Uptown: Framework for the Future

The Uptown planning process was completed in 2019 with the adoption of new Neighborhood Design Guidelines. These guidelines will inform review of development proposals to advance the community's vision for the neighborhood expressed in the 2016 Uptown Design Framework and the zoning changes adopted by City Council in 2017.

The City Council approved the updated neighborhood design guidelines in February of 2019 and they became effective on March 24, 2019.

Objectives

• Foster leadership and collaboration between the community, City staff, and other local organizations
• Engage a broad constituency in the neighborhood, including traditionally underrepresented populations
• Assess opportunities for improving connectivity around Uptown
• Recommend opportunities for community improvements around ongoing planning and capital investment efforts in the area
• Physical and cultural integration of Seattle Center with the surrounding neighborhood
• Strategic organizing around business district health and development

As Uptown grows, we want to encourage:

• Diversity in household type and affordability
• Investment in the neighborhood
• Support for local business year-round
• Employment to bring people to the neighborhood during the day
• Living and working without a car
• A vibrant and safe public environment

The End Result

We will develop a collaborative vision of Uptown that describes how the physical development of the area can positively affect quality of life, recognizing the role that place-making and urban design play in creating a walkable, livable, healthy, and vibrant neighborhood.

Uptown Neighborhood Design Guidelines

• Uptown Neighborhood Design Guidelines (2019)
• State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Public Notice
• SEPA Determination of Non-Significance
• SEPA Checklist
• SEPA Draft Ordinance
• Draft Uptown Neighborhood Design Guidelines (November 2018)
• Director's Report

• DRAFT Uptown Neighborhood Design Guidelines (April 2018)
• Summary of public comments on the April 2018 DRAFT

Uptown Final Rezone

• Uptown Director's Report (July 2017)
• Uptown Rezone Map (July 2017)
• Uptown Rezone Ordinance (July 2017)
• Managing Growth in the Uptown Urban Center Folio (July 2017)

Uptown Preliminary Rezone and EIS

• Final EIS Notice of Availability and Appeal Instructions
• Preliminary Rezone Director's Report
• Final EIS
• Preliminary Rezone Folio
• Preliminary Rezone Ordinance
• Height Recommendation Map
• Seattle Center Parking Study
• Preliminary Rezone Questions and Answers
• Uptown Urban Center Rezone Draft EIS (July 2016)
  • Alternative Height Scenarios map (September 2015)

Uptown Urban Design Framework

• Uptown Urban Design Framework (October 2015)
• Urban Design Framework Charette Notes (July 2014)
• Uptown Analysis & Interventions Report (June 2014)
  University of Washington Department of Urban Design and Planning
  Student Work from Spring Quarter 2014
• November 7, 2013 Open House: Summary of Public Comment
• Uptown Background Report (January 2014)

• June 2014 
  First community design charrette (see the charrette notes)
• September 2014
  Second community design charrette
• November 2014
  Third (and final) community design charrette
• October 2015
  Publish draft Urban Design Framework
  Public workshop for review and comment
• December 2015
  Publish final Urban Design Framework
• Spring 2016
  Release Draft Rezone Environmental Impact Statement
• Fall 2016
  Release Final Rezone Environmental Impact Statement
  Release Draft Rezone Recommendation
• September 2017
  Council adopts new Uptown Zoning and resolution
• January 2018
  Work on Neighborhood Design Guidelines Update, Historic Resources Survey and Republican Street Streetscape Concept Plan begin
• December 2018
  Sent updated Neighborhood Design Guidelines to City Council
• February 2019
  Council Adopts updated Uptown Neighborhood Design Guidelines
• March 2019
  Updated Uptown Neighborhood Design Guidelines become effective