Safeway proposes Issaquah Highlands store
October 18, 2011
City Council allows gas station for grocer, a key factor in decision
Safeway planners proposed a modern Issaquah Highlands store in a recent permit application to the city. Contributed
The plan to open a grocery store in the Issaquah Highlands — a still-unmet target from early goals for the community — reached a milestone in early October, as Safeway submitted a proposal for a store in the neighborhood.
Meanwhile, City Council members adjusted longstanding development rules to allow a gas station in the highlands — a critical factor in Safeway’s proposal to build the store.
In a unanimous decision, council members adjusted the agreement between the city and highlands developer Port Blakely Communities to allow a gas station in the neighborhood. The council also added rules to the development agreement to require a gas station to be built alongside a grocery store.
Safeway proposes highlands store, council OKs gas station
October 5, 2011
Safeway planners proposed a modern Issaquah Highlands store (above) in a permit application to the city. Contributed
NEW — 4 p.m. Oct. 5, 2011
The plan to open a grocery store in the Issaquah Highlands — a still-unmet target from early goals for the community — reached a milestone Monday, as Safeway submitted a proposal for a store in the neighborhood.
Meanwhile, City Council members adjusted longstanding development rules Monday to allow a gas station in the highlands — a critical factor in Safeway’s proposal to build the store.
Updated development rules could boost chances for highlands retail
August 24, 2010
Long after slick sales brochures and pitches from real estate agents promised the chance to live, work and play in the Issaquah Highlands, the neighborhood may become more appealing to businesses.
Or maybe not.
Milestone development measures passed by the City Council last week loosened the rules for parking and signage in the highlands — sore spots for potential tenants. Read more
Issaquah Highlands developer lowers expectations for retail
February 9, 2010
About 120 Issaquah Highlands residents attend a town hall meeting Feb. 3 at Blakely Hall to hear and discuss the state of continuing retail development plans by Port Blakely Communities for the planned neighborhood. Photo by Greg Farrar
Port Blakely outlines plan for stores, holds back on timeline
The sales pitch sounded almost too good to be true.
People migrated to the Issaquah Highlands in droves, many enticed by plans for restaurants, a grocery store, a cinema, a health club — enough amenities and stores to allow them to forgo trips to Bellevue and Seattle.
The leasing brochure for The High Streets — a chic retail center planned for the highlands — promised “a highly desirable mix of internationally recognized retailers as well as distinct local favorites and neighborhood retail services.”
Highlands’ future is focus of meeting
February 2, 2010
Judd Kirk returns to answer questions
Judd Kirk
Port Blakely Communities executives will re-engage Issaquah Highlands residents, as the developer works to answer questions about the community’s future.
The outreach follows a busy year for the highlands developer, when officials broke ground on large-scale projects in the community, and residents grumbled about the highlands’ lack of retail offerings.
Judd Kirk — a Port Blakely senior vice president, the chief real estate strategist and a key player in establishing the vision for the highlands — spearheaded the outreach effort.
Kirk and René Ancinas, the president and chief operating officer of parent company Port Blakely Companies, assumed responsibilities for the highlands after former Port Blakely President Alan Boeker resigned Jan. 15. Read more
Developer will answer Issaquah Highlands residents’ questions about growth
January 26, 2010
NEW — 5:15 p.m. Jan. 26, 2010
Port Blakely Communities executives will re-engage Issaquah Highlands residents in the days ahead, as the developer works to answer questions about the community’s future.
The outreach follows a busy year for the highlands developer, when officials broke ground on large-scale projects in the community, and residents grumbled about the highlands’ retail offerings.
Judd Kirk — a Port Blakely senior vice president, the chief real estate strategist and a key player in establishing the vision for the highlands — spearheaded the outreach effort.
Kirk and René Ancinas, the president and chief operating officer of parent company Port Blakely Companies, assumed responsibilities for the highlands after former Port Blakely President Alan Boeker resigned Jan. 15.
Kirk will outline a development strategy for the highlands in meetings Wednesday and Feb. 3. The initial meeting will be limited to highlands community leaders, but the Feb. 3 town hall meeting will open to the public. The town hall meeting will be 6-7:30 p.m. at Blakely Hall, 2550 N.E. Park Drive.
Issaquah Highlands residents await retail development
December 8, 2009
When Issaquah Highlands developer Port Blakely Communities announced plans for a neighborhood movie theater in late summer, highlands residents were told the proposal for a long-promised grocery store would be revealed within several weeks. Read more
Issaquah Highlands to get movie theater; grocery store next
August 25, 2009
Theater giant Regal Entertainment Group will operate a long-planned movie theater in the Issaquah Highlands — and officials with highlands developer Port Blakely Communities said they hope the theater announcement is the first sign of a turnaround after a series of disappointing delays. Read more
Survey: 70 percent favor gas station
July 21, 2009
Issaquah Highlands residents could someday fill up vehicles with gasoline or alternative fuels without leaving the hillside community. But they may find it difficult to grab a snack or late-night fill up at a highlands gas station. Read more
Highlands grocery deal collapses
May 12, 2009
City could allow a gas station
Issaquah Highlands residents will not be stocking up on groceries at a Central Market anytime soon. Plans to open a 50,000-square-foot highlands store in mid-2010 have been canceled due to the down economy, a project developer and city officials said last week. Read more
