According the Daily Journal of Commerce, University Village's parking expansion and redevelopment final design review is almost completed.
A large new parking garage and six smaller retail buildings are planned, eliminating most surface parking. The new West Garage will be on the corner of NE 49th St, opposite the Travelodge on 25th Avenue Northeast. It will be a seven-story structure with 742 parking spaces, replacing 343 surface spaces that will be lost. The West Garage will also include 6,500 sq. ft. of retail. There will be six other new retail buildings adding about 88,000 sq. ft. of retail space. There will also be a small commercial space, such as a coffee shop plus a pedestrian passageway that cuts through the West Garage. No tenants have been announced for the future retail buildings.
I love this small, but upscale shopping center in the heart of several of Seattle's most vibrant residential neighborhoods. But the test for me will be – Can I really park and do Christmas shopping towards the end of the year? Or will I be driving in circles?