Build a town and people will come: a new vision

Published 3:57 pm Thursday, April 30, 2009

By Dennis Box, The Courier-Herald

Bonney Lake has plans to find its heart and city officials intend to see it gets built. It is a vision of a new downtown that spans from around 184th Avenue East to 214th Street in three phases and stretches more than 20 years.

The initial study that started the new-town ball rolling came out of the transit center that Pierce Transit built in 1999. An economic development study was funded by Pierce Transit and the idea of a new town was born.

"A lot of good work has gone into this plan," Councilman Neil Johnson said. "The key is we have to move more quickly than people anticipate. We need to get things rolling."

The civic center district would likely include a civic center, government buildings, a new post office, a senior center, senior housing and possibly a new City Hall.

The placement of a new city hall building is not yet settled. Mayor Bob Young stated that other sites may be better suited for city hall, although it would likely be close to the civic center district.

The mid-town section, known as plaza center district, would be a mix of office, business park and residential housing feeding the businesses along the plaza center district and centered around 192 Avenue East.

The east-town center district would hold retail, entertainment service and residential. This area would extend to 214th Street.

The downtown or civic center district would convert 184th Avenue East into a main street with trees, newspaper racks, shops, restaurants and a walking plaza - a gathering place that would be the heart of the town.

"For me it's a terrific plan," Johnson said. "We need to make sure it's a plan the works for everyone."

The new-town plan is before the City Council, as part of the comprehensive plan update, and will be on the agenda for the City Council retreat in early February.

Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald