LCC Comments on UW Plans for Laurel Village

 

The Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) published this information in a recent newsletter:

LCC comments on UW's Laurel Village plans.

The UW recently announced plans to redevelop student housing and additional student housing and daycare at Laurel Village ( 4200 Mary Gates Memorial Drive NE) .

LCC shared their comments on the plan with CUCAC (UW/Municipal Environment Committee) to inform the desired relocation to the residential areas in addition to better outcomes for more housing.

Highlights from LCC's comments include: 1) Conservation of mature trees surrounding residential areas and improving area vitality. Trees provide greenery for the residents of the village and surrounding areas, providing shade and vegetation for families. (Seattle has already lost 3% of its canopy (against the city's 5% growth policy by 2030 and similar large-scale projects must be built to preserve air-purifying trees, urban environments and shade on hot days) 2) Non-reflective facades Simple, uncluttered architecture, use a neutral Northwest color palette and natural materials. 3) Design the site so that the high-rise buildings are adjacent to the elevated topography of NE 45th Street, which will facilitate expansion to low-rise residential buildings along Mary Gates Memorial Park. 4) Keep the space open for families and childcare. 5) Reduce the impact of Single Occupant Vehicle (SOV) traffic by doubling the current number of accommodation spaces (from 80 to 320) and increasing the nursery 'turn lanes' from 77 to 200. busy corner intersection. LCC suggests using NE 45th St, possibly. Input of stress relief at a five-way intersection. 6) Improve pedestrian safety at the dangerous intersection from Laurel Village to Clark Road.

In March 2022, LCC met with the city's chief safety engineer to request increased safety for student families and cyclists who use the road to connect to the light rail station and campus.

LCC is asking UW to work with SDOT to protect the 640 residents of Laurel Village, which will include new daycare children and bicyclists. n Mary Gates Memorial Dr. "face to face" with a new residential building. It had to face, and the courtyard had to look inside the area (today facing) to the neighboring houses.

LCC has expressed a desire to work closely with UW and CUCAC to improve the location of the new buildings, preserve trees, traffic flow and material palette as Laurel Village plans move forward.

(Photo courtesy of UV )

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