The city of Bothell breaks ground Tuesday on an ambitious overhaul of its downtown district that could one day bring more than 1 million square feet of new retail, office and residential development to the small city of 32,000 residents.

Over the next two years, Bothell will invest more than $150 million in infrastructure improvements, including shifting State Route 522 one block to the south and reconfiguring its intersection with State Route 527. Moving the state highway will add three new blocks to downtown Bothell.

In all, 15 downtown buildings will be demolished and 25 acres along SR 522 redeveloped as the city revitalizes its downtown. Additionally, SR 527 will be turned into a tree-lined, pedestrian-oriented boulevard connecting downtown Bothell to the Sammamish River while State Route 520 west of the city will gain dedicated lanes for public transit and new, energy-efficient street lights.

Plans call for a new civic campus anchored by a new city hall. The city will also expand The Park at Bothell Landing to include more walking paths and play areas as well as a beach for launching canoes and kayaks in the Sammamish River.

The new development is planned to include apartments, condominiums and townhomes as well as additional office space with residential units and offices above street level retail. The city has completed an environmental impact statement for the redevelopment project as well as a master utility plan. That means private developers will not need to prepare separate environmental studies for their projects as long as they comply with the city’s revitalization plan.

Bothell will sell the 25 acres it now owns downtown to developers over the next three years.

Read more: Bothell begins downtown revitalization plan - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle)
Jeanne Lang Jones
Puget Sound Business Journal