Changes may be ahead for Ridgecrest

SHORELINE — The Ridgecrest neighborhood could see any number of changes with more discussion and a lot more planning.

That’s the word from experts in landscape design.

Economic development manager Tom Boydell and University of Washington Department of Landscape Architecture professor Luanne Smith spoke about a recent design charette for the Ridgecrest neighborhood during a presentation to the Shoreline Planning Commission May 3 at the Shoreline Center.

“The Ridgecrest neighborhood commercial center project is the first project of the sustainable neighborhood initiative of the Shoreline office of economic development,” Boydell said. “It’s an opportunity for Shoreline to model a prototype of how development and environmental context work together beautifully at the neighborhood level.”

The process began in April 2006 with the closure of the former Cascade Bingo Hall on the southeast corner of 165th Street. Recognizing the potential for developing the 2.6-acre site, the current owner decided to wait to see results from University of Washington students’ research, planning and gathering of Ridgecrest community feedback, Boydell said.

“There is an enormous positive potential at this site for things like mixed development, public spaces, pedestrian improvement and more,” he said.

According to Smith, two property owners were interested in participating in the project, making the project study area encompass the former bingo site as well as five parcels totaling slightly more than four acres across from the Crest Theatre.

“I want you to know we did our homework,” Smith said, explaining to commissioners that students studied the history of Shoreline and the Ridgecrest neighborhood — specifically the commercial area — in great detail.

In the first public meeting on Jan. 24, community members moved between five work stations, showing students where they lived, worked, or spent time, and learning more about sustainable living and alternative energy practices.

“I have to say the Ridgecrest neighborhood is ready, willing and waiting for this kind of (sustainable living) development to happen,” Smith said. “They really gave their input and the students really valued what they had to say.”

The students used the feedback they received to work in teams to develop four alternative design projects, which they presented to the community in another public meeting March 7. The designs, known as the reuse/infill plan, neighborhood business plan, community business comprehensive plan and a sub-area neighborhood plan, varied in levels of density and drew interest from residents.

While the reuse/infill plan most closely resembles existing zoning strategy and introduces moderate changes such as new housing options, trail connectivity and increased parking and public spaces, the sub-area neighborhood plan details the possibility of a 20-story building and close to 400 new residential units.

“Students really took a lot of heat for this (sub-area neighborhood) plan and I have to really commend them for taking it on,” Smith said. “They felt if it was a possibility of what a developer could do then it was their responsibility to let the citizens of Ridgecrest know that this could happen.”

Boydell said the owner of the former bingo site is considering four potential development teams, each of which is excited about what it heard from the community in the charette process. He has received responses from business owners in the neighborhood, including one who called him personally to say he has trust and confidence in what goes forward.

“I have had calls from someone who wants to start a bakery/deli, someone who wants to open an independent bookstore …” Boydell said. “We’ve also had discussions with PCC (Grocery) and a couple other co-op grocers.”

Smith said a challenge for her students was grappling with a wide spread of opinions and thoughts from the Ridgecrest neighbors.

While some neighbors wanted absolutely nothing changed, other people thought a couple more open or shared spaces, increased housing options and a few new businesses would be nice. Some people, she said, would like to see all of Fifth Avenue become commercial.

Though the presentation before the planning commission was only meant as a briefing of what has occurred so far, discussion about the future of the Ridgecrest neighborhood will continue. Before the end of June, the university will make a written report available to the planning commission and city council. The report also will be posted on the city’s Web site. The 3D models and design boards made by students are currently on display at the Shoreline Historical Museum.

“I would really like to see this turn into analyzing the (Shoreline) development code,” planning commissioner David Pyle said. “This inspires me that Shoreline could have development like this occurring but, at the same time, I’m concerned that in order for us to get there we’re going to have to align all of our codes just to have any (development) occur.”