SHORELINE — Plans for the south section of Echo Lake, at 19250 Aurora Ave. N., echoed through a room with more than 40 residents at a neighborhood meeting Sept. 21.
The developer of the 8.61 acre site, Shoreline-resident Harley O’Neil, announced tentative plans for a CRISTA senior community, office space, YMCA, condos, restaurants, a hair salon and a park on the waterfront.
The property borders Aurora Avenue on the west, 192nd Street on the south, Echo Lake on the north and the Interurban Trail on the east. O’Neil compared his ideal development to Green Lake, where amenities are located near the path around the lake.
O’Neil’s plans are not finalized and he welcomed suggestions from neighbors about what they would like to see at the site.
“I would like to come up with something you guys would buy into,” O’Neil said. “This is all very tentative; things could change.”
The site currently contains the Holiday Resorts mobile home park, a house and several small cabins. The mobile home residents are now on month-to-month leases, although there is no definite timeframe for redevelopment.
The western portion of the property is zoned for mixed use, and the eastern portion designated high density residential. O’Neil plans to apply to change the designation to mixed use. The change process requires a proposal submitted to city staff, public notice and a public hearing at the planning commission.
O’Neil said he has been trying to get the Shoreline/South County YMCA to develop on the property for several years now. He first hoped they could develop at Gateway Center, the former QFC store property at N. 185th Street and Aurora Avenue N. Now he is hoping they will agree to build a new facility at the Echo Lake property. YMCA officials have been looking for several year for a site to build a new larger facility complete with a pool. O’Neil said YMCA staff like that the Metro park and ride and the lake are close to the property.
“It is something I am looking at,” O’Neil said. “I am hoping the YMCA can come, but it isn’t a done deal.”
O’Neil also said the site is being looked at by city staff for a new City Hall, although several other sites are also being considered. Nonetheless, he hopes to designate a portion of the property for office space.
O’Neil said he was approached by CRISTA staff, who said they needed more senior housing for the 65 to 75-year-old age group, since there is a five-year wait at the current facility.
The apartment business has been difficult lately, O’Neil said, and although condos are risky, he said if they were nice enough and close to amenities, they may do well.
Other ideas suggested by neighbors included an amphitheater, cottage-style homes and upscale restaurants.
“We need a good breakfast place,” said Barbara Guthrie, a resident of the neighborhood for 11 years. “I hope people in the office space will eat outside.”
“We need a preschool playground,” said Diane Hettrick, a resident of 30 years. “The only one I know of is in Mercer Island.”
Some concerns the neighbors mentioned were the water quality of Echo Lake and increased traffic on a residential street.
O’Neil said that a traffic study would be conducted before the property is redeveloped.
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