Adopted Downtown Livability Legislation
The City Council unanimously approved a package of legislation addressing downtown livability on April 3, 2006.
Below you will find a general summary of the legislation, links to the ordinance, related resolutions,
and other background information.
Key Elements of Downtown Livability Legislation
Jobs: The legislation increases the capacity for jobs downtown, with new growth directed to the Commercial Core and parts of the Denny Triangle. The adopted zone boundaries and height and density limits are shown on the attached map.
Housing: The legislation increases the capacity for housing downtown, and residential high-rises can reach the maximum development potential by contributing to affordable housing. In Downtown Office Core 1 and 2 zones, the affordable housing bonus fee is $18.94 per net square foot. In Downtown Mixed Commercial zones, the fee ranges from $10 per net square foot on the lower floors of a tower to a maximum of $25 per net square foot on the top four floors, which averages to $18.94 per net square foot. Setting the fee on this tiered basis reflects the greater market value of the higher floors of a tower.
Sustainability: The legislation gives an incentive for meeting the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standards to encourage "green" buildings; provides for the continuation of Transfer of Development Credits (TDC) program to save rural land in King County; and eliminates minimum parking requirements for non-residential uses.
Pedestrian Friendly Development: The legislation encourages a safe and active street life by limiting parking above the first floor to one floor for every floor of below grade parking, with a maximum of 4 stories above the first floor. Overhead weather protection and lighting at street level are also required.
Building Design: Taller, more slender towers are encouraged by setting maximum floor size limits for residential towers, and width limits for residential towers will also lead to more slender buildings. Commercial structures are required to modulate so that the appearance of building bulk is minimized.
The legislation includes a tower spacing provision in the Downtown Mixed Commercial zone that helps ensure light and air at street level. In Belltown, towers over 160 feet in height are required to be spaced at least 80 feet apart above a height of 125 feet, which recognizes the residential character of this area. The spacing requirement is 60 feet in the Denny Triangle Urban Center, which is expected to have a greater mix of commercial and residential uses. In order to avoid walling off the Pike Place Market from the Retail Core, a 200 feet spacing requirement applies along Second Avenue.
Historic Preservation: Under the legislation, historic buildings will have more development rights to sell to raise funds for restoration. The code changes are supported by the survey of potential downtown historic resources funded in 2006 by the Council and now being carried out by the Department of Neighborhoods.
Downtown Livability: The downtown zoning changes are accompanied by two resolutions that call for making downtown more livable and family-friendly. Resolution 30831 declares the Council's intent to enhance downtown livability by exploring ways to increase the supply and affordability of housing and to support employment opportunities. The resolution also calls for more family-friendly amenities downtown, such as an elementary school, playgrounds, grocery stores and community centers. A separate resolution, #30829, declares the Council's intent to explore locating a significant public open space in the Belltown neighborhood, and requests that the Executive direct the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation to undertake feasibility, siting and acquisition studies.
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In the News
- City looks north for inspiration, 3/6/06, The Daily
- Rising rents driving out 'heart and soul' from downtown, 2/23/06, Seattle P-I
- With Friends Like These … Backroom developer deal threatens expansion of housing funds, 1/18/06, Real Change News
- City seeks cut of profits of high-rises for public, 1/12/06, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- Higher high-rise fee proposed, 1/12/06, Seattle Times
- Report: development fee downtown 'viable', 1/11/06, Daily Journal of Commerce
- Is Belltown Ready for a Kid-Friendly Makeover? 1/11/06, Daily Journal of Commerce
- View News Release: Study Reveals the Economics of Downtown Development
- View News Release: Steinbrueck Plan for a More Livable Downtown
- The Stranger, In the Hall, 8/11- 8/17/2005, In the Hall
- Time To Grow Up, 8/10 -8/16/2005, Seattle Weekly
- Seattle downtown plan needs adjusting, report says, 8/9/2005, Seattle Times
- Vancouver offers tips on vibrant urban living, 8/4/2005, Seattle P-I
- Should Vancouver be Seattle's model?, 7/1/2005, Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce
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