Council Approves Broadway District Height Increase

SEATTLE-The City Council here this week unanimously passed legislation increasing the maximum building height along Broadway Avenue. Use of the height increase was restricted to residential development and the effective date of the change is August 15, which will allow time for the Council to pass Broadway specific design guidelines.The legislation raises the height limit for properties along the east side of Broadway from 40′ to 65′ and from 35′ to 40′ for properties facing 10th Ave East. To the west, between Broadway and Harvard Avenue East, height limits would increase from 40′ to 65′. The legislation also includes a fix for commercial property owners in the district whose properties have a split zone, such as commercial zoning on the front half and residential zoning on the back half. The change rezones to Neighborhood Commercial 3/Residential the east portions of commercial property along Broadway that also faces 10th Ave E. as well as the west portions of commercial property along Broadway that also face Harvard Avenue E.Last week, the Council approved a related resolution, which directs staff to explore strategies for revitalizing the Broadway Business District. The resolution was sparked by Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck, chair of the Urban Development Committee, who wanted to see the city do more than just raise the district’s height restriction.The resolution lays out what should be done to revitalize the district. It calls for using specific design guidelines that encourages upper level setbacks, façade treatments, and usable upper-level open space; the development of an inventory of the neighborhood’s historic resources, and; the consideration of streetscape improvements. It also calls for encouraging greater use of the city’s Property Tax Exemption for Multifamily Housing Program to create more affordable housing; the development of a marketing strategy, and; the development of a plan to improve public safety problems and human service needs.