The City of Kenmore won a 2019 VISION 2040 Award from the Puget Sound Regional Council for its downtown creation project. The awards recognize innovative projects and programs that help ensure a sustainable future as the region grows.
"The Kenmore Downtown Creation Project is a successful strategic process to create a viable city center,” said Josh Brown, Executive Director of PSRC. "They drew significant private investment, created desirable housing, developed important community space and attracted destination businesses."
The award was presented to the Kenmore City Council at their meeting in September .
In the mid 2000’s, the City of Kenmore purchased nearly 10 acres of downtown property and worked to create a village consistent with the city’s visioning process and comprehensive planning. Through public private partnerships the site features mixed rate housing, medical and dental facilities, a town square, commercial buildings, restaurants and park space. Kenmore’s downtown is now home to Kenmore Camera, the Seaplane Kitchen and Bar, the Flyway and the City’s very popular Hangar community building, a year-round public gathering place.
MainStreet Property Group, the primary developer for the site, has invested over $100 million in the property since 2014. “We’re very proud of our partnership with MainStreet,” said Mayor David Baker. “They share our values of creating a special downtown with great walk appeal, places to gather, housing choices, and local amenities and services.”
VISION 2040 is the region's growth management, economic, and transportation strategy, designed to meet the needs of the 5 million people expected to be living in the region in 2040. It is an integrated, long-range vision for the future that lays out a strategy for maintaining a healthy region - promoting the well-being of people and communities, economic vitality, and a healthy environment.
PSRC develops policies and coordinates decisions about regional growth, transportation and economic development planning within King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties. The Council is composed of over 80 entities, including all four counties, cities and towns, ports, state and local transportation agencies and tribal governments within the region
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