Design Review Narrative
1. SITE DESIGN A. Street Relationship
D. Site Design for Safety
Our team designed large storefront windows, inviting engagement from the street and conveying a welcoming building façade. The plaza outside the first floor of the podium building will incorporate a designated public pedestrian plaza. Buildings will have direct access to the public sidewalk, with the appeal of the front facade of the building that will be enhanced by the addition of a canopy, ornamental lighting, and planters. For more detailed information on this space, please reference the Design Review Packet.
Landscaped design areas and features function as a buffer between pedestrians and vehicular traffic, as well as developing pedestrian routes throughout the site. Designated service vehicle access areas are separate from pedestrian-oriented areas. We have an open site design, with visibility as a priority between the podium buildings and the urban quads, as evident in the ample spacing of the buildings to provide lines of sight.
Our firm presents a street relationship that corresponds with the newly designed “Meet Me on Meeker” streetscape standards. For access to the main building entry, we will be including a wide sidewalk, as part of visual and pedestrian access into the site from Meeker Street. This plaza will have the additional benefit of connecting to the existing Green River trail system. To support the pedestrian plaza, we will be requesting a Private Development Exception of a 20-foot setback.
Balconies have been provided for the urban quad units and the majority of the podium units, along with expansive glazing in the units. The purpose goes beyond additional amenities, by creating informal surveillance of the site from within the buildings, providing “eyes on the street”. Please see our lighting plan for our inclusion of light fixtures for safety and visual interest. All landscaping materials will be selected to account for the long-term characteristics of the species. All materials used throughout the site will be high-quality, durable, and easy to maintain.
B. Pedestrian Environment
E. Residential Open Space
Mirroring the lush landscape of the Green River, the design team has included decorative paving, bicycle racks, seating, and landscaped areas into the main plaza, which will have a point of connection to the trail. Trellises and planters cover the blank walls along Meeker Street, and canopies will be provided along the retail entrances to the podium buildings adjacent to the plaza.
The open spaces of this project will include spaces open to the public, and spaces shared between residents. Balconies are included for the majority of the units, a furnished playground and amenity recreation area, as well as roof-top amenity spaces on each of the podium buildings and courtyard will be enjoyed by Marquee residents. The pedestrian-oriented plaza along Meeker Street, and the sizable green space in between the buildings and Green River will be able to be shared by the public and residents alike.
To enhance the visual and pedestrian-oriented accesses to the Podium Buildings along Meeker Street, we will include a wide sidewalk that will connect with other crosswalks and walkways. Storefront windows create pedestrian-friendly building facades, along with a retail-oriented pedestrian space from the plaza between the two podium buildings. C. Siting and Screening of Service and Parking Facilities Any service utilities, trash enclosures, or other incompatible activities on-site will be screened and comply with requirements put forth by the City of Kent Zoning Code. Parking facilities will utilize shared parking between the residential and commercial spaces. The site is directly adjacent to a bus stop servicing four bus routes, connecting Marquee to public transit for retail and residential benefits. We will also provide bike racks within the site as well as bike rooms for storage within each of the podium buildings. In response to section C.3, Parking Lot Landscaping, we will include a significant pedestrian-oriented space in the form of a plaza between the two podium buildings. Additionally, we have a walkway connection through the site to the Green River Trail.
Marquee on Meeker | DESIGN REVIEW PACKET - CORRECTIONS RESPONSE | 11.03.2017
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