UNIVERSITY DISTRICT URBAN DESIGN FRAMEWORK
Project Information
Several planning efforts are underway in the U District:
- The U District Livability Partnership is a multi-year strategic initiative to encourage investment for a vibrant, walkable University District neighborhood. This coalition of community members worked together in 2012 to develop a strategic plan for the neighborhood. This plan includes new thinking about how the University District community could be safer, more attractive to employers and residents, and more collaborative between different stakeholder groups. In 2013, the UDLP will continue to work toward establishing a long-term leadership structure for the neighborhood.
- UDistrict Next: A Community Conversation included a walking tour and three large community events to discuss the future of the neighborhood. Guest speakers shared lessons learned from local and national redevelopment examples, and community members discussed a range of issues relating to life in the U District. Videos are available on the website.
- The University District Urban Design Framework summarizes recommendations from a year-long outreach process, which included a working group of community stakeholders as well as broader community input. This document is the starting place in developing new land use regulations, design standards, and open space improvements for the neighborhood. Following one more round of review and edits from the working group, we will distribute a revised draft to the whole community for further review.
Community involvement
To date, DPD has hosted or participated in:
- 13 Urban Design Working Group meetings
- 10 U District Livability Partnership Steering Committee meetings
- 3 U District Next “community conversations”
- 4 walking tours
- 5+ neighborhood group meetings
- Dozens of individual and small group meetings with community members
Participants include:
- Residents
- Property owners
- Business owners
- The faith community
- Social services providers
- University of Washington
- Developers
Urban Design Working Group Process
As part of the U District Livability Partnership, the City hosted the Future Development and Urban Design Working Group. This working group is composed of individuals from throughout the University District who met throughout 2012 and early 2013 to provide ideas and recommendations to leaders in the University District and to DPD. All working group meetings were open to the public. Find meeting materials below:
Meeting #1 June 7, 2012
Agenda
Meeting Notes
Introductory Materials
Background Information
Meeting #2 June 21, 2012
Agenda
Meeting Notes
Background Information
Meeting #3 July 13, 2012
Agenda
Meeting Notes
Presentation - Our Work So Far
Meeting #4 July 27, 2012
Agenda
Meeting Presentation Materials
Questions About Transit
Meeting Notes
King County U District Map
King County U District Layover Map
King County U District Route Performance
Meeting #5 Sept. 7, 2012
Agenda
Public Space Network Presentation
Public Space Network Base Map
Public Space Network Discussion Questions
Meeting #6 Sept. 20, 2012
Agenda
Discussion Questions
Frontage Presentation
Meeting Notes
Meeting #7 Oct. 4, 2012
Agenda
Gateways, Hearts, and Edges Discussion Questions
Height Comparisons
Height Presentation
Preliminary Working Group Recommendations
Meeting Notes
Meeting #8 Oct. 18, 2012
Agenda
Introduction to Environmental Sustainability Ideas
Meeting Notes
Meeting #9 Nov. 2, 2012
Agenda
Meeting Notes
Meeting #10 Nov. 30, 2012
Agenda
Meeting Notes
On January 30, 2013, we sent a rough draft of the U District Urban Design Framework to the working group. Then, we compiled all the email responses we received about the January 30, 2013 draft.
Existing Conditions Report
Complete University District Urban Design Framework Existing Conditions Report (7.27 MB)
Complete Printable Version (7.31 MB)
Last Updated:
March 12, 2013
