Federal Way/Auburn/Kent Development News

[USAPatriot]

I know it is not Federal Way, but it is a South King County Town. I got a ton of photos I took of many south King County Towns coming up. Here is the first! It is of Kent. Up next is Auburn, Puyallup, and many more.

[BoulderGrad]

Hey!, did you get any of the new Kent Events Center? New home of the Thunderbirds.

[USAPatriot]

Look for yourself. Its on the link.

[Fedwayer]

Looks like Federal Way may be looking at several more hi-rises when the economy improves. The City Council is looking at building a performing arts center as part of a hotel/small convention center, and a private developer is interested in partnering with them. The developer said the project would occur in 3 or 4 phases. This site is kitty-corner to the four-tower Symphony project, and it's just south of the transit center and north of 320th.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/l...ry/369895.html

[Fedwayer]

Looks like the project is going to be delayed a year due to the economy. Apparently the developer has his construction financing (a Canadian bank), but he's waiting for the market to strengthen. They also apparently are considering making the first tower apartments instead of condos.

[mike0898]

This news isn't too surprising. Let's hope they can pull this off; it's a great project. I don't think they'd have too much trouble renting the apartments, so maybe it's a better way to start.

On a side note, it's disappointing that ST2 doesn't reach S 320th St, as currently proposed. That would have really helped FW's city center plans.

[USAPatriot]

Not just Federal Way, but Auburn Puyallup, and all the south sound cities are kind of silent right nowand under the radar with news. I can't find anything. :-/

[Bond James Bond]

I'm sure there must be a strip mall or something they're building down there. :-/

[USAPatriot]

With an extra big parking lot just for us.

[AzChristopher]

My parents told me tonight that the Costco in Covington is opening tomorrow... I know evil Covington but whatever.

[USAPatriot]

I've never actually been to Covington I don't think. Anything there I'd take pictures of, or is it just sprawl? I need to make a trip to the south sound.

[taiwanesedrummer36]

Originally Posted by USAPatriot

I've never actually been to Covington I don't think. Anything there I'd take pictures of, or is it just sprawl? I need to make a trip to the south sound.

Sprawl; what do you expect?

In this bad economy, sprawl rules the development world, unfortunately...

[AzChristopher]

Originally Posted by USAPatriot

I've never actually been to Covington I don't think. Anything there I'd take pictures of, or is it just sprawl? I need to make a trip to the south sound.

There isn't anything there to take photos of but I wouldn't call it sprawl. All the construction is along the main street through town. But a town of sub 20,000 people isn't exactly going to get tall buildings.

[USAPatriot]

Okay, I went down there today ,and went through Federal Way... and got bored of the sprawl... so sorry, instead I got pictures of small towns like Orting, Yelm, McKenna, Alderton, and some other place I forgot the name of. When I get the pictures up, I'll tell you.

Maybe next weekend, and if gas is still cheap, I'll find Covington.

[CrazyAboutCities]

I don't blame you. I usually got bored faster when I am in sprawling suburbs.

[USAPatriot]

I didn't even know what to take pictures of in Federal Way. I know they have a historic old building, but I didn't know where it was. Also, when I drove through Spanaway, it was all sprawl. When it's all sprawl, what do you take pictures of? A road with a bunch of signs and parking lots? I don't know.

[CrazyAboutCities]

How's about looking at Google's satellite map to see something that interest you to take the pictures of?

[USAPatriot]

Wow! Brilliant idea!

[CrazyAboutCities]

[Fedwayer]

Yes, Federal Way definitely has its share of suburban sprawl. But there are some areas of interest (at least of as much interest as any other suburban city).

Federal Way was largely built by Weyerhauser with a lot of campus style office building. There are office buildings in West Campus (the area near City Hall, between Hwy 99 and 1st Ave). There's a fairly tall office building at 1st & 336th.

It also has office buildings built more recently by Weyerhauser in the East Campus area (on the east side of I-5 near Weyerhauser's headquarters). Then, of course, their's Weyerhauser's headquarters itself, which is a very cool building.

Sound Transit's new transit center in the downtown area is interesting (not including the stupid clock). Most of the city, however, is dedicated to houses.

I think its the plans for the future that are most interesting. I don't know of any other area in King County outside of Seattle and Bellevue that is planning (and actually has a proposal) for 20+ story buildings.