Entries tagged with “The High Streets”.
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Wed 7 Apr 2010
Posted by Issaquah Highlands under News
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Residents have been asking about storage solutions for quite awhile. Now, a local resident is making it happen. Entrepreneur and Issaquah Highlands resident Bob Gregg plans to break ground on the new Issaquah Highlands Self-Storage building next month.
Located next to the Park & Ride, it will open in March 2011. Issaquah Highlands Self-Storage will offer convenient, safe storage close to home. The facility will feature 500 storage units, including 800 square feet of acclimatized space for wine storage. Bob also hopes to lease street-level retail space for other uses.
Residents have identified the need for extra storage for items such as bikes and kayaks, legal documents, home furnishings, antiques, home renovation and automotive tools, business inventory and equipment, patio furniture and seasonal decorations. Self-storage will also meet the needs for special items that require a climate-controlled environment.
At Issaquah Highlands Self-Storage, customers will load and unload in a covered area inside the ground level of the building. They will drive into the covered area to park and then load everything into the elevator. However, Issaquah Highlands Self-Storage won’t have garage-style storage for cars, boats and RVs.
The top of the Issaquah Highlands Self-Storage building will be taller than the surrounding buildings, including the adjacent Park & Ride. When neighboring construction projects such as the cinema and YWCA are completed, the building profile will blend well with the adjacent buildings.
Issaquah Highlands Self-Storage will feature many LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) design elements. There are no existing LEED standards for buildings of its kind, so Bob and his architects have adapted guidelines from other commercial buildings to integrate energy saving features. The building is also designed to look and feel like other buildings in Issaquah Highlands, from exterior paint colors to canopies that minimize heat gain.
Over the years, it has been a planning challenge for Port Blakely to meet resident needs for self-storage in Issaquah Highlands. This is because typical self-storage projects are laid out horizontally and require much more land space. The Issaquah Highlands Self-Storage addresses both of these issues by going vertical. Vertical density is also more fitting with our urban village town center.
Locating self-storage in the lot adjacent to the Park & Ride also makes sense. Typical retail stores found the self-storage lot configuration to be challenging due to its size and lack of access to onsite parking. The Issaquah Highlands Self-Storage required a smaller footprint and minimal parking requirements.
As discussed at February’s Town Hall, businesses such as Issaquah Highlands Self-Storage will meet the everyday needs that residents have expressed. The close-to-home services, including the grocery store and energy station, will shorten car trips – therefore reducing energy consumption and pollution – while freeing up valuable personal time.
Information on how to reserve a space in Issaquah Highlands Self-Storage will be available from Bob and his team at Gregg Consulting Group later this year.
Fri 28 Aug 2009
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Grading Work at The High Streets
You can expect to see grading work during August and September at The High Streets Block 1, which is the site of the future grocery store. This grading will be done before the wet season begins in October to prepare for future construction. You may recall that last year, grading crews spent time preparing the site in anticipation of the construction of the Central Market store. After Central Market cancelled its lease, the grading needs for the site changed. In recent months, Port Blakely Communities has been working with leading grocers to discuss expansion into The High Streets. Port Blakely Communities has recently signed a letter of intent with a premium grocery store and design work has begun. As a result, the grading plans for the site have changed to meet the needs of the new grocer and building design. This particular site continues to be a prime location for several reasons, including its location on the Sunset Interchange and the growing population of the surrounding areas. For grocers, this “geography” is vital because it offers them the opportunity to serve residents of both Issaquah and Sammamish. We look forward to sharing updates with you this fall.
Swedish Grading Work
In August and September, work will continue in the area of the grocery store site as Swedish begins ground work for the first phase of its hospital campus. During this time, trucks will be moving dirt from the Swedish site to the grocery
store site. The movement of dirt from one site to another – several blocks along Discovery Drive – will reduce the environmental impact of the ground work at the Swedish site. Trucking dirt and rocks from a construction site to a landfill burns more fossil fuels because of the long distances traveled. It also adds to the growing amount of construction waste in landfills. By reducing the miles traveled to a few blocks, the environmental impact will be greatly reduced. In October, the graded and prepared grocery store site will be hydro-seeded (grass seed will be laid) and fenced for the winter months. Please feel free to contact Chris Hysom at chysom@portblakely.com if you have questions or concerns regarding the grading or trucking operations on Discovery Drive.
Tue 28 Jul 2009
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The transformation is complete.
Marcela’s Mexican Grill is re-opening with not just a new name, but also an entirely new and mouth-watering menu. Marcela’s has been re-named Agave Cocina & Tequilas as part of an exciting re-model that involves every aspect of the restaurant. Depending on when you read this article, Agave may have already opened its doors! The new Agave Cocina & Tequilas features contemporary Mexican food in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Wallet-friendly prices and fresh flavors are all part of what makes Agave special.
Many of Agave’s menu items are meant for sharing, so you can sample several items as part of your dining experience. Time-honored favorites include a selection of quesadillas, enchiladas, salads and tacos. Enticing new dishes include corn crusted halibut tacos, smoked bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers, ceviche de camarones, masa crusted calamari, the Marcela grande burger, and pescados fritos.
Everything will be made from scratch in Agave’s kitchen, including sauces, fillings, tortillas, and guacamole. The new menu also features fresh, natural ingredients, free-range chicken and organic eggs, hormone-free beef and pork, organic rice and beans, plus wild salmon and prawns. It’s no secret that a highlight of Agave will be their tequila offerings. In fact, it’s the inspiration for the restaurant’s new name. Tequila is made from the agave plant. According to owner Julian Ramos, the agave plant has been part of his family’s heritage: “Both sides of my family are from the state of Jalisco, which is the only state in Mexico where the agave plant can grow naturally. Several of my relatives
have grown it for decades.” “My brothers and I were born and raised in the beautiful state of Jalisco,” continued
Ramos. “Part of our heritage is a deep understanding of what makes a high-quality tequila and the dynamic flavors that make contemporary Mexican food so popular. We look forward to sharing this delicious food with our neighbors
in Issaquah.”
The changes at the restaurant aren’t only in the kitchen. The interior of the restaurant has been transformed to offer a warm and inviting environment with unique architectural details. Agave’s new look includes bright colors and a fresh
spin on traditional design. The re-design was inspired by the famous Barcelona church La Sagrada Familia, which was the masterwork of architect Antoni Gaudi. The church has enormous mosaic fruit baskets atop its towers and magnificent mosaics. It has been a major tourist attraction in Spain for years. Now, part of that inspiration has found a
home in Issaquah Highlands. Located at 1048 NE Park Drive, Agave Cocina & Tequilas is open seven days a week. You can view their menu at www.agaverest.com. Watch for happy hour specials every day of the week.
