Institute to Issue Totem Lake Recommendations

Ways to revitalize the Totem Lake area -- possibly new parks, transportation improvements or regulatory reform -- will be released at a public briefing July 20 by an urban planning think tank hired by the city of Kirkland to study the issue.

The non-profit Washington, D.C.-based Urban Land Institute, which has offices in Seattle, will release its recommendations during the meeting starting at 3 p.m. at Northwest University, 5520 108th Ave. NE.

The Kirkland City Council has made a priority of -- which generates more tax revenues than any other city neighborhood -- since last year. In September it hosted a symposium of more than 40 businesses to generate ideas on revitalizing particularly the area south of and the Totem Lake Mall.

It then approved a 2011-12 Action Plan incorporating many of the ideas, largely on traffic and transportation improvements, regulations and the permit process and neighborhood amenities.

Ellen Miller-Wolfe, Kirkland's economic development director, said the institute was paid $15,000 to examine the city's plan and make recommendations.

"All this is about driving investment to Totem Lake," she said Monday. "It's going to be an urban center, with fairly high densities, both residential and commercial. We're asking the institute, is our vision for the entire thing on the right course?"

The briefing will include a question-and-answer session with the public.

“The city is looking for practical advice on how to transform the Totem Lake Business District into a high density, mixed-use urban center,” Mayor Joan McBride said in a press release.  “ULI’s assessment will help us to sharpen our economic development tools and to focus our vision on the future of this vital area.”