Kenmore Village – Squandering a Chance to Create a 21st Century City?
A Symbol of Flawed Priorities
As a resident of Kenmore who is deeply concerned with the growth and prosperity of my home town, I’ve become increasingly perplexed by the direction our City Leaders are taking with regard to the future. Every day that I pass by the construction site of the new Kenmore City Hall and then travel west, across the street and gaze upon the barren, asphalt-wasteland (supposed site) of the “Kenmore Village,” I’m struck by a sense that our City Leaders and WE need to reevaluate our priorities.
Click on the picture for a larger perspective
Frankly, I’m not-at-all happy that an $18 million City Hall is being constructed (a City Hall that the residents of Kenmore did not “approve”) at a time when the focus of our community leaders should be on building our tax base and reputation with enterprises that create economic opportunities. I’m afraid that Kenmore’s current trajectory will not transform us from a “strip-mallish looking any pla_ce” into a distinctive, vibrant and well-respected city. Pardon me for being so blunt, but the symbolism of the new City Hall being constructed whilst the current Kenmore Village becomes a veritable asphalt wasteland is, simply put, uber-tragic.
The Little Gym Departure – “Not good for business.”
Recently, several Kenmore bloggers posted articles about the departure of The Little Gym from the Kenmore Village. The Little Gym has been premier business in the Kenmore but, alas, it is moving to a more business-friendly location in Lynnwood, WA. Laurie Sperry’s www.kenmoreblog.net, Bill Leak’s KBIN network and the Seattle Crow’s http://eyesonkenmore.com, all made mention of this loss. The Kenmore Crow’s post entitled: Kenmore Village Exodus Continues gives an excellent synopsis of the vacancy problems facing the Kenmore Village. He provided an interesting schematic of the vacancies at the village:
At about the same time The Little Gym was announcing its departure, I did an interview with Tom Dooley, Owner of Kenmore Fitness Center, who has operated his gym in the Kenmore Village since 2004. During the course of our discussion The Little Gym did come up, and Tom expressed some real concerns about the relationship between Kenmore business owners and the City of Kenmore. He said this was an example of how the city makes it difficult for businesses to survive at the village.
“James, most of the council members are still under the belief that the current developers (Urban Partners LLC) will proceed with the current plans, it will just take some time. Until that belief changes, there is not a lot that will happen. What I’m suggesting is that we start looking at a plan “B.” Come up with some alternative plans, in case the current plans do not happen, or in case the developers ultimately pull out of the deal for whatever reason.”
Tom went on to say that it will be difficult to bring new businesses into Kenmore Village because the longest lease available currently is through the end of 2011. It is extremely difficult for a new business to come into the village with such a short term lease. Tom continued:
“This is why it was so disturbing to me that we lost The Little Gym. There is virtually no chance that the space will be filled with anything close to the quality of that business. It hurts my business, it hurts Kenmore Village and it hurts the City. There are no winners in this one.”
The BIG Questions
There are those of us who believe that the Kenmore City Council and the Mayor need to quit wishing and hoping and speculating that the Kenmore Village envisioned several years ago will be constructed any time soon, or that Urban Partners LLC will continue to be the “right” choice to build the Kenmore of tomorrow.
We know that the current economic climate has not been favorable to developers (Urban Partners LLC is facing some brutal challenges with it’s Burien Town Square). We also know that Urban Partners LLC claims to be committed to developing this property. Others, such as Patrick O’Brien, a candidate for City Council position #6 feels that a big change needs to happen in order to properly utilize the village:
“I would vote to put the Kenmore Village Project out for a competitive price re-bid.The project is more than just delayed. Kenmore Partners has gotten counsel approval to greatly reduced the commercial square footage and it’s requirement for many parking spots. The council has also granted tax exemptions. It’s true the economy has not helped at all but the city should have never been involved in this level of land speculation.”
So, Is There a “Plan B?”
Recently, Bill Leak posted several comments on his KBIN website (Kenmore Business Information Network) about “the deterioration of the Kenmore Village.” As always, Bill has tried to present this issue in such a way that we can start thinking out-loud about a workable “Plan B” for the Kenmore Village. Some suggestions were:
- Rejuvenate the current structures to make them more attractive to potential tenants
- Turn part of the property into a park
- Start having a farmer’s market on the property
- Host other activities at the Village
I have my own ideas for the Kenmore Village:
- Create a “business incubator” and encourage small entrepreneurs to start new businesses
- Partner with Bastyr University and create a “satellite store front” for the University featuring classes along with retail (e.g. acupuncture, message, herbs, homeopathic products, etc.)
- Attract a small-carbon-footprint manufacturer into the Village.
- Attract a well-known hotel chain to build a hotel (Kenmore Air should like this!)
All of this thinking-out-loud and brainstorming is a good thing; however, I think it’s high time that the residents of Kenmore and the City Council get real about the brutal facts of our current reality: The Kenmore Village development (with Urban Partners LLC) is not coming any time soon. It is likely that the economy is not going to recover for many years and, given recent history, this will cause the current village to fall into total mediocrity or worse.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable for us, the citizens of Kenmore, to ask the City Council why it is that they felt it was more important to build a new City Hall instead of upgrade the current Kenmore Village? Why do they cling to the notion that Urban Partners LLC will be building $400,000 condos along with retail, when the economics simply don’t justify such a project? As a Realtor® here in Kenmore, I can tell you that betting on the sale of condominiums in Kenmore is not a good idea and won’t be for a long time.
