The Southwest Design Review Board has approved Lowe Enterprises' broad design for a mixed-use project at 3420 Southwest Graham Street in the High Point neighborhood.

The site will include 1,300 square feet of retail and 240 residential units. Parking for 275 to 295 cars will also be included. The design includes a half-acre park in the center of the site and a pedestrian walkway running east and west through the center of the city block. The approved plan places highly visible retail space would along the entire site's face on 35th Avenue Southwest.

"(The design) has a strong retail presence but the park in the center gives it a nicer feel for High Point residents," said Chip Marshall, director of development at Lowe Enterprises.

Although the meeting was held to critique Lowe's design, members of the community seemed more concerned with the kind of businesses that would be moving in.

"All of my neighbors are dying to get some viable retail," said Julie Wade, a High Point resident. "That's the one thing missing from High Point."

Representatives from Lowe are also determined to include "first class" businesses on their site with design aspects that would make them successful. Representatives from Lowe Enterprises suggested this would create a strong urban aesthetic in the neighborhood's existing center.

Many residents at the meeting echoed a strong desire for a grocery store or coffee shop to be included in the retail space, and representatives from Lowe suggested they would try to make that happen.

"It must be affordable businesses for people in that area," said Betty Tester, another High Point resident.

Meanwhile the back of the site, facing 32nd Avenue Southwest, will have less concentrated mass, creating a quieter, neighborhood feel.

There was much debate Thursday night regarding the location of vehicle entrances on the site. At the previous review meeting, the board had requested fewer than three parking entrances. In the latest designs, the developer included two driveways, preferring to have one on 35th Avenue.

While the board approved an entrance on 35th Avenue, it urged the developers to consider how that might impact pedestrian safety,

In response to concerns at the first early design guidance review, Lowe has included walkways to the existing library and clinic, north of the project, from along 35th Avenue and from the new residential units.

But Phil Rosewater, manager of the High Point Medical Clinic, said that he is concerned that patrons of the new complex will use an existing parking lot that is for clinic and library use only. He suggested that a strong entrance for cars along 35th Avenue could alleviate this problem somewhat.

Neighbors also requested that the design include more plazas that would encourage residents could stop and socialize.

The next design review meeting for this project has not been determined.

To see the presentation delivered by Lowe Enterprises please visit http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/AppDocs/GroupMeetings/DRProposal3008796AgendaID2465.pdf.

Rose Egge may be reached at 932.0300 or rosee@robinsonnews.com