Revitalizing Mountlake Terrace’s downtown

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Officials here say a five-story mix of retail shops and apartments, the first large-scale project in a planned Town Center, is expected to be completed by mid-2012.

The project, on 1.3 acres in the heart of downtown at the corner of 56th Avenue W. and 236th Street SW, is planned to include 10,500 square feet of ground-floor shops and 123 apartments with underground parking.

“It really sets the stage for a revitalized Town Center and provides for people and businesses to be close to the new transit center,” said Shane Hope, the city’s community and economic development director.

Property owner AFCO &Sons LLC will develop the property.

The Town Center lies within a 63-acre portion of downtown, mostly along the north-south 56th Avenue W. between the Snohomish-King county line and 228th Street SW.

Zoning changes implemented by the City Council in 2007 set the stage for what city officials envision as a mix of shopping, offices and living spaces.

Town Center buildings will range from three and five stories in most areas, to seven stories high in a “super block” between 234th Street SW and 232nd Street SW.

Bothell architect Carl Colson designed the apartment complex for AFCO &Sons LLC.

“I think the city’s done a really good job of making this area appealing to residents and passersby,” he said.

In addition to the project’s 172 underground parking stalls, space will be set aside for up to 160 bicycles, Colson said.

Groundbreaking for the project should happen next April, with the project completed 12 to 14 months later, Colson said.

Other approved projects are on hold because of the slow economy, Hope said.

They include: