Drafter
Clerk 11/07/2024
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A MOTION relating to the establishment of policy and operational priorities to inform long-term planning and implementation of the county's civic campus planning initiative.
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WHEREAS, King County owns and operates several facilities in downtown Seattle, and
WHEREAS, most of the facilities that King County owns and operates are on a civic campus centered around Fourth Avenue between James Street and Yesler Way, and include the King County Courthouse, King County Administration Building, King County Correctional Facility, Chinook Building, Yesler Building, Goat Hill Garage, and the 420 4th Avenue Building, and
WHEREAS, over the decades, the county has invested in these facilities to continue to provide services to a growing public, and
WHEREAS, the ages of the aforementioned properties span between eighteen and one hundred fifteen years old, in varying conditions, with some underutilized, functionally obsolete, and facing costly maintenance and repairs that are not financially sustainable, and
WHEREAS, in 2023, the executive embarked on the civic campus initiative visioning process that brought together all branches of county government, external government agencies, community partners, academic leaders, and industry leaders to address the aging building stock and underlying functional deficiencies, and
WHEREAS, the visioning process engaged all branches of county government, other governmental partners, experts from industry and academia, and a community advisory group, and
WHEREAS, the civic campus initiative looks ahead to 2045, identifying opportunities to: modernize facilities and deploy excellent county services, leverage the value of county real estate assets, improve personal and public safety and security, and better engage the built environment and surrounding neighborhoods in Downtown Seattle, and
WHEREAS, in July 2024 the executive delivered a community-informed vision for transforming the current civic campus into a twenty-four-hour neighborhood, and relocating and improving core county functions to a county-owned property further south of downtown, and
WHEREAS, the Civic Campus Initiative Plan was briefed in the King County council's regional policy committee on July 31, 2024, and
WHEREAS, the executive and the council share an interest in delivering on a vision for the civic campus that addresses key policy and operational priorities, and
WHEREAS, it is a priority for the executive and council to establish a set of shared policy and operational goals to inform the long term planning and implementation of the Civic Campus Initiative Plan, and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
It is the intent of the council for the county to redevelop its existing civic campus to create a dynamic neighborhood that includes housing and transportation infrastructure that will connect to, complement, and support surrounding neighborhoods in south downtown, including Chinatown International District, Pioneer Square, Yesler Terrace, and the Stadium Transition Area Overlay District. It is the intent of the council that the redevelopment design ensures that all essential county facilities meet modern health, safety, and environmental standards. To help guide the civic campus initiative in the long term, the council establishes the following priorities:
A. Building thousands of units of housing for people of all incomes and prioritizing restoration and reuse of historic buildings;
B. Including shops, restaurants, and gathering places to create a vibrant community;
C. Ensuring safe, clean, accessible public spaces for residents, workers, and visitors;
D. Realizing the value of the county's land holdings for the long-term benefit of county taxpayers;
E. Including offices for specific county functions to maintain a clear presence and front door for county government, and for businesses that complement the residential neighborhood;
F. Designing for everyone and building in equity and fairness consistent with King County values;
G. Creating an energy district to reduce waste, eliminate carbon emissions, and save money; and
H. Delivering excellent mobility connections for thousands of residents, workers, and visitors.