Your Investment. Your Library. Your Community.

Newcastle: Monthly Update Archives

September 2008
Documents continue to be finalized between Lorig Associates and KCLS regarding a mixed-use development comprised of a 10,000 square foot library and parking, 1,400 square feet of commercial space and 78 apartments with separate parking. A commercial site development application is under review by the City of Newcastle and KCLS consultants are responding to comments received from city staff.

August 2008
Planning and design work are in progress for the mixed-used development that will consist of a 10,000 square foot library and parking, 1,400 square feet of commercial space and 78 apartments with separate parking. Details of the development agreement, purchase and sale agreement and condominium declaration will soon be finalized.

July 2008
KCLS and Lorig Associates continue to work through the development agreement for the construction of a 10,000-square-foot Library and parking, 1,400-square-foot commercial space and 78 apartments with separate parking. The project team previously submitted the site development application to the City of Newcastle and the first round of comments were responded to by Mithun Architects.   

June 2008
KCLS and Lorig Associates are working through the development agreements for the construction of a  10,000-square-foot Library and parking, 1,500-square-foot commercial space and 78 apartments with separate parking for residents. The project team submitted the site development application to the City of Newcastle and public notice was posted on the site. KCLS continues to work through the legal issues associated with the project.

May 2008
KCLS and Lorig Associates are working through the development agreements for the construction of a 10,000-square-foot Library and parking, 1,500-square-foot commercial space and 78 apartments with separate parking for the residents. The project team submitted the site development application to the City of Newcastle and public notice was posted on the site. The project team received City staff’s initial comments on the site plan proposal. In addition, work is under way to coordinate with the Sound Transit Bus Service plans that the City of Newcastle developed.

April 2008
KCLS and Lorig Associates are working through the development agreements necessary for the design, permitting and construction of a 10,000 square foot Library and parking, 1,500 square foot commercial space and 78-80 apartments with separate parking. The architects submitted the site development application to the City of Newcastle in February and public notice was posted on the site. The project team received the City staff’s comments on the site plan proposal. In addition, work is underway to coordinate with the Sound Transit Bus Service plans that the City of Newcastle has developed.

March 2008
KCLS has been working with Lorig Associates to craft development agreements for the construction of a 10,000-square-foot Library and parking plus 78 apartments with separate parking. A public meeting to discuss the Newcastle Library project was held on March 19. KCLS and Lorig Associates have come to agreement on most points and lawyers are developing documents for a formal agreement.

February 2008
KCLS is still working with Lorig & Associates on a pre-development agreement for a mixed-use co-development project, which would include a 10,000-square-foot Library, parking lot and 78 apartments with resident parking. The schematic design work has progressed and a public meeting is set for March 19 to discuss the project design with residents.

January 2008
KCLS and Lorig & Associates staff are working together with Mithun Architects to complete schematic designs for the new library and mixed-use co-development project. Immediate next steps include finalizing negotiation of the development agreement between KCLS and Lorig & Associates, submitting plans for a site development permit to the City of Newcastle and requesting that the three contractor teams, who were selected as finalists, develop plans and cost estimates for the project.

November 2007
The City of Newcastle City Council recently held a public hearing about providing a tax incentive program for economic development. The Council authorized the City Manager to prepare an ordinance and code amendment to allow an eight-year property tax relief program to encourage more intensive development, including housing in the town center area. The KCLS Board of Trustees discussed the project at the Board Meeting on November 27, 2007 and approved moving forward with the mixed-use co-development project with Lorig & Associates.

October 2007
As directed by the KCLS Board of Trustees at the September 29 meeting, KCLS staff continues to explore the co-development proposal with Lorig Associates. A project plan is currently being developed to accommodate both a new library as well as 82 apartments. At the November Board meeting, the KCLS Board will be considering and reviewing further information on the mixed-use development.  No motion has yet been passed on whether to proceed with the stand-alone or mixed-use library.

September 2007
KCLS now has two development applications pending with the City of Newcastle. One is for a stand-alone library and parking, the second is a pre-submittal of the proposed mixed use development. The mixed use development would be a private/public partnership with Lorig Associates, who plan to build and operate an apartment complex. In addition to some potentially significant financial benefit to KCLS, the City Administration strongly favors this alternative as it would be seen as a positive development toward their vision for the City Center.

