would be added to handle the growth.

But some were worried about the impact that new downtown development would have on surrounding neighborhoods, namely the increase in traffic. Marchione said his goal is to improve the quality of life in Redmond, but he said he realizes that some people will be upset by the negative impacts of new development.

“If I waited for everybody to be happy, I wouldn’t get anything done,” he said.

Retaining businesses

A few of the residents in attendance were also concerned about the local economy and asked why some businesses are closing down shop. One resident said she goes to Bellevue to do some of her specialized shopping for camera-related items and gift cards.

Marchione said the focus of the city’s economic efforts is to retain the businesses it has and promote Redmond, especially downtown, as a place to live, work and shop.

“I do want you to shop in Redmond,” Marchione said. “We’re finishing up the economic development study on how to get the right mix of restaurants and businesses so people can live and shop in Redmond.”

One resident asked about the plans of Costco coming to Redmond. Marchione confirmed that Costco planned to open in store on Union Hill, but negotiations between the land owner and Costco have stalled, putting the plans on hold. He declined to comment further about the Costco development, but did say he is optimistic that a deal will get done.

Overall, Marchione said Redmond’s economy is not bad, considering the country is in a recession.

“We are pretty well off compared to the Puget Sound region and the rest of the country,” he said. “Our revenues (for the City of Redmond) are only down six percent. Kirkland is down 22 percent … Bellevue is laying off people. We are just trying to retain what we have.”

Upcoming “First Friday Chats”

Oct 2: Assistant Police Chief Larry Gainer and Commander Shari Sholvin will discuss public safety.

Nov. 6: Bill Campbell, public works director, will explain the standards and criteria for construction in Redmond.

Dec. 4: Colleen Kelly, human services manager, will talk about how to improve public health.