In landmark decision, buildings up to 150 feet in business district OK’d
December 27, 2011
Rowley Properties could someday build tall buildings on 78 acres in the business district, as shown in the rendering above. Contributed
Rowley Properties plans to redevelop land in decades ahead
Tall buildings could someday punctuate the skyline in the modest business district along state Route 900, after city leaders created a framework Dec. 19 to transform acre upon acre blanketed in storage units, low-slung office buildings and automotive service centers into a dense neighborhood for shops and homes.
In a landmark decision, City Council members approved a 30-year agreement between the city and longtime Issaquah developer Rowley Properties to overhaul almost 80 acres in the coming decades. The council agreed to allow buildings up to 150 feet tall and mixed-use development on up to 4.4 million square feet in Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center — parcels along Interstate 90 and state Route 900.
The landowner, in turn, is required to pay for transportation upgrades, affordable housing construction, Tibbetts Creek restoration efforts and storm-water system improvements.
Leaders said the potential for change in Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center offers a rare opportunity to reshape Issaquah as the city readjusts after a decadelong population boom.
In major development decision, city OKs buildings up to 150 feet in business district
December 22, 2011
NEW — 9:30 p.m. Dec. 22, 2011
Tall buildings could someday punctuate the skyline in the modest business district along state Route 900, after city leaders created a framework Monday to transform acre upon acre blanketed in storage units, low-slung office buildings and automotive service centers into a dense neighborhood for shops and homes.
In a landmark decision, City Council members approved a 30-year agreement between the city and longtime Issaquah developer Rowley Properties to overhaul almost 80 acres in the coming decades. The council agreed to allow buildings up to 150 feet tall and mixed-use development on up to 4.4 million square feet in Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center — parcels along Interstate 90 and state Route 900.
The landowner, in turn, is required to pay for transportation upgrades, affordable housing construction, Tibbetts Creek restoration efforts and storm-water system improvements.
Park Pointe preservation reaches ‘historic’ milestone
December 28, 2010
Leaders build framework to save Tiger Mountain land, build Bellevue College campus
In a series of decisions a councilman described as a “historic moment,” City Council members assembled the framework Dec. 20 to preserve more than 100 Tiger Mountain acres and attract a Bellevue College campus to Issaquah.
The council OK’d agreements related to the long-running effort to preserve 102 forested acres on Tiger Mountain and, through a complicated transfer of development rights, open land in the Issaquah Highlands to Bellevue College and homebuilders for construction. Read more
Park Pointe preservation reaches ‘historic’ milestone
December 21, 2010
NEW — 8 a.m. Dec. 21, 2010
In a series of decisions a councilman described as a “historic moment,” City Council members assembled the framework Monday to preserve more than 100 Tiger Mountain acres and attract a Bellevue College campus to Issaquah.
The council OK’d agreements related to the long-running effort to preserve 102 forested acres on Tiger Mountain and, through a complicated transfer of development rights, open land in the Issaquah Highlands to Bellevue College and homebuilders for construction.
“This is really a historic moment for the city,” Council President John Traeger said before the unanimous decisions.
Leon Kos will retire from city after 33 years
April 27, 2010
City administrator leaves behind a bigger, stronger Issaquah
Leon Kos
The past three decades can be attributed to — or blamed on — legendary City Clerk Linda Ruehle.
Issaquah needed a new city administrator in early 1977. Leon Kos, a recent Seattle transplant from California, applied for the job.
Take a closer look at Issaquah’s public art
February 23, 2010
Public art is a big part of Issaquah today. In fact, there’s an entire city policy dedicated to it.
While it may be an addition to the city’s beauty — depending on your tastes — you may have driven by more than one of the pieces and wondered, “What is that?” Well, here are some answers to some pieces you may have wondered about.
Have others that we didn’t list? Send them to editor@isspress.com.
Nearly 90 acres eyed for redevelopment
January 12, 2010
City officials and Rowley Properties executives announced plans last week to redevelop almost 90 acres in Central Issaquah, the commercial area spread across 915 acres along Interstate 90. Read more
City, developer eye nearly 90 acres for redevelopment
January 8, 2010
NEW — 12:50 p.m. Jan. 8, 2010
City officials and Rowley Properties executives announced plans Friday to redevelop almost 90 acres in Central Issaquah — the commercial heart of the city spread across 915 acres along Interstate 90.
Officials said the plan would be developed in concert with a sweeping plan to redevelop the commercial district near state Route 900 and I-90. Hyla Crossing — a 61.7-acre commercial complex — and Rowley Center — a 25.6-acre property — fall within areas identified by redevelopment consultants for the best potential for redevelopment.
Through the proposed development agreement, Rowley Properties would partner with the city to redevelop the sites. The developer plans to create a mixed-use destination through redevelopment. Plans call for work to be phased over several decades.
Nominate outstanding citizens for Hall of Fame
April 28, 2009
Community leaders and city officials will bestow the annual Issaquah Community Awards next month. Read more
Campaign money follows political power
October 28, 2008
Cheryl Pflug tops donations with $160,000 reported so far
Political campaign dollars are flowing freely this season, with incumbents raking in the lion’s share as usual. Also as usual, a look at the donors reveals a lot about the candidates they support in the Nov. 4 general election.
