Council hears update on Houghton Village plan as consultants promote Option B and stress flexibility

City officials and consultants presented a draft development plan for the city‑owned Houghton Village site and asked the City Council for feedback, with staff stressing the presentation was for input rather than final decisions.

The draft plan, labeled “Option B,” envisions two mixed‑use buildings with roughly 145 residential units combined, about 26,000 square feet of ground‑floor commercial and community space, and a shared below‑grade parking garage. Consultants and staff emphasized a central public courtyard linking 68th Avenue Northeast to a proposed connection to the Cross Kirkland Corridor and Lakeview Elementary School.

The plan is framed as a response to a 2022 council resolution authorizing purchase of the property and its stated goals to preserve affordable housing, community space and arts uses. “Tonight, this is our opportunity to get feedback. So not looking for any final decisions on the development plan. This is your chance to provide us with input,” Deputy City Manager of External Affairs Jim Lopez told the council.

Why it matters: the Houghton Village site is city‑owned and was acquired after the property came to market; the council’s earlier resolution tied the purchase to public benefits including affordable housing and nonprofit space. The draft is meant to guide a future disposition strategy and developer selection while balancing community concerns about building height, traffic and school impacts.

Details of the…