I’d like to say one more thing. I realize this post might seem a bit negative in tone but I must admit, I’ve been mighty irritated about Kenmore these days. I have a sense that some big projects have been thrust on the residents of Kenmore by a few individuals who are more concerned with looking good, rather than creating a 21st Century community. I’ve spoken with quite a number of business owners in Kenmore who tell me they feel as if their concerns are being ignored by City Government. I’m watching a new City Hall being built and I’m not convinced that it’s going to add value to our city government. At the same time, our leadership talks a lot about business development while squandering Kenmore Village. It doesn’t send the right message and it doesn’t make sense to me.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:43 am
Great post James! I agree on several points you’ve made. I really do think we need to rethink our deal with Kenmore Partners and start all over again.
As for the City of Kenmore ignoring local businesses, well, I’ve talked to Mayor Baker about that and he said that State Law prohibits the City of Kenmore from doing anything to encourage businesses. Their hands are tied.
The City Council behaves as though they believe that the invisible hand of economy will rescue Kenmore and therefore does nothing to “interfere” with local businesses. Wake up folks, the invisible hand is giving us the invisible finger.
If State Law is preventing us from encouraging businesses, we need to find a way around that law. We have to stop washing our hands and get them dirty in finding a way to keep and bring in businesses into Kenmore.
October 25th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
[...] Politics – Kenmore Village Squandering a Chance to Create a 21st Century City [...]
November 17th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
You are so right; the City is doing a poor job of managing its Real Estate and general business environment.
They went against a vote by the residents, and true to the agenda of a select few- set their sights on destroying one of Kenmore’s largest tax sources “The Evil Card Room”. Who’s next, Murphy’s Auction? Ply-Wood Supply? What is the plan to replace this type of revenue, and what are they doing about it?
The New City Hall is a slap in the face to tax payers in Kenmore, a one storey building right out of the sixties, with no income features or other sustainable community features than to house a few fat cats, another tax burden.
If NE 181st street is “Main street Kenmore” then it makes no sense at all to use this prime commercial real estate to house a Twenty Five Million Dollar Fire Department (something wrong with existing firehouse?) and then build an 18-million Dollar City Hall with no sustainable income features. This is all on Prime Commercial property, in the core district of what should be Business. Prime real estate should not be used up by public services, these structures should be subservient to business, or we don’t need them at all.
There are plans to place a new Library in Kenmore (good) now will it also be placed in our prime commercial zone? Building a City Hall, Fire Department and Library on prime commercial property is not wise and not good use of this land.
There is only so much commercial land in Kenmore, and it appears that only the Fire Department and City Hall can afford to own it? What space is left for Business?
Time and energy must be spent on promoting a sustainable Business environment, with growth there will be a direct need for public services and revenue to pay for them. However there is no-way for this to work in the reverse, Top Heavy Government will not act as a beacon for new Business, and to think otherwise is delusional.
As for this whole Kenmore Partners thing, it turns my stomach. This agreement must be re-structured and re-opened for bid, and in the meantime, the City must buck up, and do whatever it takes to make use of the existing improvements in Kenmore Village. No other Property owner would consider this management style, of letting property sit vacant on a wish and a prayer from a Greedy Developer. You cannot force development through tax incentives and give aways, and still have it be good for Kenmore, instead you should rent what you have and when the market is balanced growth will occur.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
[...] was moving to a new location (near Safeway). This got me thinking hard about my post entitled “Kenmore Village, Squandering an Opportunity to Create a 21st Century City” in which I criticize the City Leaders for erecting an $18 Million city hall above Kenmore Village [...]
January 6th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
[...] have the city leadership approach Bastyr with a plan to create a satellite campus in the current Kenmore Village. This is not my idea. I’ve spoken with a number of residents who believe this would be both [...]
February 17th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
[...] October I wrote a post entitled “Kenmore Village – Squandering a Chance to Create a 21st Century City” in which I expressed my frustration about the way in which the Kenmore City Council and city [...]
August 6th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
I find this article interesting .. I am long time kenmore resident and small buisness owner. i am currently looking for a site to open a functioning jewelry studio/ fine jewelry and mixed art gallery. i would love to stay local but frankly there is no retail core with enough foot traffic or equal caliber buissnes to even consider it. I guess i will look elsewhere like Kirkland,East Lake union, or ironically Bothell.Our city leadership has really let us down.
August 6th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Hi Tina – I wish I had an answer for you regarding the business prospects here in Kenmore. Some of my posts have been about a number of incredibly long-lived businesses here in Kenmore (Kenmore Camera, Maser’s, James G. Murphy, etc.) and they seem to flourish in spite of our “amorphous” business situation.
Last year the city published an “economic development” study that seemed to signal that Kenmore might be moving forward on cultivating a more vibrant business community; however, nothing has occurred since then.
Thanks for your comment!
August 10th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Businesses like kenmore camera, the auction house and safeway are destination type business where the customer will come to them seeking a paticular item regardless of their location. Sucsessful retail like clothing, jewelry,art,ect require walk by traffic where customers enter on impulse. It requires a retail core where each neiboring business actually feeds off the other. Its a place where customers can walk around kill some time and visit with each other.Kenmore can not attract anything more than chain stores without that type of enviroment. 17 million would have gone a long way twords makeing that happen. i’ve waited about as long as i can. Kenmore is a boreing place to hang out. Just one big jumbled up strip mall enviroment with little taste and no class. Sad I think we could build our own kirkland here but alass we lack the right leadership.Most of our city council has made their $$$ already and have lost touch with the start ups. Who are they gonna tax when the last homeowner has gone into forclosure? I think John Hendrickson should run for Mayor.I would support that, I’m so sick of these idiots I would even be willing to work on the campain.