Sustainable Washington

3.5 Project Example #1

Land Use Case Study#1
Action: Compact Mixed-Use Development
Where: Burien, WA
More Info: http://www.burienwa.gov/index.aspx?nid=258 or call City of Burien Community Development at (206) 248-5510.

Phase 1 of Burien’s Town Square opened in the summer of 2009.  When complete, the project will have 400 privately-developed housing units, 70,000 square feet of commercial space, a one-acre public park/gathering place, and a 46,000 square foot combined King County Regional Library and Burien City Hall (pending LEED Silver certification).  The 10-acre site is located a few blocks from Burien’s new Transit Center, served by twelve Metro and Sound Transit routes.

Burien’s Town Square. Photo by Tony Miller. Courtesy of the Highline Times

The walkability of the area was advanced by breaking up old superblocks into smaller blocks, with new streets that can be closed for special events, as well as new wider sidewalks, public art, and adherence to city design guidelines for pedestrian-oriented facades.  The project even includes a rain garden for storm drainage.

Burien Town Square is a great example of a successful public-private partnership creating a compact mixed-use development in a suburban/urban setting.

3.5 Land Use | Table of Contents