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Draft 5th Avenue community plan emphasizes walkability, transit access and housing options
Summary
City staff and consultants presented a draft 5th Avenue community plan focused on pedestrian improvements, connectivity, housing diversity and small-business support; the draft is open for public feedback through the end of July and city council adoption is planned later this year.
City planners on Tuesday presented a draft community plan for East 5th Avenue that centers walkability, transit access and housing diversity along a 1.75‑mile corridor south of Interstate 90.
Radhika Nair, principal planner at Sabre Workshop, said community input drove the plan's goals: identity, connectivity, livability, prosperity and stability. "The idea of pedestrian infrastructure and walkability was really the most important thing that came through," Nair said, describing proposed sidewalk infill, intersection improvements and priority bus‑stop upgrades.
Maren Murphy, principal planner in the city's community economic development department, told the Transportation Commission the plan was part of an ongoing effort and will be transmitted to the Planning Commission for recommendation before city council consideration. The draft was released in late May and staff are gathering public feedback through the end of July; city council adoption is targeted for the end of the year.
The plan identifies a series of coordinated investments along the corridor intended to catalyze broader change: a "welcome mat" near Liberty Park, improvements at the Perry Street and Prairie Street underpasses, raised intersections near the library and aquatic center and programming near the Carl Maxey Center. Nair also described "day 1" projects that could be started quickly, including sidewalk work and temporary activation of vacant lots.
Commissioners asked about coordination with Washington State Department of Transportation improvements near the NSC freeway connection and a proposed land bridge near Liberty Park; planners said the plan's vision map reflects those projects and staff have been in communication with WSDOT. Planners also said the draft includes multilingual outreach: the survey and some small-group discussions will be offered in Spanish, Marshallese and Russian.
The commission did not take formal action on the plan but encouraged staff to continue outreach and noted the plan's potential to support later grant applications by providing local matching funds and a clearer project pipeline.
The city has posted the draft and an interactive map for comment; staff requested commissioners and community members help promote the survey while outreach continues.
