The City of University Place’s Town Center development got a lift from the State in this year’s legislative session. The State has approved a bill investing $12.5 million in infrastructure funding for the City’s proposed public/private mixed-use development. The funding will allow the City to continue construction of public infrastructure improvements needed to support a planned $300 million private sector investment.

“We are pleased that the Legislature has continued to demonstrate a commitment to economic development in our city” said Mayor Linda Bird, chairman of the City’s legislative committee.

Encompassing twelve acres, the Town Center project is located along Bridgeport Way, within the City’s Town Center District. The project has been recognized by the federal government as a transit-oriented development. The City has constructed over 550 stalls of structured parking as part of a planned 1500 stall parking garage, and is in the process of constructing a new city hall, regional library and public plaza. The City has an exclusive negotiating rights agreement with F+F Development based in Irvine CA and Washington, DC. whose principals were involved in the development of Santana Row in San Jose, California, Bethesda Row in Bethesda, Maryland and regional centers throughout the country. The project architect is the Alexandria, VA office of Cooper Carry, well-known for their work in town center projects. As currently envisioned by F+F, the proposed  town center project will be built in phases and is expected to include a major multi-screen cinema, limited-service and/or extended stay hotel, multiple restaurants and cafes, community and regional retail, substantial office space, and state-of-the-art residences.

Locating the University Place in the heart of our future Town Center project has always been a critical component of this ambitious public/private partnership.  The City completed most of the underlying parking garage last year, and the contract has been awarded to Jody Miller Construction to build the Library and Civic portion of the project.

Due to the turmoil of the bond market, the planned bond sale in February was postponed, thus sparing the City from increased interest costs.  Now that the market has improved, the City anticipates selling the needed construction bonds this summer.  Basic construction is scheduled to be complete by September 2010.   The Library district plans to be completely moved in to the new building by the end of the year.

The new library will be 15,000 square feet with expansion room to grow to 20,000 square feet .   (The old library was 12,000 sq. feet)

Mayor Linda Bird and the City of University Place were members of a “Transportation Coalition” that successfully lobbied the State Legislature to provide major highway improvements in Pierce County. Highlights of the bill signed by the Governor Gregoire on Wednesday May 13th include: extending car-pool lanes on Interstate 5 to Tacoma, widening or realigning portions of SR 161, purchasing property for the future expansion of SR 167, safety improvements to SR 302, widening SR 410, as well as improvement to roads, bridges, railroad tracks and ferry facilities in the region.

Click here to read more about it in The News Tribune.

Market Square is a 32,000 square foot public plaza in front of the new library will be complete by June 2009. The plaza was completely funded by a State capital grant of $988,000. The plaza will be a multi-use area for year-round events and celebrations. It will feature a kids spray pool, fire pit, landscaping, an area for a public market, Holiday Festival and Christmas tree lighting, and a staging area for concerts an performing groups.