After hearing all information at the September 29 Board meeting,  the motion was passed for KCLS staff to continue the exploration of the co-development option and particularly, to address and offer further information to the Board of Trustees on the following topics:
-         expansion
-         parking
-         traffic circulation
-         dedicated disability units in the apartment complex
-         a market comparison with other developers
-         a guarantee of review of any legally binding document before finalization of that document
 
This information will be presented to the Board of Trustees at either the October or November Board Meeting, and further discussion will ensue.

August 2007
KCLS received notice from the City of Newcastle’s Planning Department that the development application has been accepted for the site plan with a standalone library. Meanwhile, KCLS staff and attorneys have held discussions with Lorig Associates to determine what contracting agreements should be for a mixed-use development, including a library, on that site.

July 2007
The KCLS development application for a standalone library, site development and parking were submitted to the City and the project was vested under the existing development requirements. The land use sign is posted on the site through July to provide notice to the community. In addition, active discussions are occurring between KCLS and Lorig Associates to create a mixed-use development including the new library on the site, located at SE 129th Place and Newcastle Way SE. The current conceptual plans call for approximately 70 apartments, a 10,000-square-foot library, a small retail shop and required parking. We are in the early stages of planning and design.

June 2007
A set of development plans for a standalone library was submitted to the City of Newcastle on June 4. In addition, KCLS is initiating development plans with Lorig Associates, LLC. At a recent public meeting held in Newcastle the public discussed the potential co-development option.

May 2007
Interviews with potential developers for the Duvall and Newcastle libraries have been completed. We are particularly interested in a proposal from the Lorig Company for a 70-unit residential complex with three decks of structured parking connected to our 10,000-square-foot library in Newcastle. During the next few months further investigation will be done to determine if this arrangement can be mutually beneficial. Lorig Company was recommended to us by the City of Newcastle. In addition to discussing a standalone library, staff talked in general about the co-development proposal at the public meeting in Newcastle held May 17. KCLS is pursuing both tracks in order to preserve the right to develop a standalone facility under the current zoning ordinance. The community was generally supportive of both possibilities. The overwhelming interest is to see the library built as soon as possible.

April 2007
Citizens continue to comment that the City of Newcastle’s revision of its downtown plan and subsequent zoning could jeopardize the new library. KCLS staff member Dri Ralph attended numerous Planning Commission and City Council meetings to represent KCLS’ interests. The Council is in the process of adopting new guidelines, but exempted KCLS from the measures. In the meantime, a developer has expressed interest in partnering with KCLS on the site of the new Newcastle Library. Because they approached KCLS after the initial cutoff for submittals, the deadline was extended to April 20, 2007. The goal is to attract a development partner to create a mixed use plan including the library and parking. The sharing of development costs with a larger development should provide a financial advantage to KCLS. Mithun Architects was selected earlier this year as KCLS’ architectural firm for the project. Since there is some ambiguity about the new zoning requirements, KCLS will proceed with the design process and submit the preliminary plans for a stand-alone library in order to vest under the old guidelines. Plans can be revised if the co-development process yields a suitable partner.

March 2007
KCLS staff has been in close contact with the City of Newcastle. The City’s moratorium on new projects in the downtown area ends in June. City staff is proposing changes to the zoning guidelines to require intense development in the central district. Unless KCLS can find a developer to partner with on the site, we will not be able to meet the City’s proposed guidelines. It may be necessary to accelerate the design process in order to submit a proposal to the City before the moratorium ends.

The Request for Real Estate Developers to co-develop the sites yielded no letters of interest. Instead, KCLS will work towards developing plans on the sites in these communities that leaves room on the site for another use. The architectural consultants were selected previously and will be asked to prepare schedules for each project.

February 2007
The Request for Qualifications was issued to attract a real estate developer to work with KCLS on this project. Letters of interest from developers are due March 15, 2007.

January 2007
KCLS staff has been working to prepare a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for developers for these projects. The goal is to work with a developer to gain maximum value for the community and for the library district.

November 2006
Representatives of the Newcastle area assisted KCLS staff select Mithun Architects to design the new Newcastle Library. Mithun Architects has already begun to gather the information needed to initiate a Request for Qualifications for developers to team with KCLS and provide the maximum development the area can sustain at this time.

