University Village has major expansion plans

The University Village mall late last month filed papers with Seattle city planners seeking permission to dramatically expand in size.

The mall, already occupying 400,000 square feet on more than 22 acres, is considering erecting three new buildings and creating additions to two structures, adding a total of 422,500 square feet.

The mall's general manager, Susie Plummer, said the changes would add about 100,000 square feet of retail space and would mean a net gain of about 500 parking spaces.

The construction would take place in three phases, with some beginning in 2009, some in 2010 and some in 2011, according to the application filed with Seattle's Department of Planning and Development. But those dates are tentative, Plummer said.

"This is all very preliminary. We have a long way to go through the process" leading up to construction, she said. "Once the buildings are approved and they're leased -- which they are not yet -- we will decide about timing."

The first building to go up would be a seven-story, 350,000- square-foot structure with retail on the ground level and six levels of parking above. That building, along Northeast 45th Street, would replace a two-story, 6,000-square-foot building. Construction is slated to begin in January.

A two-story building in the middle of the mall, offering 20,000 square feet of retail space, would break ground in 2010.

The third new building would be a three-story structure 40,000 square feet in size. It would offer parking and retail space on the ground floor, retail and office on the second floor and office space on the top floor. Construction is set to start in 2011.

One addition, set to begin in 2009, will boost the retail capacity of an existing building by 5,000 square feet.

The other, also slated to start in 2009, will add 7,500 square feet to a different building.

Fountains, trees and more green space also may be added. No cost has been estimated for the changes, Plummer said.

The mall is enjoying good economic health, with an occupancy rate of 99.8 percent over the past seven years, she said, adding, "We are enjoying slow, measured growth."

But the mall has lacked space for a restaurant larger than 5,000 square feet, and that's an addition that would benefit both mall shoppers and the surrounding neighborhoods, Plummer said.

A public meeting will take place in June to review the proposed construction, she said.