Urban Partners, the developer of Burien's Town Square, informed city council members on Dec. 4 that demolition of the former Gottschalks building will begin in mid-January.

John Gunn, development executive of Urban Partners, said demolition can proceed now that design work for the private part of the project at that site has been completed.

A planned seven-level building to replace the old department store at Southwest 152nd Street and Sixth Avenue Southwest will have residential units on the five upper floors, with two lower levels of parking and retail space.

Of the 122 residential units in Parcel 1, there is a mix of live/work units, two-bedroom town homes at the courtyard level overlooking the park/plaza, and 106 condominiums of various sizes.

Gunn said Urban Partners will open a sales and marketing center for Town Square next May or June near the project site.

The 5,000 square foot center will have a full-scale model of a one bedroom Town Square residential unit.

Kim Allen of Nyhus Communications, which conducted focus group sessions on behalf of Urban Partners, said perceptions of participants were that Town Square will be a modern, walkable development similar to Kent Station and Redmond Town Center developments.

They think it will appeal to young people, families and retirees, and will give Burien a sophisticated image, Allen said.

"Burien is being praised for revitalizing downtown and for providing a community gathering space as well as for being a destination for both residents and visitors," he added.

"The project is creating excitement about Burien and its vision for the future."

When completed in 2009, Town Square will have more than 400 town homes and condominiums, retail shops, restaurants, a new City Hall/King County Regional Library, and a one-acre public plaza and park that will become the community's main gathering space.

In other action, the council approved $10 million in general obligation bonds to finance Town Square and convert the current King County Library in Burien into the city's new Senior and Activity Center.

Work on the center will begin after the library system moves its Burien branch to the new facility.

Revenue from the real estate excise tax and money set aside to pay for Town Square will be used to pay off the bonds. No new taxes or fee increases are needed by the city for the bonds.

For detailed information on Town Square, go to the city's Website at www.burienwa.gov and follow the "Town Square" links.