October 2006
Architectural interviews were held on Friday, October 20, 2006. Two community representatives joined the KCLS staff, administration and a KCLS Trustees in determining the preferred consultant for the design work. Mithun Architects was selected as the preferred consulting team for the work. A contract will now be developed with the consultants outlining a schedule of public meetings and finalizing the preliminary project budget. A quote from the firm’s submittal describes the presentation quality that highlighted the work of the firm. “Mithun Architects is a 55+ year evolution of ideas, values, visions and people with one guiding inspiration: design excellence.” Mithun will be a valuable contributor in assisting KCLS in the development of the best possible project in Newcastle.

September 2006
KCLS advertised for qualification statements for consultant teams for the Newcastle Library project. KCLS received 15 qualified submittals. The process for Newcastle will be similar to Duvall with a short list of firms identified and interviewed by a panel of staff with community and KCLS Board representatives.

August 2006
The City of Newcastle has placed a moratorium on new projects in their downtown area until their zoning codes can be brought in line with their planning guidelines. The library was to be excluded from the moratorium; however, there was some uncertainty as to whether the new library could be developed as a mixed use project or if a second floor would be mandated since the library may or may not constitute an allowable substitute for retail activity. At the request of the Newcastle City Manager to update the Newcastle City Council on progress toward a new library and to raise questions about the moratorium requirements, KCLS staff testified at a public meeting about the moratorium. The Newcastle City Council was pleased to hear that KCLS is initiating the process to hire an architect, which will be chosen in September. Newcastle Mayor Jean Garber indicated that none of the issues KCLS raised were insurmountable.

July 2006
The City of Newcastle passed a moratorium on new developments in their central downtown area, in order to align their zoning and design guidelines with their planning goals. The new library, as a cultural institution, will be exempt from the moratorium. The architect selection process should begin in September with the help of community members and a representative from the City. The City has asked KCLS to provide an update on the development of their new library. When staff presents to the City Council, we will also update Newcastle officials regarding the cross-use study with the City of Renton since Newcastle is very close to Renton and many Renton residents shop in their central business district.

April 2006
Following last month’s Board Meeting, KCLS sent a letter to the City of Newcastle informing them of the Board’s site selection decision. KCLS offered to explore the possibility of co-locating with City Hall on the vacant library site. Mayor Jean Garber responded that the City Council voted not to pursue that course of action and will instead continue to work on their civic center project at the site of the present city hall. KCLS finalized the purchase of the property on 129th Avenue SE and anticipates the architect selection process will begin in September.

Board of Trustees Unanimously Approves Site Selection for Newcastle Library
Public Comments from the Site Selection Meeting held on March 21, 2006

March 2006
The site selection process for the new Newcastle Library has received a great deal of attention since the last Board meeting. The Newcastle City Manager sent out an e-mail to newspapers and elected officials that generated at least one story in the King County Journal. The City of Newcastle Planning Commission on Wednesday, March 15 and heard considerable discussion about the proposed sites. The City Council also held a special meeting on Monday, March 20 to discuss the sites. KCLS staff met with the City Manager, Mayor, a Council member and other City staff to review our “staff analysis” based on the KCLS’ Site Selection Criteria. Parts of the analysis were revised based on their input.

This staff analysis was presented at KCLS’ public meeting on Tuesday, March 21 at the Golf Club at Newcastle which was attended by more than 148 people. Several members of the community, as well as City officials, expressed varying degrees of support for both sites. Their comments are included in the Board packet. In addition, KCLS has received numerous letters from elected officials on the issue.

January 2006
KCLS is working with the City and LMN Architects to develop alternative views of a library on the site for which we have a purchase and sale agreement pending. The anticipated closing date is February 15, 2006. A survey and level one environmental review have been ordered for the vacant property.

November 2005
KCLS has a contract for vacant land in Newcastle! We have been working to complete this agreement during the past couple months and now have 90 days to complete due diligence.

September 2005
Over the course of this year numerous contacts have been made in the general vicinity of the intersection of Coal Creek Parkway and Newcastle Way. KCLS has been waiting for the City of Newcastle to make a determination on location of a new City Hall, but KCLS does not currently have alternative sites secured.

April 2005
KCLS has received the first appraisal reports for properties in Newcastle and have been discussing potential City participation in a joint development. The Mayor’s Blue Ribbon committee included a cross section of interested parties who will be called on to assist in developing the City’s plans for the commercial area.

Return to top

Return to the Main KCLS Bond Page