Nearly 100 Northgate community neighbors and business owners provided valuable feedback on plans for two upcoming projects—expansion of the Northgate Mall and the Coordinated Transportation Investment Plan for the Northgate area—at a Nov. 9 community forum on the North Seattle Community College campus. The forum was convened by the Northgate Stakeholders Group, a broad-based advisory group to the Mayor and City Council.

Additionally, at its working session on Nov. 18, the stakeholders group approved final advice to Simon Properties and the City on conceptual plans to demolish two abandoned buildings and build nearly 100,000 square feet of new stores and restaurants. Pedestrian improvements, new landscaping and transportation issues are major community concerns.

Simon and the City are also looking into the feasibility of using natural drainage methods to improve water quality in the parking lot. These techniques use landscaping and special pavement materials to allow plants and soils to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff to help protect Thornton Creek.

The stakeholders group is expected to continue its work through 2005, and plans to advise the City on 5th Avenue Northeast pedestrian improvements, and the Thornton Creek Channel and Lorig projects on the south lot.

Regular working sessions of the stakeholders group are open to the public. Its next session will be held Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005, 4-7 p.m. at North Seattle Community College, Room ED2843A (in the Dr. Peter Ku Education Building).