Centers and Corridors
CENTERS
As we plan for 2050, we are re-evaluating our Centers for growth capacity, character, and transitioning to pedestrian-oriented urban forms (buildings, streets, sidewalks, etc.). We're also wanting to maximize housing opportunities, keep jobs and housing near transit, preserve manufacturing zoning, and looking for ways to improve equity and inclusion in our built environment. For the Redmond 2050 update, that means changes for all our centers - plus adding an industrial/manufacturing center designation in SE Redmond (on land currently zoned for those uses). Some of the highlights for that work are show on the next few slides, with links to additional information.
Types of Centers
The regional planning framework includes three levels of growth centers that serve to guide regional growth allocations, advance local planning, inform transit service planning, and represent priority areas for transportation funding.
Growth in centers has significant benefits, including supporting multimodal transportation options, compact growth, housing choices near jobs, climate goals, and access to opportunity. As important focal points for investment and development, centers… support equitable access to affordable housing, services, health, quality transit service, and employment.
Learn more about each type of Center and what they look like in Redmond by exploring the tabs below:
Transit Oriented Development
Redmond 2050 continues to focus growth in Redmond’s centers in a way that addresses needs and goals related to equity, sustainability, and resiliency.
As part of this work, we've received a grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to implement Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) near the light rails stations. Our TOD focus areas for Redmond 2050 are the areas within a 10-minute walk of the four new light rail stations.
Regional growth centers are mixed-use centers designated by the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) that include housing, employment, retail and entertainment uses. There are two types of regional growth centers:
Metro Centers | Urban Centers |
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Metropolitan Growth Centers (Metro Centers) have a primary regional role – they have dense existing jobs and housing, high-quality transit service, and are planning for significant growth. They will continue to serve as major transit hubs for the region. They also provide regional services and are major civic and cultural centers. | Urban Growth Centers (Urban Centers) have an important regional role, with dense existing jobs and housing, high-quality transit service, and planning for significant growth. These centers may represent areas where major investments – such as high-capacity transit – offer new opportunities for growth. |
Overlake Metro CenterThe most significant changes will occur in the Overlake Neighborhood. The opening of two new light rail stations in the neighborhood provides opportunities for transit-oriented development. The environmental constraints in Downtown and Marymoor that aren't a factor in Overlake, as well as the availability of many vacant and redevelopable parcels, make this neighborhood a good place to accommodate growth while minimizing negative impacts. Changes will include expanding the urban center boundary (cross hatched area in map at right to be added to the center), up-zoning, a new incentive package, taller buildings, updated design guidelines, and creating an International District in the Overlake Village area (and much more).
| Downtown Redmond Urban CenterThe City will be looking at ways to maximize potential for the new light rail station as well as updating design guidelines, community character and historic preservation policies, removing code provisions that make it less likely for office developments, and reviewing potential updates for Town Center.
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Countywide Growth Centers are established as a part of the King County Countywide Planning Policies and serve important roles as places for equitably concentrating jobs, housing, shopping, and recreational opportunities. Currently, the Marymoor Local Center is proposed as a Countywide Growth Center in the Redmond 2050 plan update; the City is also studying designation of a Countywide Industrial Center in Southeast Redmond as part of the Center Alternative.
Countywide Growth Center | Countywide Industrial Center |
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Countywide Growth Centers serve important roles as places for equitably concentrating jobs, housing, shopping, and recreational opportunities. These are often smaller downtowns, high-capacity transit station areas, or neighborhood centers that are linked by transit, provide a mix of housing and services, and serve as focal points for local and county investment. | Countywide Industrial Centers serve as important local industrial areas. These areas support equitable access to living wage jobs and serve a key role in the county’s manufacturing/industrial economy. These areas serve the region with industrial infrastructure, concentrations of industrial jobs, evidence of long- term potential, and can be accessed by transit. |
Marymoor VillageThe Marymoor Village center was created in 2017, so most of the revisions under review are to address new opportunities and ways to meet community priorities that emerged in the visioning process. Updates will address :
Staff has also been working on ways to implement flexibility while ensuring we meet the goal of having a unique character for Marymoor Village. One idea under consideration is utilizing this area’s prominence and importance to local Native cultures. There is a desire to explore options for how we could develop design feature that would recognize, celebrate, and preserve the connections to Native cultures (colors, art, landscaping materials, etc.)
| SE RedmondDuring the visioning phase, the community expressed a desire to protect manufacturing land and jobs. Redmond is studying a concept for a new jobs center is SE Redmond that would protect land currently zoned for industrial and manufacturing uses by creating a Countywide Industrial Growth Center in that area. Countywide Growth Center Redmond submitted a letter of intent to study the potential for utilizing this new center typology in SE Redmond on existing industrial and manufacturing land. Utilizing the centers designation would make this area eligible for regional transportation grants. NOTE: This would keep the underlying uses allowed as those heavier non-residential uses that are currently allowed - no expansions to uses or rezoning are proposed.
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CORRIDORS
As part of the Redmond 2050 project the City is exploring potential for growth and development along major corridors. Corridors that may see changes include Willows Road, Avondale Road, Redmond Way SE, and 148th Ave NE.
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Beckye Frey
Principal PlannerPhone: 425-556-2750
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Lauren Alpert
Senior PlannerPhone: 425-556-2460